Sudden deterioration in Osteoarthritis

AliceN

Hi I’m new member. I was diagnosed with ‘mild’ arthritis a few years ago. My right hand has a arthritic index finger, also in other joints. Hip, ankle problems are mild, but most recently knees are very painful. After a short trip away, with lots of slow walking, my knee swelled up enormously, with pain behind the joint and made walking even a short distance impossible. My GP diagnosed a Baker’s Cyst (over the phone 😳). I’m feeling quite depressed about it all at the moment.

Only help so far from doctor was Naproxen. Haven’t seen a Consultant yet at all, and only had an x-ray diagnosis. Apparently that doesn’t show up tissue damage and I need an MRI for this?

Sorry to moan, but feeling low as pain and stiffness in knees has suddenly made me unable to walk.

Ellen

Hi @AliceN Welcome to the online Community.

I understand from your post that you have Osteoarthritis a few joints, but recently after only some slow walking one knee has swollen up and is extremely painful and making you unable to walk. Your GP has diagnosed a Baker's Cyst over the telephone and prescribed Naproxen.

This is the NHS information on Baker's Cysts which does indicate what treatment you ought to be able to expect from your GP:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bakers-cyst/

Versus Arthritis mention Baker's Cysts in this Article you need to scroll down to 'Complications':

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/osteoarthritis-of-the-knee/#:~:text=A%20Baker%E2%80%99s%20cyst%20doesn%E2%80%99t%20always%20cause%20pain%2C%20but,condition%20in%20other%20joints%2C%20such%20as%20your%20hips.

Our members often say they need to be quite assertive with their Drs. At the moment with a lot of surgeries still favouring telephone consultations you may need to be quite insistent and request a face to face appointment.

Sorry to give you so much information, but this article tells you what different tests show:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/healthcare-professionals/training-and-education-resources/clinical-assessment-of-patients-with-musculoskeletal-conditions/investigations/

I'll leave you now to meet our members and hear their own experience please do have a look around and join in the other categories Living with Arthritis is a very popular category for instance.

Best wishes

Ellen.

stickywicket

It can be quite scary when our health takes a sudden nose dive.

Anyone can get a Baker's Cyst but I think those of us with arthritis are more prone. Rest is essential though your other joints will probably need exercising. It's tricky and I'd suggest you either ask to see a physio or book one privately.

I'm an old hand and it doesn't surprise me in the least that your extra activity has triggered a flare. That's how O.A. works. We have to learn to pace ourselves, even on holiday, and work out gentler ways of doing what is really important to us.

MRI? I don't think they're usually given for OA. I've had it for years and my sole MRI was for a twisted bowel. Sometimes they're used to determine a Baker's Cyst. My husband had one as all his lower leg was swollen and painful and they feared it could be a blood clot. It wasn't.

Time and patience are the key. Unfortunately😣