Knee giving way

Rosycheeks · 1. Jun 2012, 10:13

Hey all

I hope you are all enjoying the sunshine, although our sunshine has disappeared the last few days

Im sorry to always ask questions and moan :oops: but.....

My knee has been incessantly swollen and painful for months now. I have been waiting for an appointment with the rheumy physio, but have been waiting for almost 7 months and still heard nothing.

My knee has taken to giving way over the last month or so, and 2 weeks ago it happened as I was stepping out of my back door. Down I went like a sack of spuds and knocked myself out. After suffering the most blinding headache I have ever had and repeatedly throwing up for 24 hours I called nhs direct who told me to go straight to the hospital. I did know they were going to say this and that was I didnt phone them because all I wanted to do was sleep. Anyway to cut a long story short I had severe concussion.

Does anyone else with pa or ra who suffers with their knees find them just giving way like this? Im seriously at the end of my tether with it all.

Oh and now I find that despite taking ramipril because the Leflunomide has raised my blood pressure it is still going up and is now 180/110. But they still say take it. Anyone had this kind of problem with Leflunomide?

see... questions questions :oops: sorry xx

MrDJ · 1. Jun 2012, 11:12

hi
sounds like you need some support on that knee like tube-e-grip just to give it some extra support.
is your knee hot to touch and also is it very puffy. if so it could be sonovial fluid.
i have to have mine drained 3-4 times a year and when very bad a steroid injection is given into the joint, ouch!

you also need xrays taken even though they dont always show much unless its a bone problem. mri scans are the best but the waiting lists are massive.

that is too long to wait for a physio appt. sounds like its got lost n the system.
i would get back to your gp and ask for bloods,xray and an urgent physio referal as youve not heard anything in 7 months.

good luck and keep us updated

stickywicket · 1. Jun 2012, 11:23

You are not 'moaning' Rosycheeks. Far from it. It's scary when knees give way. Mine used to do it before I had them replaced.

Mr DJ is quite right. 7 months is a ridiculously long time to wait for physio. Ring your rheumatology helpline, explain the situation and ask for a quicker appointment. (It's probably just got lost.) In fact, a rheumatology appt would probably be even better but also get your GP on board and get the BP figures checked again. Is your GP aware of how high it is? Maybe the Ramipril isn't working as hoped.

Don't just leave things to sort themselves out as they won't and, please, don't ever leave concussion to sort itself out. The very fact that you'd been sick after the blow to the head and then felt so sleepy, in itself tells you there's something wrong.

Meanwhile do try to get hold of a knee support for when you're out and/or have to do a lot of walking. Don't wear it when you don't have to though. Try the knee exercises in the AC booklet on exercise - gently but regularly. They'll strengthen the muscles supporting it.

dreamdaisy · 1. Jun 2012, 12:27

Right, BP first. Mine has risen thanks to humira and I was started on bendro thingy-doo-dahs first, then a daily 5mg of Ramopril was added. It began to move in the right direction so the Ramopril was doubled to 10mgs and so far so good. What dose of R are you taking?

Now, the physio. I reckon you have been forgotten - we do have to do a ridiculous amount of our own admin because, although we are special to us, those who see numerous arthritics on a daily basis don't see us in the same way. Start chasing next Wednesday - that is when the country will start up again.

As for the knee, are you using any form of walking aid? That won't necessarily stop the giving way but it might mean that you have extra support to hand. Knee supports are also good but remember to measure your knee at its fattest part so that you can get one that fits. I used to find that tubigrip would roll up into a fat sausage at either end of the knee, compromising my blood supply which wasn't comfy: I bought neoprene supports from my local chemist, they cost about £7 each then, I expect they have gone up.

I hope you are able to rest a little over the coming few days, don't put that naughty joint under too much stress and I hope the concussion has fully cleared away. You poor thing, that is soooooo not nice. DD

Rosycheeks · 1. Jun 2012, 12:47

Thank you all for replying

Firstly I am on 2.5mg of Ramipril. And it was my gp that took my blood pressure and almost had a coronory himself. For some reason all I could do was laugh. Its just like one more thing. There is always one more thing... and at 37 im sure a blood pressure of 180/110 is terrible. Actually im sure its terrible for any age.

I do have crutches for my knee, however they tend to make my hands, wrists and elbows alot worse. Its like cutting your nose off to spite your face. You can ease the pain of your knees... BUT you will pay for it elsewhere. Its like the arthritis will have its nasty way no matter what you do. Also I work as a carer. I am on my feet and pushing wheelchairs etc. I cannot use the crutches then. The only way I am dealing with it is with copious amounts of codiene and oramorph. Even then the pain at times is excrutiating. I regularly leave work at the end of a shift and sob on the way home.

Yes my knee is puffy. It varys depending on how much I have done from puffy to double the size of the other knee. And at times the swelling extends slightly up and down my leg making me look like I have a tree trunk :? I did have a steroid injection into it from the rheumy physio last November which was sheer and total bliss. I had an xray on my knee in January which apparently was all hunky dory. So im guessing the opinion is that its just inflammation so I have to get on with it. I almost want the dam thing chopped off. (along with several other joints)

I will phone the physio department next week and see what is going on before I self amputate

xxxxx

lindalegs · 1. Jun 2012, 13:03

Hi Rosycheeks,

It's scary when your knee gives way and its usually when our full weight is on it :roll:

As its very swollen a velcroed knee support might be better as it's adjustable.

It is best not to use it all the time as you'll lose muscle strength, but it could be used on days when your knee will be under extra strain.

Hope you can get some help to sort it out failing that I'll be round with my axe :shock:

Luv

MrDJ · 1. Jun 2012, 13:04

oopps, i forgot to mention the fall and concussion. any knock to the head even in fit people must be checked out thoroughly. ive seen many ct scans over the years (not mine) after accidents and drunken falls which all had bleeds.

i know nothing about blood pressures but my god daughters mum has crones and fibromialgia and is on himira and her bloods go above 200 and even higher and last time she was taken to hospital the nurse said you should be dead with them readings (thats nice) so some meds can give false readings.

might not help but maybe check out some of those over the counter gels for inflamation like ibuleve or raljex just to give some relief if only a little bit.

stickywicket · 1. Jun 2012, 16:11

Did your GP not suggest upping the Ramipril? He probably can't take you off the Leflunomide (I think only the rheumatologist can do that) but someone, somewhere has to take responsibility for the combination and that may well have to be you Rosycheeks.

If you last had a steroid jab in November they may be willing to give you another. You are doing a hard, physical job and it must be very painful for you being unable to rest when you need to.

Knee giving way

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