Knee pain!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Hi all... Since I have been on the voltarin, my RA has been getting

better...everything except my knees! They hurt so bad! Thats the

reason why the dr. tested me for RA anyway! I am over weight, but no

matter how much I rest my knees they still hurt so bad! I have tried

ice and heat to no avail! Does this happen frequently? And what, if

anything I can do about it! Thanks, Gretchen

[Guest guest]

Hi Gretchen!

My RA started with both knees. They have fluid on

them constantly, I have to have the joint aspirated a

few times a year. Xrays have shown joint effusions on

both knees. It started just being the left but now is

the right that keeps flaring. I have been on

Plaquenil for over a year, Sulfasalazine for maybe 8

months (its hard for me to recall as I had to stop it

for a few months due to bronchitis that would not go

away, then an upper respiratory and sinus infection I

had antibiotics for). In 3 years, I haven't been able

to do anything for the pain, although the medication

must finally be working because when I had to stop

taking it, I could not walk, stand, put pressure on

them. It's been a little over 3 years now. I didnt'

get treatment from my doctors for almost 2 years.

They kept sending me to a sports medicine doctor and

an orthopedic doctor who both stated that despite the

negative RF, the elevated ESR and CCP and Westgren,

symptoms and physical exam were enough to start me on

the medication for inflammatory arthritis as they

believe it to be inflammatory. So I would say that

even though I struggle with my knees daily, have done

physical therapy, tried heat and ice, that the

medication must be doing something. I didn't really

realize that it was helping until I had to

discontinue. I just wish there was a way to make them

not stiff and painful everyday, swell up with fluid,

and make walking difficult everyday. They are hoping

to not have to do any replacement yet due to my age of

35. At my last visit, a couple of weeks ago, fluid

was once again present. My rheumatologist suggested a

more aggressive medication but did not start one at

this time because she is leaving the hospital I get

treatment at.

--- rorasmom <rorasmom@...> wrote:

> Hi all... Since I have been on the voltarin, my RA

> has been getting

> better...everything except my knees! They hurt so

> bad! Thats the

> reason why the dr. tested me for RA anyway! I am

> over weight, but no

> matter how much I rest my knees they still hurt so

> bad! I have tried

> ice and heat to no avail! Does this happen

> frequently? And what, if

> anything I can do about it! Thanks, Gretchen

>

>

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