Synovectomy, radiotherapy or add methotrexate ?

[terri10]

Hi I've been give 3 options synovectomy or radiotherapy injected to dissolve the fluid sack or add methotrexate to my meds. My knee flared up in June and won't go down I've had steroid injections that haven't worked, so would like to know if anyone has had any luck with either and how long it lasted.

Thanks T

[Janeye]

Hi. I have had a synovectomy in both knees. They have both given me good results even though my one knee doesn't have much cartilage left so still gives me problems but not as bad as it was prior to surgery. My surgeon was excellent and very caring. I was off work for 10 weeks with both as he wanted me to heal as fully as possible. I was also on crutches for this amount of time and had physio. I will have to have a knee replacement in the future on the knee that has no cartilage left but due to my age (34) he doesn't want to go down that route yet.

I am on enbrel which has controlled my condition well for many years but it sadly didn't help prevent the knee problems. I didn't want to add in mtx as I want to try for a baby and you have to come off it 3 months before you try. I didn't respond to steroid injections either but never had radiotherapy offered to me. What meds are you on?

[terri10]

Hi, thanks for the reply it's nice to here a positive out come rather than the Dr saying 50/50 chance of working, not looking forward to it. My problems started fri 13 April last year (after I got to 40) in the left knee and when I had a steroid in that one it instantly switched to the right one which is the only one I have problems with at the min, steroids worked last year but not this and they won't put any more in hence the synovectomy. Im on sulfazalizine 6 tablets a day, I'm going to try all other options before methotrexate, so hopefully the surgery works. Good luck thank you. X