Persistent knee rash

[Savannahseger]

Good morning warriors! I hope you're well. I could do with calming my worry by seeing what you guys think of this...

I think I worry myself too much! I've been flaring (still am - both knees, hips, elbows and knuckles) but over a week ago I noticed a pink rash on my right (already swollen) knee. I hadn't knocked it so I knew it wasn't a bruise, but it was sore so I suspected a burst blood vessel and internal bruising, or just a red patch that would go away. However since then it's stayed exactly the same... No change. It wasn't until my mum mentioned the word septic that I got a bit panicky! I did have a steroid injection in that knee in the exact spot of the rash a month ago. Also ive been feeling unwell, very fatigued, headache, run down, but I just assumed that's all because I'm flaring. I have a rheumy appointment in just under 2 weeks. Now I'm wondering if I should ring to bring it forward? Also I'm not asking for medical advice, just wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar. It's also a bit redder than the image but you know what phone cameras are like. Cheers!

[sylvi]

Call your rheumy andsee if they have an idea what it is.I always take a antihistamine every morning as it get very itchy.xxx

[Savannahseger in reply to sylvi]

Thank you will do! I'm actually on my way to see the gp now too x

[Savannahseger]

Update - gp says I have a temperature and doesn't want to take the risk with septic arthritis so has got me an emergency appointment at the rheumatology this afternoon. Fingers crossed nothing to worry about!

[wishbone]

Well done both your mum and GP. You can never be too careful with suspected septic arthritis. I had it in my hip a couple of years ago and it wasn't a pleasant experience to say the least.

Hope it's turned out to be something less serious?

[Savannahseger in reply to wishbone]

Thank you and sorry to hear that! It turns out it wasn't septic, or at least the doc didn't think it was, but did some bloods and urine test as well as a chest x-ray for signs of infection to explain my temperature. He did say that he didn't know what the rash was and it was strange! But the benefit of the appointment was that he agreed the Cimzia injections aren't working for me so is moving me onto Inflixumab. So getting seen sooner than I expected probably worked in my favour 😊 I'm still going to keep an eye on the rash to make sure it doesn't get larger or redder. Like you say, can't be too careful!

[wishbone in reply to Savannahseger]

That's good to hear. Thankfully septic arthritis appears to be fairly rare. It tends to come on quite sudden and is not only extremely painful, but can be dangerous as well. Your knee does look really swollen, which could be due to you flaring I suppose. The rash seems a bit odd though. Anyway, best keep an eye on it as you say.

Take care

[Savannahseger in reply to wishbone]

Yeah indeed! It is odd that they seemed so baffled by the rash, I thought they would have a simple answer. I'm going to start a course a steroids which should help with the swelling

Take care too! It's cold out there!

[helixhelix]

So good that you got seen and are beinf looked after. Hope rash vanishes as quickly as it appeared.

[Savannahseger in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you! Xx