Advice needed on knee flare up :-(

[Everyman]

I’m at my wits end. Any advice appreciated.

I have had numerous flares in my knees over the years and the pattern is always, I live with it for a few weeks, it never goes away and I get a steroid injection and aspiration and I am happy again.

This time, swelling stared in second week of jan, I eventually had an injection on the 8th feb but it just has not settled. The injection was difficult and they were not able to aspirate but now say they won’t do another.

The pain and swelling is really getting me down - it has been 8/9 weeks now and it is not settling.

I switched from humira to cimzia arounD the time of the flare up (with the intention of stopping my knee flare ups which I still had on humira every 6 months.)

Any ideas what to do? I can’t see that living with a swollen knee is my new reality.

This is really getting me down as this flare up is not going away

[Hidden]

Sorry you are suffering. I’d go back to your GP or Rheumy, you shouldn’t have to put up with this so I’d keep on at them until they do something to be honest. I hope you get some relief soon.

[Mollieharry]

I agree with kittyj,shocking that they think you can just be left like this.i know the relief from getting your knees aspirated and steroids put in.its not just the swelling and pain,it makes you feel generally unwell and the fatigue that comes with inflammation in your knees makes it so hard to function.i would definitely get back onto your rhuemotogist.what was the reason they weren’t able to aspirate?

[Everyman in reply to Mollieharry]

Yes agree with you both. It’s amazing what we end up putting up with.

They couldn’t aspirate as there seems to be some scar tissue or something. I will ask them to X-ray perhaps.

It took me nearly 3 weeks to manage to get the first appointment and I had to go privately to eventually get the first injection

The dept don’t answer the phone and told me to go to a&e.....

Sometime the NHS as great as it can be can really fail at times.

I’m just feeling beaten by both the arthritis and the battle to get the treatment I need at the moment.

Will be back on the phone on Monday

Thank you both even though my loved ones are very caring they don’t really understand how all consuming a big swollen knee can be as you say above.

Xxx

[SaneJane]

What works for me is to very strictly follow the Paddison Program. At first, I thought it was easy, but it has taken me five months to be able to strictly stay on it and not think that after I'm doing well for a couple of days I can add in new foods or skip a couple of days of exercise. When I very strictly follow a version of the Day 2-12 baseline diet that works for me AND walk several miles per day, fast, my outward signs of inflammation vanish. My best day was after walking ten miles and eating a very lean, strictly on program diet the day before. It really takes discipline, not eating "healthy" foods that my gut is not ready for. That worked really well, with no medications. But, the food is my medicine. I say no medications, but I mean no prescription medications or OTC pain meds. I eat turmeric, fresh ginger (LOTS), VLS#3 probiotic, probiotic foods that don't conflict with the diet, and certain foods. No meat, oil, dairy, eggs, processed foods. Mainly, I eat raw greens, onions, turmeric, fresh ginger, seaweed, red cabbage, carrots, and lots of microwaved fresh sweet potatoes, apple cider vinegar with the mother, raw papaya, fresh herbs, water filtered to remove chlorine, celery, and cucumbers. I've tried adding various things, but I can't tolerate them yet. I have a tiny, tiny bit of raw, unfiltered honey on some foods, but it's very little and not often.

When I do this and DO NOT OMIT EXERCISE, my inflammation seems to vanish. I have never had it completely vanish in terms of the redness in my hands, swelling, pain, and tenderness UNLESS I EXERCISE HARD too. But, if I add anything I shouldn't have to the diet, it doesn't work either. So, it's all discipline and figuring out how to have enough calories without going off the diet. For me, the key to that is to eat three big sweet potatoes with piles of shaved fresh ginger--for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and to fill myself otherwise with all the veggies. I intend to beat it. It make take years, but that's my intention.

[Cheronia in reply to SaneJane]

A lot of sufferers are not willing to give up their unhealthy diets. I entirely agree with you that the right foods are the answer,having got rid of arthritis 20 years ago. I found that I was dairy and wheat (gluten) intolerant and my life changed when I cut those out! I am 75 and my joints are great for my age.

[Beegee]

Hi. When I have a flare up I manage it with 20 mg. Steroids for 4 days. 15 mg. for 4 days. 10 mg. for 4 days 5 mg for days. I find that this works for me. Try it and best of luck, I know what your going through.

[gym4life]

I do not have any issues with cimzia. I know I must keep my immune system in good condition and I do eat organic since I have been diagnosed with RA. I exercise 5 days a week and look up any natural remedies for whatever bothers me. I have been on cimzia for 2 years now. Some foods cause inflammation.

[Webbles]

I had the same problem, I solved it by asking my dr to send me to a surgeon, he agreed I needed a new knee, 1 year later I have a new knee and no problems with that knee, you need to be positive in your actions don’t take any guff. X