Can I ask if this is normal

[bubblyalex]

Sooo I’ve been on Sulfasalazine just over a week now and generally things are going well. I’ve had the steroid injections into both knees ... the thing is that my right knee feels quite amazingly different and well but my left knee is much the same as before but without the ‘turning to boulders’ feeling.

Is it normal for one knee to get much better than the other? I’ve also woken up this morning feeling like I have bruised the top joint of one of my fingers. This is a new symptom.

I am now one week in to a dropped dose to 18.5 pred without any apparent effects. Going down to 18 tonight.

I’m just worried about this left knee/leg. It is the one I fell badly on a year and a few months ago. Partially tore the PCL and other ligament damage. It’s also the knee they did the arthroscopy on back on Feb 16th this year. It feels like sharp pains in there and especially if I try to walk without my crutches.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

[helixhelix]

After just a week the sulphasalazine is unlikely to be doing anything much. So more likely that the steroid injection worked much better on the knee that was less damaged, but hasn’t been enough to make such a big difference to the other one.

My experience of this disease is that it can wander around your body on a daily basis, and pop up and vanish in an illogical way.

[bubblyalex in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you. It did have me start wondering if maybe they had got the diagnosis wrong. On I plod 🙃

[Mmrr]

I don't think it is uncommon to have different experiences in different joints on different sides of the body ( does that make sense?!).

My left hand, but right wrist are problematic for me and my right ankle, but left ankle is comparatively ok.

I hope SSZ works for you.

[bubblyalex in reply to Mmrr]

Such a lot to learn about all of this. They went on a lot about issues usually being mirror imaged... not necessarily so then eh.

[Mmrr in reply to bubblyalex]

I think mirroring can be seen, but not always. It is a strange old disease, with some strange old symptoms.

This is a great forum to check things out and get some support 😊

[bubblyalex in reply to Mmrr]

It really is great to have you all. Thank you 😊

[AgedCrone in reply to bubblyalex]

Wouldn’t say that if you could see my wrists ...the left one measures 8 inches .....the right one 6.5 inches.

But right now they don’t hurt ....so I just ignore them!

[bubblyalex in reply to AgedCrone]

It’s frustrating because post op my left knee was doing so so well at getting better and stronger compared to my right. Early doors.

[AgedCrone in reply to bubblyalex]

Just relax & look forward to things getting better,

[Jora]

Hello Bubblyalex

I was on Sulfrasalazine for a few months , as a secondary to Methotrexate,but it didn’t do anything for me. Nor did Hydroxychlorophin, so they were both stopped and I started on my journey with biologics. With each one I tried - Enbrel, Retuximab and Tocysilizumab -. I developed serious pneumonia. This eventually led to respiratory failure. So now it’s just Methojet 20 mgs and Prednisilone 10mgs. It’s tolerable, except when I get flare ups , normally the day after I’ve done too much.

I’ve had my right knee replaced. That’s OK. My left knee is very painful but that’s osteoarthritis, bone on bone. It hasn’t been decided if I’m too high -risk to have that op.

I hope that’s helpful. J