Leftover tightness in knee after swelling

[Loz224]

Hi all. I had really aggressive knee swelling last year and needed to get my knee drained a few times, and steroids injected. Thankfully the swelling has been brought under control with sulfasalazine.

However my knee never went back to "normal". I cannot fully bend my knee. So I can kneel upright with my knee at 90 degrees, but I cannot sit back onto my heels (if that makes sense). I'm also getting some concerning clicking and movement inside my knee when I straighten my leg.

I've raised this with my rheumatologist multiple times. I had an ultrasound a few months ago on the NHS which didn't pick up anything - "perfectly healthy knee", no damage, no sign of inflammatory arthritis. But I haven't been able to follow it up. I'm losing hope of getting this investigated on the NHS any time soon.

I'm frustrated because I used to be really into exercise and my knee is limiting me. Has anyone experienced anything similar in their knees? Has anyone got any experience of going private for something like this? Any advice at all?

[rabbits65]

Hi , why don’t you try some private physiotherapy , they usually are full of information. It sounds like you’ve lost a lot of synovial fluid from the Joint . This has happened to me years ago in my wrist and elbow joints . The fluid might return but takes a while to return. You get grinding and clicking because of the lack of lubrication . A good physio will be good for you . Doctors are like lost dust in the air, it seems at the moment.Good luck

[Loz224 in reply to rabbits65]

Thank you. That sounds like a good place to start.

[Diamondpainting]

Hi Loz. I had my swollen knees x-rayed (through Rheumy) after many years of swelling and steroid injections and pain. An op to clean out my knee showed nothing (3 years ago) but the recent x-ray shows early signs of OA. This worries me as the pain is so bad now, what is it going to be like if the OA gets worse (especially given the waiting times for appt/ops in orthopeadics - we can't afford private treatment). My RA actually started in my knees, in 2013 and since then I haven't been able to kneel at all, however, I have now been told there is no sign of inflammation and yet my knees continue to swell up. I started Aquafit classes two weeks ago just to try and start getting more movement in my knees as I don't want to end up unable to walk at all! If you have a leaisure centre near you this might be worth a try, as past physio has been excruciatingly painful.

[Sheila_G]

Have you thought of trying a sports injury clinic?