painful knee

[Elmo333]

hi folks. You should be able to see in this picture that my right knee is pretty swollen. It has been like this for months. I had an MRI a month ago but still no results. I am seropositive RA but I wonder if it is more likely to be osteo. Do you get a lot of swelling with osteo or does it look like it could be RA? It gets worse if I am doing lots of walking or up and down the stairs. I have a few days here and there where it hurts less. I keep chasing up my results but to no avail! Any thoughts? Tia x

[helixhelix]

Can’t see picture??

[vonniesims]

Are you doing excercises to strengthen your knee muscles ? . Cycling is good and you can find some on The NHS website. Important I think whatever the cause. Hope you get some results soon, I know it's a very frustrating wait

[Oshgosh]

I had an MRIin October,it took aged to get the results.Apparently the problem is reading the scans.

And that is what takes time. I hope you find out your results soon

[calflo]

I have had the same problem with my knee for nearly 2 years but I was treated for bursitis. I’m beginning to think it could be RA too but have never had an X-ray on it. Mine is swollen on both the inside and outside of the knee and it feels very weak when walking up or downstairs (on bending the knee). So I’m very interested in this post.

[NikkiNix1]

Hello Elmo, I am also RA+ with swollen knees. If it’s swelling of both knees, it’s likely to be the RA, or if one side, it’s possibly OA. I fell and damaged my right knee, had ACL / meniscus / tibia repair and that’s the knee I’m having problems with. Suggestion: stop whatever is causing it to be worse (stairs) - ice it, rest it and try massaging it with an essential oil for anti inflammatory like turmeric, ginger, arnica. Swimming / yoga / pilates is the best for joints. Don’t over do any impact sports that’ll affect your joints, rather focus on soft and gentle. Hope this helps 🤗

[StormySeas]

Hi there ElmoI have RA and suffered one swollen knee for months and could hardly walk.

I self diagnosed (wrongly) and then in desperation paid £200 for a private ortho consultation.

Turned out it was RA. The knee was drained and a steroid shot sorted it 🙄

If you’ve had an MRI can you get your rheumy to view it via the RA helpline? Assuming you have one…

I know how debilitating knee pain is and in my case I overlooked the inflammatory RA that was right in front of me. Not saying yours is RA, just to keep an open mind until you get to see your rheumy.

Hope you get it sorted X

[helenlw7]

I have osteoporosis in my knees and my right one has been swollen for a long time. It saw an orthopaedic surgeon and a rheumatologist yesterday in a combined clinic and was told my knee needed replacing because it’s bone rubbing on bone. It was a useful appointment because he answered a lot of questions. I’m on steroids for my breathing so I can carry on taking them, whereas the last person I saw about my knee in 2018 said until I stopped the steroids I wouldn’t be able to have the op and he discharged! I’ll have to stop methotrexate but the op will be done by epidural rather than full a general anaesthetic.

[katieoxo60]

Hi thereElmo333, unfortunately MRI scans take a long time to return details. Months rather than weeks due to the virus delays. Swollen knees are common in many arthritis conditions and other things that are not arthritis. as you are diagnosed with RA its most likely to be that . There are injections that can reduce the inflammatory reactions in the joint and they reccommend to keep active now but feel you need to alternate it with rest . But you still need a definate diagnosis as it is possible to have more than one type of arthritis and don't overdo the exercise little and often works best when joints are inflammed and swollen. Take care ,till you have a result to work on.

[Green230461]

Rheumatologist gave me a steroid jab and told me to swim. Much improved! Best of luck with your knee

[Runrig01]

I have ankylosing spondylitis, which has caused my patella tendon to calcify. That has resulted in shortening of the tendon, which has caused subluxation of both knee caps. This has resulted in severe osteoarthritis of the patellofemoral joint, with me having bone rubbing bone. Thankfully at the moment steroid injections settle it down for now, but have been told will need a uni compartmental knee replacement at some point.