hi - when I went first to my Rheumatology dept 4.5 years ago - I had a X-ray on my knee as I’d had a lot of pain and swelling there. I’d tripped up at work. No evidence of any damage was seen.
over the intermittent years including lockdown I ve had worsening swelling and more present pain. More drugs - now biologics are on offer.
Following a recent issue I had a referral to Orthopaedics and had an appointment today. I was shocked to be told I need a total knee replacement - it’s OA I have in my knee and it’s bone on bone hence the pain. If I’d come to him even a year ago - I might have been able to lose weigh etc and buy more time - but too late now.
Aside from this - am feeling good In myself from my “detoxing” and having a holiday has helped overall and we re going to Spain next week for more heat.
I have a rheumy appointment on June 7 - when I will ask for elbow X-ray and whatever is available for my joints to see where their at.
I’ve been in and out of that hospital in East London several times a year even in lockdown for chest X-rays and consultations and it’s always been your poor knee with its RA ongoing flare. Never a check on it.
If only I’d had a X-ray sooner - I might have been diagnosed and able to make lifestyle changes that would have helped me toprolong things and lasted longer without considering total knee replacement this year at 56.
So always remember to see if you can get things checked out - with an X-ray. It might be helpful
Paul
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This might sound harsh but if the weight was enough to affect your knee that much then presumably you did know that you were overweight? With RA it is important to try to keep to a normal weight for your heartas much as for the joints.
So hopefully this will motivate you to do what you can for your other knee and hips.
I have several friends with replacements and they seem to be able to live completely normally.
I have great respect for anyone who can eat just one Jaffa cake. As a chocoholic my answer is not to buy chocolate especially Jaffa cakes. Yes I agree with you, we shouldn’t wait for serious symptoms to occur before taking action to live a healthy balanced lifestyle as possible . We need to do all we can to nurture our bodies, as we only have the one, which is having to fight this awful disease. Perhaps our rheumy teams need to give a bit more emphasis early on in diagnosis in eating healthily and appropriate exercise.
I guess that’s where I was coming from. If I’d been given a X-ray a year or so ago - I might have gotten away with arthroscopy but certainly would have been wise to what was going on in the joint so could have taken some remedial action in life that would have delayed the inevitable- instead of me believing no damage had occurred. Still - we are where we are.
I must have been lucky with my first rheumy. She made it clear that managing this disease was as much down to me as to her. So weight,, smoking, exercise, cholesterol/diet, sleep and trying to reduce stress were all things she talked about.
But its a lot to cram into a 15 minute appointment so I guess is often left out
I agree regarding advice. I am a healthy weight so I guess I'd not get told to lose weight and the medical profession seem to be cautious about looking at dietary impacts. However, all that is talked about at the appointment is medication. I have asked about what I should be doing to improve my wellbeing and haven't really had any advice other than suggesting more medication to help with sleeping. For example, should I be moving my joints or resting them? Could I do more damage than good if I try to push through pain? After repeated questioning, I have now been referred for physio which I hope will help to answer these questions but having had RA for over a year now, you'd think that they'd be keen to promote anything that would give more chances for improvement alongside medication. I know some people tend to get offended by implication that lifestyle can impact their health but following sensible advice could make all the difference to outcomes.
thanks - I think your right. I guess Drs don’t want to offend folk but my consultant yesterday hit the right notes saying it would be better for me to go into surgery healthier. So I m aiming to lose a stone at least. He’s writing to my GP so some physio will come from that.
I have bone on bone on both knees and I was told if weight loss is needed then it's no knee op till that is sorted. Plus the queue for knees is huge! Good luck. I had a load of xrays last year and both elbows and spine were noted for a lot of degeneration some from age some RA/OA.
The consultant gave me to believe I could get done in next six weeks if I wanted here - but it would be better for me to try get fitter, lose weight get some sun/exercise over summer and then do it though of course if I can cope and things aren’t too bad.
wow shows how different each area can be!!! I live with it had knee surgery before not total knee md felt made things worse so I am not rushing plus got so much other stuff going on my knees are having. I do the occasional knee goes fly towards floor moment but keep a cane with me now and seems to have slowed this issue down🤣
I know - it’s very random at times; I guess it’s just luck of the draw. I ll hold off as long as humanly possible- things aren’t too bad overall just now so as long as I can be comfortable at times I ll hold on.
I might give PIP a go again- i deffo can’t walk far nowadays!
pip is always worth a try. I did not think I would get it and was probably quite cavalier in my approach to it but it came thro and has helped me enormously. It’s doing the daft things to control this disease a private consultation or chiropodist or aids ie sticks or breathing exercise tools
Sorry to hear this! I know from experience it's difficult to get the hospital/gps to listen or act sometimes. A broken vertabrae which had me screaming in pain and being told it was muscular for 3 weeks, when I kept saying it's my bones not muscle.
So it’s perfectly plausible to have both RA & OA. Unfortunately once RA affects the normal anatomy of a joint, it’s not uncommon to get the wear & tear of the bones. I worked as an orthopaedic nurse for many years, knee replacement is particularly gruelling surgery, and I would definitely recommend doing the exercises to strengthen your quads before any surgery. It is also useful at delaying the need for surgery, especially if combined with weight loss. Is the 6 week wait here in the U.K.?, if so I’m surprised the surgeons I worked for are currently quoting 9 month wait. Hopefully the sunshine will ease your pain 🤞
Hi Paul sorry to hear yours will be total knee replacement, Even the arthritis charities are trying now to convince Rhuemy consultants that early diagnosis can lead to better outcome. Those in your age group tend to recover muscle use better after the op than waiting till they are older. Best wishes for a successful op and recovery minus pain.
many thanks. It’s not really very good for me as am one of those people who get a lot of anxiety 😟 in hospital. Just gone for a walk and don’t feel too bad. I m not happy but it’s where we’re at. Just need to ensure I look after my other joints.
Great Scott as they say in back to the future! If only we could all recapture about five years how different things could be- take care friend hope all goes well. ☘️
If it's any consolation my sister has had both her knee replacments done and went back to playing tennis - although only what she called social tennis, no competitive stuff. But she is definitely not overweight.
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X-Ray's of hands & feet with RA
Pretty anxious on neck X-ray 
X-ray appointment out of the blue
