Swelling back after knee aspiration

[BillyJayDuncs]

Hi everyone,I have had a diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis for about 10 years now (although the symptoms had been there many years longer like so many of us). I am on a weekly Metoject 20mg and 6x 500g Sulfasalazine daily. It tends to be my knees that are particularly affected and over the last 10 days, the swelling in my right knee became enormous - so painful. I managed to get booked in to have it aspirated and a steroid injection for Thursday, which I was so grateful for. The rheumy doctor managed to pull 110ml of fluid off it (it didn't look infected). Previously this has given me several months relief, however only 2 days later and the swelling is building really quickly again. I am feeling pretty devastated to be honest.

Has anyone else had the swelling return so quickly after a joint aspiration? If so have they aspirated again? Or done something else? I know they don't like to do it too frequently and I also had it done on the same knee in March this year.

Thanks in advance

[Akaka]

Hi, I had my knees injected and aspirated just over 2 weeks ago for the first time, the liquid has come back as healthy. My knees are certainly more normal but I’m still having difficulty trying to bend them properly, partly as I’m scared of the pain coming back. …They do say sometimes after several injections in the same place they don’t work so well, but we are all different. I hope you get to see your rheumatologist soon and get it sorted out, let me know what the out come is. ♥️

[BillyJayDuncs in reply to Akaka]

Thanks for your reply. I have sent an email with photos of the swelling and called the helpline, so hopefully I will hear something back in the next few days. In the meantime the swelling is getting bigger and bigger. Hope your knees improve soon. It's rubbish isn't it 😢

[BillyJayDuncs in reply to Akaka]

A bit of a further update. I had 90ml aspirated again 2 days ago but the swelling returned within less than 24 hours. I was also sent for an x-ray and Rheumatology has now contacted me to say I need to go in for a depo injection and an onwards referral to Orthopaedics

[Akaka in reply to BillyJayDuncs]

Hi, that is disappointing the swelling returned so quickly. There is obviously something going on to cause it, are you flaring anywhere else? I hope you get some relief and do not have to wait too long for orthopaedics. I tried walking a bit further than I have been and my knees were not happy, the right one is unhappy at been bent too far and although the horrendous pain has eased I’ve a feeling I’m not out the woods yet. I’ve an appointment to see the rheumatologist next month after starting biologics. I just hope the depo helps 🤞, did the fluid come back ok from the lab, ie no bacteria?

[BillyJayDuncs in reply to Akaka]

Thank you. Yes I was gutted as I watched it reinflate. No, only flaring in that joint so I think you're right there is something else happening in there (although all of my flares tend to be one joint at a time). No infection in the fluid or shown in my bloods, just very high inflammation.I hope you get some respite from the knee pain and the appointment and biologics are helpful. It's so hard feeling immobile isn't it.

[Akaka in reply to BillyJayDuncs]

It certainly is, I can’t say I feel great now. My bloods came back with a note see Doctor! My CRP is down to 32 in 3 weeks so going in the right direction, but other results are low. My surgery are very good and the receptionist got me a Saturday appointment tomorrow, the practices in the area take it in turns to run the Saturday clinic and it’s my Drs practice tomorrow, can’t believe how lucky I’ve been! Hoping it’s a good omen 🤣🤣

[BillyJayDuncs in reply to Akaka]

Fingers crossed for you. Had my depo this morning and now feeling wide awake when I should be asleep!

[Akaka]

Hi, I hope it eases things and you eventually get to sleep, I did read this: The most common side effects of Depo-Medrone injections include increased appetite, difficulty sleeping, fluid retention, mood swings and irritability. I just hope you don’t get the others!! Now you have to wait for orthopaedics, I’m sure the stress of waiting for all these appointments is not good for us especially when you have a knee that keeps filling with fluid.

I’m still waking up with a steroid flush from the knee injections, I thought they’d gone but this morning I was very sweaty just around my shoulders, neck and chest again, it’s really weird I got up around 5.30 and thought it felt quite chilly and no sign of this flush, a couple of hours later all change it always seems to happen from 6am in the morning .

Hope the sleep returns 🤗

[BillyJayDuncs]

Thanks - you too and good luck today.