Has anyone experienced Septic Arthritis due to RA? What were your symptoms?
I'm having the worst pain and swelling in my left knee that I've ever had. I had an emergency appt with Rheumatology this morning who drained fluid from my knee and sent off for testing as it was cloudy? They also gave me a steroid injection into the knee which did help a little but I'm still in so much discomfort that I can't sleep. I'm worried about infection and desperate for some relief.
Just to add, I'm currently on steroids to treat a widespread flare up. They have helped everything except my knee.
Sorry for the long post. Any advice/experiences welcome xx
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Mummyto2x
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Yes I had septic arthritis but it wasn’t due to RA. I was 6 when I had it and can’t remember much other than my leg was locked bent, red and swollen and I was very unwell.
Ah, I asked because my husband does and it sounds just like yours. I’m sure your doctors know what to look out for, hopefully you’ll get answers soon 🤗
Not in my knee, but I had septic arthritis in my hip. Woke up one morning in severe pain which was even worse when I tried to stand. Spent around 10 days in hospital on strong antibiotics and underwent two bouts of surgery to clean out the infection. Consultant told me if I had left it two days longer my hip joint would have suffered serious damage. He reckoned the cause of the infection was thanks to bug from a recent UTI getting into my bloodstream with access made a lot easier because I was taking Enbrel at the time. He told me not to take it again which was a shame as it was working wonders with my RA. Seems as if the main culprit was Enbrel rather than my RA. That said, I suppose you could also say that if I didn't have RA then I wouldn't have been taking a strong immune suppressant like Enbrel.
I think I had it as a child. I'd imagine if the nurses had thought your joint septic this morning or any risk of it they would not have injected the steroids. They would have admitted you for further testing..Your joint would be red as well as swollen. You need to rest... nearly impossible with children...to give the steroid injection time to work.
Hopefully you'll get more relief soon. Take plenty of paracetamol as well.
Agree...they would not hang around if they thought it was septic arthritis. My GP at the time must have had a good idea what the problem was when my wife explained over the phone as he ordered an ambulance straight away. He even phoned back not long after to check if the ambulance had taken me to hospital.
Doubt my current GP would have done the same as he doesn't seem to know much about my medical history even though I've paid him regular visits over the past few years.
TT You are so young to have this horrid R A . I am years older and had a K N R. and put on Embril which resulted in Sepsis, Thought I would lose my leg but brilliant surgeon took it out and had a concreate block for 4 years, untill I was brave enough to have a revision done.Keep a look out for any trailing redness from the back of the knee, thats how I knew to call for helpI am reasonable O K . BUT THE FIGHT CONTINUES.
Yes, when I would hit a joint it would get infected. I'm not sure if it's related (probably) but I gave up smoking in 2020 and haven't had any septic joints since. It could even be bursitis in your knee, I had a one in 2019 and now have a bakers cyst which I relentless with pain. The nurses wouldn't have given an injection in there if they thought it was infected, they'd send you for a blood test first. I use Voltarol on my knee and it works for me, give it a try x
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