Septic Arthritis

[Worsuz]

Hi folks. Just wondering if any of you have had experience of Septic Arthritis? My wife has has excruciating pain and swelling in her knee, was unable to walk etc. was admitted to hospital a few days ago and they’re still doing test but think it could be this. What was the treatment and do you recover fully from the pain? Thank you

[Lyndy]

It sounds horrible! Hope she feels better soon xx

[bamboo89]

I'd never heard of septic arthritis, so i looked it up, and yes it can be a thing. IV antibiotics in hospital is the main treatment, followed by some weeks of antibiotic in tablet form. In case you haven't seen it, this is the NHS page on the subject generally nhs.uk/conditions/septic-ar.... I hope your wife recovers soon.

[Worsuz in reply to bamboo89]

Thank you

[Worsuz]

Thank you for the replies. It doesn’t seem to be commonly connected with chemo or with the cancer itself. Tests are ongoing to establish whether it is septic or inflammatory arthritis. Whichever it is…..the pain is not good. Even the hospital are struggling to get it under control. Hopefully they make some progress soon. If it’s not one thing it’s another isn’t it!! 🌼

[bamboo89 in reply to Worsuz]

There's probably more in depth information other than the general stuff provided by the NHS, but seems it can occur in those who are immuno suppressed, which would mean some cancer patients. From that NHS page, sounds like a type of sepsis anyway - hope it gets resolved one way or another; if its not and it's inflammatory arthritis, it won't kill her, but it can make life difficult (as I know) but its not easy to manage when there's a flare up, although there are anti inflammatory drugs available if she can take them, but you are right, it is one thing after another as we get older, never mind having cancer as well -good luck with it.

[Chalmers]

Yes I get this often

[Chalmers]

I had a replacement knee in 2016 and exactly a year later I started having this septic arthritis. I have just had 48 hours of agony. Cannot walk, shivering, vomiting, totally miserable. And it is recurring more and more often. The first couple of times I was admitted to hospital, now it just seems a case of taking your increased steroids. Very painful and blooming difficult when you live alone. I wish the hospital would come up with something for me. I wonder how your wife is now? I tried to respond to your post at the time and for some reason it would not let me, today it has.

[Worsuz in reply to Chalmers]

Hi, she sees a rheumatologist from time to time now who drains the fluid off and the pain goes away until the fluid build up again…and repeat. Hope that helps 🌼

[Chalmers in reply to Worsuz]

Oh yes, I used to have that done and it was a great relief, but once they did my replacement knee they will not drain it off or risk putting a needle in for fear of introducing infection into the replacement joint. I would just love to have more information on this so-called 'septic arthritis'