Knee swollen

[Mjhollywood1]

Hi. This is he first time with a swollen knee. 2 years in with Pmr. Anyone else. ???

[Baileyw06]

I had a swollen knee and pain and after an MRI it was diagnosed as a torn miniscus. I had to have 2 cortazone shots about 3 weeks apart . It is doing much better with ice and bio freeze.

[Mjhollywood1 in reply to Baileyw06]

Thx

[SnazzyD]

Hello. There are a fair few causes of swollen knee and not necessarily PMR related so it needs a doc to have a poke and decide which investigations are indicated. I hope you get to the bottom of it; being a leg down is jolly awkward!

[Lochy]

I was also two years in when both knees became a problem. Swelling, painful, really affecting my mobility. Started to get me down as previous to that I was coping.

Three steroid injections later and a lot of fluid drained off left knee and one in right knee I’m coping better. Another year has passed too! My rheumatologist appears mystified as to why my knees are so bad as she has rarely seen that in her PMR patients. I started on leflunomide in February at 10mg daily. Keeping a close check on my liver results as they’re consistently elevated (another mystery!) I’ve just increased to 20mg daily which is the more commonly prescribed dose. I’m tolerating it well, with no side affects and interestingly my liver results last week were the lowest they’ve been in many many years.

My knees still ache if I overdo it - I played 9 holes of golf yesterday- but the fact I’m mobile again cheers me enormously. Currently tapering from 8 to 7 prednisilone. Hoping that the leflunomide keeps swelling at bay. Time will tell. Have no idea why my knees (particularly left one) are swelling. No signs of OA or any damage but that was only an X-ray.

Basically just keeping fingers crossed as I keep reducing ......very slowly!

Good luck as it’s a debilitating side of PMR.

[Mary63]

I think it is quite common in our age demographic, and therefore probably not todo with PMR (unless knee pain/swelling is bilateral)

I have been on pred for PMR for 3 1/2 years. In that time I have had 2 torn cartilage repair ops and finally in Feb a total knee replacement.

You probably need to see your doctor and a physio for advice.

PMR diagnosed Jan 2016. Trying to reduce from 7mg to 6.5mg for third time.

[lemarie1 in reply to Mary63]

Hi Mary. I was about to get a total knee replacement when the PMR hit me like a ton of bricks and so I have put it off. I didn't think he would operate when taking prednisone so I just didn't see him anymore......thinking I would see him when I got off of prednisone. No telling how long that would take right? So my knee has not been killing me and I take walks now but wondered what the Dr told you? Did you have a replacement while on how many milligrams of Prednisone? I thought that it would not heal right and might induce infection to be on Prednisone and get a major surgery?

[Mary63 in reply to lemarie1]

I was on 7mg and my surgeon had no prob with that. One of the arthroscopies I was on 12mg.

I did have a stitch abscess 6 weeks after the TKR, butvotherwise no probs with healing.

[Mary63 in reply to lemarie1]

I have also known two people (one hip, one knee) who were on 15mg at the time of the op.

[lemarie1 in reply to Mary63]

Thank you so much. I am so delighted to be able to talk to people directly on this site. It is hard to get answers from doctors who are in a super hurry all the time.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have you done anything - however minor - to injure it? If it is just one it might suggest it is something other than PMR which does tend to be bilateral. But even turning awkwardly with your foot firmly on the floor can be enough to damage a knee.

I fell and twisted my knee a couple of months ago. I don't know how or how badly as it was during a transient global amnesia episode but it created some major bruises! But it was swollen at first - nurses didn't think so but I could see it! And it has HURT!

[Mjhollywood1 in reply to PMRpro]

Could this be bursitis?? Putting ice ! I have to work 10 hrs. Today. Thx mj

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mjhollywood1]

It could I suppose - but being unilateral makes injury more likely I'd have thought.

[jinasc]

I ran into pseudo gout about 1 year down the line with GCA, left knee only. Luckily had an appointment with my Rheumy (whom I trusted), who drained the fluid off straight away.

Later I had a copy of the letter to my GP. New full spectrum blood test, specifically related to calcium. It turned out it had been caused by too much calcium.

When I was diagnosed with GCA and handed me the first prescription it contained Adcal.

It turned out I had never needed calcium and those adcal tablets had tipped me over. From them on, if I was offered any 'just in case', lesson learned and the answer was "No thank you, we will deal with whatever arises if it comes along".

6 years later, gall stones, yes all those years later the excess calcium grit had joined together and formed stones.

Talk to your GP soon.

[Hidden]

I had bursitis in my knee a while back. The main swelling was a swollen lump above the kneecap. It was very painful and hot. I iced it, I got a doughnut thing with gel in that you put in the freezer then it tied round the knee with Velcro. It took a few weeks to go properly but was only really sore for about 3 weeks.

physioworks.com.au/injuries...

[Mjhollywood1 in reply to Hidden]

Thx. Wow. That’s it. I have read that it goes with Pmr ?? Just when I am counting the days. For this to be over something else. !! Thx for the quick response !! Going to try and work today

[Hidden in reply to Mjhollywood1]

I did risk gel nsaids for a week. If it gets really hot then see Dr because it can be an infection.

[GlynisE]

I get swollen knees definitely from PMR.

[Mjhollywood1 in reply to GlynisE]

Thx. This is the first time and I have p m r for over two years. !!!

[S4ndy]

My swollen knees are not pmr/pred related. I have grade 4 osteoarthritis in both knees. Had mri of both and arthroscopy of right knee to clean out debris and smooth surfaces. Best get checked out as could be many causes of knee swelling.