I have developed a very painful knee - this happened before and it was put down to bursitis. The knee was aspirated and it took me the best part of a year to be able to walk normally - but never for as far as I used to walk. This began just before PMR - I think after the first vaccine. I am now on 6mg pred for the PMR and so far, so good.
However, I also currently have an tummy bug and this latest knee pain seems to have coincided with that. Just wondering if it is coincidence or whether it is another type of arthritis. When I put diarrhoea plus painful knee into Dr Google it comes up with reactive arthritis. As anyone else any knowledge of this?
Whatever it is, it has made us cancel our plans for Christmas (we were going away). No use crawling around & limping and trying to cope with stairs at the moment.
I shall l try to contact a GP tomorrow - but as my practice failed to tell me I was pre-diabetic at one stage then I have little faith in them.
If anyone can shed any light on any of this from your own experience then thank you!
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Miserere
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The trouble with Dr G is that he tends to regurgitate worst case scenarios!
Reactive arthritis tends to be in response to certain bacterial infections - and diarrhoea is often bacterial in origin or. alternatively, a bacterial GI bug is likely to cause it.
Being ill often then wakes up previous weak spots - PMR does it a lot! Is the knee hot and red? It is perfectly possible - and that your PMR may not be "just" PMR.
Thank you, PMRpro! Yes, you are right about Dr G. It may be a coincidence that the two things (gut problems and knee pain) arrived at the same time.
The knee is cold/normal, if anything, and it doesn't look red. As to swelling, well both my knees have been 'ugly' for many years. One was operated on when I was a young teenager after a twisting fall and it has never taken its full load since, so the other one, that is now acting up, has had to take brunt of the work when it comes to weight-bearing. And I was a keen walker!
My arms/hips are free and flexible; that's why I thought it can't be PMR. It may be just wear and tear that gets pushed too far every so often but it is painful. I am trying to rest it at present and am using ice every so often. So, now, I am wondering whether to contact the GP or not. I did request a blood test which I had a few weeks ago - I should have been more precise as, would you believe it, they did not test inflammation markers, so no ESR or CRP. I sometimes wonder whether anyone there knows what they are doing.
I have knee trouble not associated with PMR. I have been having Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, which I have been paying for privately, it seems to work for me, but apparently you can now get PRP on the NHS.
I have a v painful knee and wanted to know what was wrong ie if it was PMR related or something else- an MRI confirmed severacartilage tears and an effusion so am waiting to be seen by knee consultant- I didn’t want to take more Pred than needed so have reduced my Pred again- only way to know for sure is to ask for an MRI if that’s possible?
I had an MRI last year, spring-time and all they came up with was arthritic changes. My osteo has mentioned cartilage but feels it could repair. I have ordered some collagen supplements and am sticking to a low carb diet. Let's see what happens.
Not sure your osteo is giving good advice, unless your cartilage damage is very minor -if it’s due arthritis that’s unlikely….
couple of comments I found -
“Q: Can cartilage repair itself?
A: Though it is made of cells and tissues, cartilage cannot repair itself due to the lack of blood vessels and enough blood supply to create and duplicate new cells.
12 Aug 2021”
“Cartilage has practically zero regenerative potential in adulthood, so once it's injured or gone, what we can do for patients has been very limited,” said assistant professor of surgery Charles K.F. Chan, PhD.17 Aug 2020”
Hmm, not very positive then if the cartilage is damaged? I can only rest, ice, eat a good diet and slowly re-establish exercise as the NHS will not be able to do anything either. Thank you, DL.
The NHS may be able to suggest exercises that I increase the strength of the muscles around knee to support if better - but if cartilage degeneration is due to osteoarthritis there us only limited help.
Flexiseq might help -if you have enough synovial fluid within joint for it to work on -if not and it’s bone-in-bone then I found it did nothing for my knee. However it’s good for my shoulder -so maybe worth a try. Not cheap -but if it works, it’s worth it. Very often on offer
If you use stomach protection (a PPI for example) and take it with food short term ibuprofen is approved of by my rheumy - he uses courses of NSAID infusions for me providing I take a PPI or similar. I take a single flooding dose of ibuprofen (800mg) on occasions for severe back problems. That usually lasts 24 hours and I have no problems with it. Paracetamol and codeine stuff is also OK.
I must admit I don’t tend to take painkillers either. It is really just a good way of testing to see if it is PMR causing the problem or something else.
since PMR and GCA diagnosis January 2020, my right leg has started hurting on and off . I had a few knee X-rays and saw an orthopaedic surgeon about one month ago as the knee pain was so bad I was unable to walk. Just on the basis of X-rays and no MRI I have been put on the waiting list for a knee replacement. I have just had a pre assessment and expect to have an operation early next year. I am scared because I am always tired and wonder how I will be able to do the exercises required pre and post op. Six months ago I had a steroid injection in my knee, but it didn’t make any difference.
I, too, dread surgery, frankly. However, I have been persisting with somatic exercises and it is a little easier today. I can walk around the house, at least, without the stick. I shall keep on with them now as they make you aware of the stress you are holding in the muscles and, if you do them very slowly, help to release it. One step at a time is the way I am going to take this. Take care.
Hi I can sympathise about the knee I have much the same Doc told me I had a goose foot bursitis and injected it did no good at all. I ended up going privately to see a consultant at the local private hospital. I had an x-ray and MRI. I go in tomorrow to have the torn cartilage removed and the knee washed out and cleaned up I have been unable to walk much for2months only around the house so I hope it does the trick will keep you posted as to the outcome
Please do, Bee2222. I'll be interested to see how it goes. It sounds similar to an op I had years ago on the other knee. I can't remember much about it but I was told they washed out the pad behind the kneecap ... not sure if that's likely.
Exactly what they do - they flush out the area behind the kneecap between the thigh and lower leg bones by introducing fluid into it and then letting it out
Wow! So that's what they must have done - mind you that was 50+ years ago and it was never the same afterwards. They are bound to have improved by now, though.
Hello , I read your post and would like to relate my experience of this issue . Back in my younger days ie. 2009 when I was healthy and long before PMR diagnosis , I contracted a serious form of dysentery called shigella ( food poisoning ) while working in Africa . I was told when I returned to the UK that there was a high risk of me developing Reactive Arthritis and other auto immune conditions , low and behold , I have , in addition to my PMR , fluid in knee called Bakers cyst and other arthritic issues . I wish you well getting your condition resolved . Phil
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