I know I have read many of you suffer with joint aches and pains. I talked about my knee giving me fits and swelling horribly. I swear it looks like a have a "mass" of something growing above my knee. Finally broke down and called the Ortho and got an appointment for tomorrow. I have no idea what is going on. It's developed into something more than just some pain over the last month. I took a picture of both my legs last night so you could see how bad my left one looks (No wise cracks on my ugly legs :) )
I'm now thinking letting the slight inflammation go on for so long, it's developed a major issue. Tear of something? Any ideas?
(http://s15.postimg.org/5lzxo30ev/C08010_BF_F23_B_4724_93_E3_D9_C3354_DC6_F0.jpg)
Ouch! Your knee looks like mine, and I just had knee surgery! Actually, yours is more swollen. Definitely get it checked out. I wish I was more help. In the mean time, you might try a compression stocking and icing it frequently. That is what I am doing for my knee.
Did you injure your knee sometime?
Get better soon!
Thanks! No, I didn't injure it. It's been bothering me for a long time, as in the muscle above it. Started with just bothering me a little and has slowly got worse. The last month, it has really started looking bad and hurting all the time. The joint doesn't hurt, it's all the muscles around it now. I have no idea.
Well if those aren't the bee's knees ;) could this be bursitis? let us know what you find out, hope you are able to find a resolution to the pain and swelling.
Dee
I suffer horrendous knee pain at times and I swear by a gel called Volterol, rub in it well and it takes the pain away, best thing I've found.
Bee's Knees....bahaha...that cracked me up Dee :)
Amanda, no. The only thing I have done as far as felt anything, is a couple of months ago I was pitching to a girl (coached girl's softball) and when I turned to go out on the field, I felt a tiny pop and a sharp pain for about a minute. Then nothing. But by then, that swelling and such above my kneecap was already there, it's just got worse. The Rheumy said he could feel the slight grinding in the joint, but they took xrays to check for arthritis and they came back fine. Just normal degeneration that you see at my age. The area that looks swollen above my knee is hard, but the rest of it is squishy like fluid and the last two nights, by the end of the day, I'm getting fluid around my ankle and top of foot now, so I would assume the fluid is working it's way down. I'm now also having burning pain behind my heel....which does not thrill me as I tore my Achilles tendon twice 13 years ago and it reminds me of that. But then again, it could be the swelling.
I guess I will find out what the ortho thinks today....joy..joy....
Cremer, I'll have to find that.
Well I'm scheduled for an MRI first thing Friday morning. He thinks I have torn my medial meniscus.
Thank you. Yes, medial is the inside. Lateral is the outside. I had to ask as I had no idea what the meniscus was. He also wants them to pay special attention to the quad muscle to make sure there is not a mass there. He says he feels something but it could just be inflamed tissue.
Good news! Nothing torn. Bad news, major inflammation. On an anti-inflammatory for a month then go back to see if it's better. I'll take it!
No. He told me that my actual report said "inconclusive" so he is not completely ruling out that there is not a tear. He just said that means they can't give a definitive answer that yes there is a tear. He said the inflammation can make it hard to see on MRI sometimes. We had a discussion that he said although he is an Ortho, he is very well versed on autoimmunes due to his 40+ years of dealing with patients. He said the inflammation could be caused simply by the autoimmunes so at this time, we will be conservative and treat the inflammation first. If the inflammation is not down significantly or gone in a month, then he will put one steroid injection in. If that doesn't do anything, then I am steal facing arthroscopy so he can go take a look. It bothers him that the one spot he presses that really hurts is the typical sign of meniscus tear.
So we shall see. He did say that I could get a side-benefit from the anti-inflammatory. It could make me feel better in general. :)
Do you have swelling in other joints, and have you had any blood tests for RA?
My Rheumy has tested me for RA and it comes back negative. I have swelling on my left side only. My upper left arm and wrist, my left knee and foot. My Linear Morphea is on my upper left arm, so it could very well be that causing the left arm and wrist swelling as I have muscle/tissue damage there. But only the knee and foot on that side is swelling. My Morphea shouldn't be causing that.