Painful knees

[SassieCat]

Saw Rheumy today.  I have been under a flare up and it's my knees that are hurting me the most.  She said I have bursitis and can come with autoimmune and osteoarthritus.  I had a corticosteroid injection (ouch) in each knee.  Now they are feeling much better.

Didn't realize that the knees could/would be affected.  Has anyone else had this happen to them.  Why would my AI cause this?

Sassie

[eyeamdry]

Sassie, I don't know the answer, but I'd guess "why not"?  I've only been dx with Sjogrens two years, but probably have haD IT 9 years -or more?  I had a partial knee replacement 8 years ago and am now having problems with it.  The other knee has quite a bit of osteoarthritis in it too.  Is it Sjs, is it age, ?  We just don't know I guess.  I was in my 50's with the replacement, which isn't real young, but most replacements are a bit older unless many due to extreme overweight.  (Mine wasn['t.) 

Those shots really do hurt, but are worth it if you get a long time pain free and you might.  Please let us know how they've worked.

Lucy

[wordnerd]

I also have severe knee pain.  In combination with my ankle and hip pain, it is so painful I can't walk and am currently using a wheelchair.

If I'm remembering correctly, non-degenerative arthritis is fairly common with Sjogren's.

I'm really interested to hear that those injections seemed to help!  None of my doctors have even suggested I try that.  Hmmm.

-Lauren

[SassieCat]

Lauren,

I've had injections for my pain quite a few times.  Mostly I get them from my pain mgmt. doctor.  I was surprised to get them from the Rheumy.  My knees still feel pretty good and I don't have the pain in my ankles either. 

I need to go back to my pain management doctor now.  She will do trigger point injections in my shoulders and that's a short term fix, but it helps.  I also see another doctor who is her associate who does the nerve blocks.  These will be in my lower back and sacrillac and have lasted anywhere between 2 weeks to 8 months.  I have had about 14 so far and the really help me.  I go in gimping and in pain and come out walking (slowly) but walking upright.  The time it only lasted 2 weeks was because I overstrained my back from work.

Sassie

[ChmpgnLove]

My knees are what hurts me the most.  It seems to have eased up some, but now has moved to my ankles.  I've heard the line "if you lose weight, they wouldn't hurt", but I've been dieting, have lost weight, and they still hurt!

[Fairy]

I too have severe knee pain, and I have had 3 surgeries on my left knee due to Osteoarthritis. My Rheumy says it is all related. I also have fibromyalgia, which causes pain on the inside of both knees.
I hope you feel better!

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

I know bursitis can be related to SjS.  SjS can cause inflammation of connective tissues so any ligaments, tendons, etc etc can be affected.

My rheumy says osteoarthritis is NOT due to Sjogren's. He says it's sheer bad luck I have it too. I had it really badly in one knee and needed a partial knee replacement. I still have it in the other side of that knee but not too badly yet. My other knee and my shoulders are also affected. Not badly enough to warrant replacents although I was offered a shoulder one. I'd have to hurt a lot more to go for one. The partial knee replacenment was great and moved me from pretty disabled to not disabled. My shoulder is not disabling.

People without autoimmune diseases also develop osteoarthritis and it can hit some people when they are quite young as well. Life is just not fair.

Take care - Scottie 

[SassieCat]

I give any doctor who tells it's because of my weight a very dirty look.  Skinny people have the same problems and I don't hear the doctors telling them to put on a few pounds and all will be better.   

I've put doctors on the spot by asking them if they only see over weight people?  When they tell me no, then I say "so you're telling me skinny people have this too?"

Having perfect weather will make me feel better too.  But mother nature can't control the weather any better than I can my weight.  lol

[dwbreadbaker]

It was because of my painful knees, shoulders, ankle, hand, fingers and toes that my doctor checked my ANA and found out I had Sjorgren's.  My rheumy put me on Neurontin which helped the pain immediately.  I still get some degree of pain from time to time but not like it was before.  I also swear by the cod liver oil that my chiropractor suggested.  It has very little taste and is not at all disgusting.

I wish you relief from your knee pain.

Debbie

[katyjo]

I have experienced, sore knees, sore swollen anckle, neck and back pain, shoulder paid and hip pain.  They all start coming on after I turned 40.  I was really worried as I thought I was too young to feel like an old lady.  I have been taken 2000 mg of MSM.  for a few weeks. I don't know if it's all the vitamins I'm taking or the the nice warm weather, but I don't feel so sore.   Unfortunately I still have the other symtoms of dry eyes, headache, and tender lymphnodes.   

[lesleyjoy]

Hi there, I haven't been on for some time as my health has been pretty good. I've continued my walking, begun a new relationship (in the last 3months, which is lovely) but sadly, I've developed stiffness, soreness and pain in my knees, the right knee has some fluid and is warmer than the other. It's all happened over the last month or so!! Probably due to the excitement of a new relationship :-)

The first symptom I noticed was a stiffness behind the right knee, especially after resting. The muscle strength is good. I've stopped exercising for the meantime as it makes things worse. I'm been to the Dr who's running another set of blood tests. All my blood counts are normal and the ANAs are expected back soon. Of course I'm always sero-negative but am ever hoping something will turn up!!

I'm taking Brufen Retard 800 and just waiting for this flare to pass. I've had muscle soreness before but not the joint involvement so it's rather scary...

The new man (who lives in another city here in NZ) knows about my autoimmune stuff (CFS/ dryness issues, mouth and eyes) but has always seen me as fit. I told him about things right at the beginning when we first met.  I've told him about the occasional flares I have and he's done a bit of reading! I feel that I need to tell him that it's OK for him to end the relationship if he feels that he's not comfortable with the changes...I don't want to be a burdon on anyone or tie them down. It's only early days but we get on so well and the long term plan is that I may move to his town. So two things happening at one time!! It's only 45 mins by plane from where I live, but all this stuff is so unpredictable!!

I'm 53 and have been divorced for 14 years. My 2 adult daughter live close. I'm still part time teaching which I enjoy :-)


I'd really appreciate any feedback you may have :-)

Cheers,
Lesley (New Zealand)

[Bernice]

Les,

Girl, you had better come up with something so that you can keep up with that new man! Ain't nothing like a sweet courtship. It's nice to say he SHOULD understand, but as grown peoples we know that's not aleays the case. That's a hard one cus not knowing him, can't say. Let's just hope he is understanding. How old is he? Not that it really matters, even SOME older one now a days have the nerves to be picky. Some of them can have a foot in the grave themselves and have the nerve to insist they want a pretty young healthy woman with plenty of energy, especially those that have tricked some doctor into giving them one of those majic pills.


I think chances are if he has not ran yet he probaly won't, especially if he's read up on it and hane seen you mostly at your best (not flaring often enough to interfer with new relationship too much). I sure wouldn't push myself too much trying to prove anything, cuz we know it would only cause SJSto really flare up to show both him and you who's really BOSS! Don't make SJS really showout in front of your new beau, just yet.

[eyeamdry]

Lesley, wonderful about your new romance!  You just said you were 53 and I'm assuming he's somewhere around your age, give or take a few years. 
It's been awhile since I was 53, but I wasn't out running laps.  I would bet your new fellow has a few crinkles in his crank, too.  He certainly doesn't want to talk about it just yet!  Lucy

[lesleyjoy]

Hi Bernice and thanks...he's 52, so same age really   We have good communication so it's easy to say how and what we feel. Ultimately, it has to feel right for both partners, so I'll just go with the flow and see what happens...

If something showed up positive for a change, I'd be able to go onto plaquinel immediately and give it a go! However, my rhumatologist is pretty good and would prescribe according to symptoms. Although I can feel a low level aching, there's no point that actually hurts when I touch or push it...it was the same at the Dr's!!!  Hopefully, this is just a flare  

Thanks, Lesley  

[lesleyjoy]

  Thanks Lucy lol, I'm fitter than him at present too! He could also loose half a stone too...all that NZ dairy produce  In saying that he does exercise, walks tramps, has a rowing machine etc!!! Doesn't always use them consistently though