Did your knees get better? | Arthritis Information

Hi again, everyone. I'm still awaiting my results from bloodwork--it's unbelievable how long 10 days can seem!--but because of the symmetrical nature of the pain in my hand and knee joints, I'm pretty sure I've got RA.

My question has to do with how you all felt after the medication started to work (I know the DMARDs take a few weeks to kick in). In my few days of lurking around here and reading, I've seen many people encourage someone not on meds that "it will get better" once they get on medication. I'm not expecting to be at 100% anymore, and I'm dealing with that, but what's got me feeling very frustrated is the discomfort in my knees.

Did any of you start with knee pain as your first indication of RA? Does it really improve once the medicine kicks in?

Many thanks, as always. :)

Christina

drmalcolm39289.3687731481I had terrible joint pain in pretty much every joint I had. I discovered new joints where i didn't think I had joints! when i say terrible I mean i virtually couldn't move, and couldn't even bear the weight of a sheet over me in bed at night. I was in hospital for 2 weeks as i couldn't really do anything for myself.

Once I started on the methotrexate and it kicked in, it was as though I had gone back to normal most of the time. (Rheumy started me on anti inflammatories and steroid injections at first but they were nowhere near as effective) No joint pain unless i was having a minor flare (caused by flu/hangovers/lack of sleep) and even then it was manageable. Nothing like the flares from not being on any meds.

Damn the methotrexate side effects! THats the only thing that made me stop taking it, and believe me they had to be pretty bad to give up that kind of pain relief. (Don't worry if youre going on MTX, the side effects i had were v v v rare and only developed after I was prescribed stuff that interacted with the metho)

when my remicade is working well, which is about 5 days out of 7 days my knees are still the most painful joint. However, even with pain I can do things like walk a few blocks, or go up and down stairs. not sprint but not in agony either.

It took a while to find the right combo for me. unfortunately just MTX did absolutely nothing even at 20 mg. I have to have a biologic as well as the DMARD.

Hi Christina,

I have been on the meds for 6 weeks and so far doing pretty good. The side effects of the MTX and Plaquenil were really just GI related for me and now I make sure to drink plenty of water and eat with my meds. I still have the morning stiffness but it is a memory after an hour or so. I do get pain if I overdo it and do not stop and rest when I am tired... fatigue is the worst so I have learned to get myself to bed at a decent hour.

Good luck and keep us posted on your test results!

Connie

Everyone, thank you for that. You've really encouraged me.

Orion, I'm so sorry to hear about your side effects! Have you found soemthing else that works well for you, I hope?

Speaking of side effects, my husband, son, and I have been trying to stay light-hearted about this as much as possible. I'm such a freak about finding stray hairs on my shirt or around the house, and we just discovered that, of all things, hair loss can be a side effect of MTX!

Again, thanks so much for sharing your experiences. :)

Christina

drmalcolm39289.3799537037I still have all my hair ... it has thinned naturally over the years but I still color it and style it and it hasn't fallen out yet (knock on wood) Hi DR...I was about as messed up as you can get for 4 months. I was in constant excruciating pain, 4 percocet would barely take the edge off. Most days I could not walk, every joint but my jaw was a swollen miserable mess. The MTX alone didn't help too much (although I was grateful for any little bit of relief) but when doc added Enbrel I was almost my old self OVERNIGHT. Literally. Now I have minor pain and stiffness here and there, have had a couple of flares, but overall, I'm doing ok. I weight train at the gym 3 days aweek and get some cardio in pretty much everyday. I'm not as good as I used to be, but I'm still pretty damn good. Oh. that sounded really obnoxious, huh?

Sparky, thanks for the info on coloring/styling. With regard to the hair loss, I'm glad you've not had any! The girlfriend of mine who mentioned it said the same thing as the others here--that it was just slight when she first began her MTX.

She also mentioned a side effect that she called "hair bleaching" that happens to a few strands a month, but I figure the same tweezers that yank out those "silvery locks" that insist on visiting me now and then will take care of those.

Linncn, hey, I can deal with sounding obnoxious and "pretty damn good!" Way to go! I hope to be there, too!

Orion, good luck with the new stuff next week--I'll be keeping my (currently sort of fat-knuckled) fingers crossed for you!

Again, thanks everyone. This is such an active forum!

My right knee was double for about 6 months and it would keep me awake at night. Yesterday I rode my bike---it was only 11 blocks (from the 4 I started with last week), but I rode my bike. My knee has little twinges and it's still not quite the right shape but it's so way better than it was.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

Hi Christina, I was hit with a severe onset of RA and it has taken years to find the right combo of meds. My knees were not the first area that I had pain....they became involved later on. Most of those years were spent in denial or doctors making bad treatment choices. Once I was on the right path my knees continued to ache and when one of them became worse I was sent to an orthopod. Diagnosis was osteoarthritis with bone on bone. I had no cartledge left in either knee.

Make sure that you don't have osteoarthritis. Osteo and RA of the knees go hand in hand or so I've been told by several doctors. Osteo has caused me to have a total knee 2 weeks ago and the other replacement will be done next year. Your doctor should order a bone density study and xrays of your knees once a diagnosis has been established. Take care. Lindy

Christina--

My RA didn't start in my knees, started in my feet, then hands, ankles, wrists, and then knees. That was about two years ago. My rheumatologist started me on MTX about two months after my first visit. It did take awhile, but I definitely improved on the MTX. And luckily for me, no side effects from the MTX so far.

Even though I thought I was doing pretty well, about a year ago, my rheumy convinced me to add Enbrel. I still had visible swelling and the start of joint damage on X-rays. Now with both the MTX and Enbrel, I feel pretty darn close to normal. I still have some pain and very minor stiffness, but it's really easy to deal with.

I'm wishing the best for you!
dordale

Gimpy, first of all, congrats on the biking feat, and keep it going!

Lindy, thanks so much for that tip. I do have a previous knee injury from my college days (which I refer to as my "soccer injury" that was actually the result of falling UP the steps at a bar). I just saw a specialist last year for it and did get x-rays, and all I have is a tilted knee-cap--no evidence of damage or OA yet, thankfully.

This pain really isn't excruciating now... I do believe it's just the swelling that's causing the pain.

Thanks for your responses!

Christina

dordale, we must have been posting simultaneously. Great news about the Enbrel--that combo is what one of my friends is using with great results. I hope they will work for me. Thanks so much for that tip and the well wishes! :)

Christina