Fluid drained??

It`s strange, because I have been wondering if this is a wait and see situation....The OA or inflammatory arthritis as they sometimes call it, seems to me to fit the RA more.  It was at first called bursitis...miniscus tear....(no damage to cartilage)  They have tried several drugs, and finally Methotrexate, which made my sister extremely ill!....she has to go in two weeks to discuss what`s next, but what is there?  Most people can`t understand how my sister can be left with such a rigid knee....she is now in the process of losing two jobs through this...so obviously we would like some answers.  She dosen`t have raised Rheumatoid factor...only relief she gets is from steroid injections, but they don`t last....thank you for replies!

I really sympathise, when my partner has a flare up with his knee its impossible to drive etc., he's had two periods of certificated sickness in a period of one year and already his employers have started HR procedures against him so he's terrified of losing his job too.  So unfair.  I hope your sister has stopped taking the methotrexate, its a dangerous and horrible drug that can do more harm than good - at one time they only ever prescribed it to cancer patients with nothing to lose.  We don't understand either why more cannot be done - draining the fluid does give benefit, even if it's only short lived and without draining his knee, like your sister's, becomes unbearable and immobilised.  All he's on now is naproxen with a prescription for tramadol 'just in case its needed at night'.  Really unsatisfactory I feel.  

That`s exactly how we feel....yes, she did stop the Mtx, she she was in so much pain, and couldn`t eat for two weeks...dreadful drug.....she has the same painkillers, but, it`s not the answer is it....Very frustrating!

Hello, I remembered this post to me, and wondered if you could answer something for me (my sister really)  Here doctor has said the hospital should drain the fluid off her knee...(they have never suggested this) Did your partner have the fluid drawn off in Rheumatoogy??  They will not refer her to Orthopedics....(originally they said it was Bursitis) but now inflammatory arthritis....stiffness in the knee because fluid is trapped in there....Her doctor has just told her, at 50 she is unlikely to work again.  She is in the process of losing two jobs....someone has told her there is such a thing as sickness redundancy....I hope so for her sake!  Thanks for any info..

Hi Linda.  I asked my partner and he cant remembr which dept at the hospital dealt with it.  He said it was done prior to some surgery. He didn't get the option to have it done again but did say the benefits were quite short lived and as soon as the knee got inflamed again the fluid built up.  He finds if he can get the inflammation to go down, the fluid disperses but it sounds like your sister's issues are more severe and it would benefit her greatly to have it done.  We sympathise about the job situation, my partner is living in fear that the next bout of inflammation will cause him to have time off sick and his employer is brutal about such issues and will suspend him next time.  It's so unfair isnt it.

yes it is very unfair....I hope your partner finds the answers and keeps well.....  Keeping the inflammation down, does sound like the answer, but nothing does it for her...they are now suggesting another drug Sulphazalazine....other than that....steroid injections, but theres only so many allowed in a lifetime apparently!....once again,.thank You.

Hi Linda.  following your reply I did a bit of research into sulphazalazine.  It seems to work by treating the underlying disease rather than just the symptoms - that seems like good news to me.  There are, as with all meds, side effects but it says its safe to use during pregnancy so that would indicate to me its far less dangerous than some other meds.  I hope this helps for your sister.  Do keep us in the loop as it may be something Tim my partner can ask his doctor about.  I'm not convinced about steroid injections. I had one for Morton's Neuroma in one foot - number one it hurt to hell and back and the pain from the injection lasted a whole week and number two the effects wore off so quickly it wasn't worth the distress to be honest.  I guess they work well for some people but on balance I won't bother again, particularly for my hands as I couldn't bear that level of discomfort in that area.  I so sympathise with your problems, it all becomes so frustrating when we just dont seem to be getting clear information from the medical profession and something so basic as arthritis becomes so life restricting.  We're in our 50's and otherwise relatively healthy - ie not overweight, no other underlying disease, no diabetes, etc., we just want to be able to work and support ourselves.  I'm sure its far more cost effective to spend time/money keeping us mobile than to have us go untreated and become dependent on state funded services to support our needs. Conditions like arthritis are I'm sure considered unglamorous to doctors but are so life restricting.  Good luck. xx

Hi Linda , my situation is like toys except I'm in late 60's I've had 3 anterior/ posterior spine surgeries now preparing for ankle replacement and ligament transplant! Someone would think I worked in construction but had a very active gym life that caught up to me. OA is bad and painful. My knee now is bad so I periodically have it drained to great relief. I've been warned not to overdo. Any suggestions?