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Sed rate refuses to go down; knees ballooning

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mphooey
mphooey

After over 2 years diagnosed with PMR, I was also diagnosed with RA.  I am now on Humira, MTX (4 pills/week), and prednisone 2.5 mg. Last October my knees started blowing up, first with a burst baker cyst then with fluid.

I need to get them drained monthly. In the meantime all my other markers have gone normal. I have a negative RA factor.  Sed rate is 80, highest its ever been.

Rheum thinks something else is in play and wants a CT scan. Any ideas out there? Does this sound familiar to anybody?

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • ama38049
    ama38049 mphooey

    Posted

    Did your symptoms begin before or after you started Humira? Ask your dr about its side effect - I did not have blowing up but my knees did hurt A LOT more when on it. Good luck and hang on!
    • mphooey
      mphooey ama38049

      Posted

      Symptoms occurred before humira and before methotrexate. I was on 20 mg. pred.
  • EileenH
    EileenH mphooey

    Posted

    Sed rate is just a VERY non-specific indicator of inflammation somewhere. Obviously your knees are inflamed if they are repeatedly producing fluid and unless that inflammation is removed the sed rate won't fall just because the fluid has been aspirated. The negative rheumatoid factor is not particularly significant - just shows you are sero-negative.My query would be why I wasn't on a higher dose of pred.

    At least a CT scan will show most things - as well as keeping the rheumy financially secure...

    • mphooey
      mphooey EileenH

      Posted

      I was on a higher dose of pred, and no humira or methotrexate at that time. CRTs were high too then.
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