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Swollen knee, no fluid, no injury, no abnormal labs

Posted , 6 users are following.

celiza
celiza

I'm a 25 year old female. 6 months ago my left knee randomly swelled up. I tried the normal rest, elevation, ice, ibuprofen and it wasn't getting better it was just getting bigger. I saw an urgent care doctor (didn't have insurance at the time) and was given a steroid shot. The swelling went down significantly, about half the size but never went away. 3 months later when I got insurance and my knee started getting bigger again I went to my primary. I had labs done. ESR and CRP and Rheumatoid Factor. All came back normal. I had a sonogram done on my knee. Didn't reveal anything. Had an xray done. Didn't reveal anything. She gave me another steroid shot. Didn't work. She also tried to drain it twice but no fluid is in it. Another month later I noticed the size of my knee started changing daily. I finally got small relief to where it was hardly swollen and then in a day or two it would swell up to a grapefruit. I saw a rheumatologist last month and is very confused. Got more labs done. All seem normal. My biliruben is off just slightly. She gave me a steroid shot directly into my knee. Didn't work. Also tried to drain it but again there's no actual fluid in it. I have no idea why my knee is swollen.

Help!

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • waqas48758
    waqas48758 celiza

    Posted

    hi have you consider mri done for knee joint? also get your uric acid test done.Might find root cause.
    • celiza
      celiza waqas48758

      Posted

      My rheumatologist says the MRI will be the next step. And thanks, I will bring that up.
  • tammy11224
    tammy11224 celiza

    Posted

    Dear Celiza,

    Sounds like you are doing all the right things! Stay on top of things...continue working with your doctors, seek a cond opinion if you can't get answers. And remember the body is amazing and if you listen to it and follow its cues your healing will be maximized. I hope you get some answers and feel better soon! You are young...stay on top of this and get answers and solutions!!!!

    Best wishes for healing.

    Tammy

  • Oldfatguy1
    Oldfatguy1 celiza

    Posted

    Nowhere in here do I see you have ever been looks at by an orthopedic surgeon or had an mri. For me, that would be the starting point. All the x rays and lab work won't discover soft tissue issues and as a non medical person,

    • celiza
      celiza Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      Thanks. My rheumatologist did suggest to see ortho next. There's just a long waiting period where I live.

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX celiza

    Posted

    OFG1 is correct...in fact, it happened to me four times.  Severe knee pain; x-rays and MRIs showed nothing.  Got scoped four times...twice each knee.  End result was two menisci and two femoral condyles repaired.  Sometimes, the ortho just has to go in and look around when the imaging studies are inconclusive.  Go see amn ortho group that works with your local college and professional sports teams.  They are a great resource.
  • shari_48634
    shari_48634 celiza

    Posted

    His it how my knee in after a tkr in aug. I'm being sent to the university of Michigan

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