Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Grapefruit anyone

Hello all just wondering if anybody also shares this prob .My knees fill up with fluid and my knee cap dissapeares and it looks like a grapefruit instead of a knee.Since I have been on mtx it has allmost stopped but the past 2 months my body has gone under a massive attack with my symps doubling .This week my knee blew up again horribly bad and I know when its gonna happen because I feel my knees get tight inside.It has gotten so bad in the past that it has cut off circulation in my lower leg ahhh.I have an appt tomorrow to get jabbed with the big vac needle .Just wondering if anybody else has this prob Thanks Steve

Hi Steve!
YEP.. My right knee fills up with fluid. Actually years ago when I was a wee one, that was one of my first problems! Then my knees started giving out on me when I would go downstairs at my old home. One day it just gave out midway down my staircase. Ended up in a brace for 2 weeks. I only get a few problems but not as often I used to.

I last had a steroid shot in my knee about 3 yrs ago. FIRST and ONLY shot I ever want. EEK! He warned me it would be painful but I about jumped out of my skin. Thankfully within a couple of days the swelling went down.

I mostly have problems with it during spring with the humidity. During winter its mostly the joint pain in knee and cartlidge.

Good luck and hope the swelling goes down soon.

Hi Steve,

I wish I could tell you that I don't know how you feel....but I do.

I have had my right knee drained probly 3 times and cortisone shot in it at least 5 or 6.

You don't know how much you need your knees until you can't walk on them.

It is 1 of the most painful joints I have had to put up with, I would say my eyes and Iritis are right up there too.

Your knee is so painful, then they stick the needle in...the sad thing is it has to be done. I would make sure your Dr. shoots cortisone in there to try and freeze the inflamation out and I would ask for some oral prednisone also.

Plus, I would try and stay off of it a few days (if you can) and when you can put it up.

I have a brace that will keep my knee from moving, that helps too.

I feel for you, my Dr. also sprays that numming spray on it, that stuff hurt as much as the needle so the last 2 times I said I DON"T want the spray....just give me a bullet & a wiskey...lol

I put that right up there with childbirth...lol you think I am kidding...I am not.

Good luck!

Lisa

Hi,
This happens to my knee sometimes. My knee gets fat and feels tight and inflexible due to fluid all around the sides and above the knee cap. In addition the knee feels hot. I go to a physio and ask for "ultrasound". The procedure is totally painless and I usually notice a reduction in swelling the next day. The physio puts some lubricant on the skin and gently moves the ultrasound over the knee for a short time. The ultrasound looks a bit like a hand-held electric razor. I have had success with this treatment numerous times over the last three years. Hope that it might help you too.
Best wishes, Eucalyptus.

Any knee injuries that you can remember?

Our killer humidity may also be responsible for any flares or swelling right now.

My knee has just started to bulge above the kneecap so I'll keep an eye on the similar posts.

Good luck with the doctor visit and maybe keep us posted on your progress.

later,
Klem

I had knee problems for about the first 10-12 yrs of the disease to the point that they had to bw tapped several times. I still occasionally have a slight swelling but not enough to really cause a problem. If you haven't had your knees drained yet -don't worry- it is not a very painful procedure. I had one doctor who wanted to inject xylocaine in the area before he did the tap but the xylocaine injection was as painful as the previous taps had been so from then on I had him just do it without anything. I'm not sure if everyone would be the same but my fluid usually had a lot of particalate matter in it so they need to use a large enough needle so it doesn't get plugged. I wish you luck and hope your knee will feel a whole lot better soon. Ottis

The only time I've ever had to have my knee drained, it was after I was hit by the car four years ago. It blew up to the size of a nerf football!

Other than that, while I don't have to have them drained, I often get a floaty feeling in my knees and it does feel like they're filled with fluid. My knees have never been good, as I have totally flat feet and so my kneecaps don't track properly. But that wobbly liquid feeling really sucks.

Hugs,

Steve,

Between both my knees they have been drained 5 or 6 times. Ican tell you that the slight pain felt while the knees were being drained is greatly outweighed by the immediate relief from the swelling and being able to walk again within minutes. I did have one experience where the knee swelled up again overnight and I had to get it drained again the next day. Normally I get relief for a year or more before I get a flare that causes such extreme swelling again.

I hope this helps,

Trevor

Hi all ..Thanks for all the replys .To asnser a few questions ..I have had my knees drained many times but havnt had a prob for at least to years!!And yes the pain isnt that bad the the felling of my knee returning back to size is wonderfull..The squishy feeling is the worst kat!!Drives me nutty.I had it drained today and had a shot of quartazone (prob spelled that wrong) put in im allready feeling better .I imobilized my knee to kep it from bending all day but now my left knee hurts from standing on my opposite all day since my work would not give me off rrrrr!!!Maybee its the heat ?Sometimes when its extremely hot here they get weird?but Ive been good for at least two years .Perviously to the two years they blew up all the time .I had a massive blow up a few back and had it drained and by the time I got home It was just as large as when I had it drained ahhhh.Im just praying for no more water its makes it impossible to walk with my busted hip .I guess im not alone in the knee dept!.Take Care everyone good night Steve