Q I have a Baker's cyst on my right knee because of osteoarthritis. What am I to expect? How long will it last? Will I need a new knee eventually? A A Baker's cyst is a swelling that can develop behind the knee. It's filled with synovial fluid, which is the lubricating fluid that's usually found inside the knee joint. It most commonly occurs if there's an underlying problem with your knee, such as osteoarthritis. Often it'll get better on its own and the swelling goes away over time.
In a small minority of people, they can split open rupture and the fluid inside can leak out into the calf muscle, which causes swelling, redness and itching. Your focus should be on maintaining the health of the knee and managing any other symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Keep the joint moving, stay active and try to keep to a healthy weight. If there's a lot of swelling in the knee, then sometimes a joint injection to take out the fluid and put in some steroid medication can help. This answer was provided by Dr Tom Margham in , and was correct at the time of publication.
Q I'm getting desperate. I suffer from both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. My greatest problem is osteoarthritis in my cervical spine. For about five years I've been in constant pain, night and day. My rheumatologist can only suggest exercises, heat, a collar and painkillers co-codamol , all to little effect.
I heard of someone who has Botox injections three times a month, which brings great relief. Could you advise me on this or any other treatment you think would be successful? I'm reaching the end of my tether. A I'm sorry to hear about this. Constant pain in the neck is one of the worst types of pain and I know from personal experience how disabling it can be.
I've given Botox injections for neck conditions, but only if significant muscle spasm is present — this is sometimes referred to as spasmodic torticollis. Botox works by temporarily paralysing the muscles. It's a drug derived from the bacteria that cause botulism, where widespread muscle paralysis can occur. It sounds worse than it is and these injections have now been introduced widely in medicine. You've probably heard of their use in plastic surgery.
The paralysis isn't permanent, but can last for a good while. Often the injections have to be repeated to maintain their benefit. In your case, it would be advisable to seek an opinion from someone who administers these treatments. Other injections, such as selective nerve blocks, are also a possibility. It causes joint pain and inflammation. Learn about the symptoms, causes and treatment.
Q I suffer from mild rheumatoid arthritis which fortunately doesn't stop me from doing anything I did before. But I've noticed that when I catch a cold, it seems to be worse than before I was diagnosed. Is this me being ultra-sensitive to my body or does rheumatoid arthritis actually make common ailments worse? A With rheumatoid arthritis, you have what could be described as an overactive, but misdirected, immune system.
It's doing its job, but in the wrong places — against your own body, rather than materials from outside your body that might be a threat to health. It's true that people with rheumatoid arthritis are more prone to infections and, as you describe, it possibly makes minor infections worse.
This is partly due to your immune system not working properly and also because of the effects of the drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, which work by damping down the immune system. One of the most important things you can do is get a flu jab each year and a pneumococcal vaccine usually only required once to help stop you picking up flu, which is the most common cause of pneumonia. These are both 'inactivated' vaccines, so are safe for people with rheumatoid arthritis.
You can read more about this in our vaccination and arthritis information. Q I've suffered from dry eyes for a long time. I suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and had a hip replacement in I've tried all the remedies the NHS has to offer and have been on sulfasalazine and methotrexate for three years.
Does rheumatoid arthritis contribute to dry eyes? Can you suggest a cure or anything to relieve the symptoms? A Dry eyes are a recognised feature extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis. The rheumatoid process can cause damage to the cells that produce the moisture for the eyes and mouth. At its most severe, this condition can lead to damage of the surface of the eye and visual impairment, so it's important to seek help.
Mostly, lubricant eye drops are used, but sometimes surgical solutions are necessary. These include putting a plug in the duct that drains the tears away.
Lubricants can also be used for the mouth and a tablet called pilocarpine may help both eyes and mouth. Q I'm 63 and have suffered from osteoarthritis for around 10 years. I've recently been diagnosed with chronic inflammatory arthritis, at which time my consultant also used the words rheumatoid arthritis.
Although the blood markers were negative, which he said applied to around 30 per cent of sufferers, an MRI showed inflammation and degeneration around the joints of my hands. He's prescribed methotrexate and folic acid. Arthritis damages this protective tissue. But in RA and OA, the causes of joint damage are different. RA is an autoimmune disease. In the process, it releases enzymes that destroy the linings of the joints, leading to pain, swelling, and stiffness. Other symptoms can also develop throughout the body.
OA involves the protective cartilage gradually wearing down, causing the bones to rub together. This wear and tear can result from repetitive movements, such as in sports, that place pressure on the joints. Bony growths called bone spurs develop on the joints, which become stiff, painful, and harder to move.
The risks of developing OA and RA increase with age, although either condition can occur at any age. What is the difference between rheumatoid arthritis and gout?
Symptoms of both conditions tend to be worse in the morning. Both can cause stiffness in the morning or after resting, too. However, in a person with OA, the stiffness usually improves within 30 minutes. In someone with RA, it usually lasts longer. RA symptoms may develop and worsen quickly, sometimes within a few weeks. OA symptoms arise more slowly, as the protective tissues in the joints gradually wear down.
However, certain activities can cause a sudden worsening of OA symptoms. For example, going for a hike may cause sudden, severe swelling in the knee. Both conditions can affect many different joints in the body. OA is most likely to develop in the knees and the small finger and thumb joints. RA often develops in the hands, fingers, elbows, knees, feet, and hips, and it usually occurs in the same joints on both sides of the body.
OA, meanwhile, often only develops on one side. The good news is that treatments for one condition shouldn't exacerbate the other condition or conflict with its treatment. It can be hard to manage two conditions at once, and it can be discouraging to get one under control only to discover you have something else to tackle. Keep in mind that you have a lot of tools available for managing your pain and other symptoms. Stay in contact with your medical team about what is and isn't working so you can find the right combination of treatments for you.
Learn tips for managing arthrits pain, medications, and daily challenges. Neogi T. The epidemiology and impact of pain in osteoarthritis. Osteoarthr Cartil. Identification of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis patients by transcriptome-based rule set generation.
Arthritis Res Ther. Pain in rheumatoid arthritis: a critical review. Arthritis Foundation. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What is osteoarthritis OA? Updated May 4, UpToDate: Patient information.
Osteoarthritis symptoms and diagnosis. Updated June Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. Autoimmune disorder vs. Risk factors. Symptom similarities and differences.
Rheumatoid arthritis Osteoarthritis When it starts Any age. Usually later in life. How it develops Fairly quickly, over weeks or months. Slowly over many years. Risk factors Can run in families. RA is 2—3 times more common in women. Overweight and obesity, joint deformities, traumatic joint injuries, diabetes, and gout. Symptoms In addition to joint pain and swelling, you may have a low-grade fever, muscle aches, and fatigue.
RA can affect your entire body, including your heart and lungs. In advanced cases, hard lumps called rheumatoid nodules may develop under the skin near joints. Mostly limited to joint pain. Excessive bone growths called bone spurs may develop on the edges affected joints. Joints affected Usually begins in smaller joints, especially in the fingers. Symptoms are symmetrical on both sides of the body and may later develop in larger joints. Often joints in the hands and fingers, but less symmetrical than RA.
Also affects the knees, spine, and hips. Treatment Disease-modifying medications and biologics that target your immune system. Anti-inflammatory and corticosteroid medications. Joints most often affected. Treatment approaches. Common questions.
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