Arthritis pain question - regarding the back of the knee?

Question

I have rheumatoid arthritis, am 26 years old and since moving to Denver have NEVER had so much pain with it! Sure there have been times my whole body would flare up and it wouldn't be pleasant - but I am noticing more localized pain - specifically the BACK of my knees, my hips, and my shoulders - as well of course as toes and fingers. Why would it be so localized like this and what can I do?

Yes, I am overweight, but have been working on it! This month lost 16 lbs! YAY ME! I also sit long hours for work... but no more than I was before I moved here and am still doing my yoga, belly dancing and walking.

Answer 1

Ask your doctor about Celebrex

Answer 2

I agree with jillianp. I wanted to add that whenever I've had severe pain in the back of my knee, my sister always asks if I think it's a clot (DVT) deep vein thrombosis, superficial vein thrombosis or phlebitis. Sometimes it's caused by sitting too long and can feel swollen, red and warm to touch.

Often IT JUST GOES AWAY BY ITSELF.

By the way is it only behind 1 knee or both? RA usually affects both sides.

Sometimes, when we have a chronic illness we just presume any symptoms we have are the illness. If it lasts a few more days I'd check it out with MD. By the way, my knee pain has never turned out to be anything serious.

Good luck & good going on your weight loss!

Answer 3

I have RA and am 49, but my first swollen joint was 21! This is normal. You usually start with the one joint, flare, remission. then another joint, flare and remission. Then the body flare where everything rebels. Then it zones in as I say on a few joints. I think the answer is: when one joint flares we unknowingly shift body posture to counteract it. So toes on right foot, we tend to put more weight on the left side which then inflames the left knee, so we shift weight back to the toes because they are not as painful as the knee and then the shoulder joins in. Now we are trying to disco dance around, to avoid the joints that are painful. All this extra strain on the joints, means they will flare and so on it goes. The idea is to knock it on the head so as soon as one joint starts to rebel, see the Rheumatologist get it sorted and that is it.