Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Melinda56 12/12/2016

Hi everyone! I am seeking advice,please. Can RA effect only one knee? I had a partial knee replacement eleven years ago due to osteoarthritis. My pain now is so weird. One time the right side of my knee, the next it feels like the pain is in my hamstring behind the knee the next no pain. I have been on enbrel but due to insurance changes at work I have been off enbrel for two months. Could this be because of the lack of this medication? Any ideas? Thank you!

MarleneJ 12/12/2016

I don't get knee flares until I have them everywhere.I do get them in one, but the other one usually catches up.

Its hard to know exactly what you are describing. Perhaps a visit to your rheumatologist might make more sense?

As for having to go off Enbrel because of "insurance changes at work" this is a prime example of why insurance should not be work based. This would never have happened to you in places like Canada, England, France, Australia, etc, etc.

I would ask, have you had flares anywhere else?

californialynn 12/12/2016

Try an appeal with your insurance.

I began RA in one knee though It was diagnosed as CPPD. A few months later other joints flared and I got the correct diagnosis.

WarriorGal 12/13/2016

YES, it can effect one knee especially if there has been any injury to that knee. PT might help if you can get that covered. Th either thing to consider, especially since you mentioned pain behind your knee....feel behind your knee when it is fully straightened. If you feel a lump, you probably have a baker cyst - it can be drained and/or injected with cortisone.

Melinda56 12/13/2016

Thank you all for the information, I really appreciate it! I see my rheumy next month, until then, prayers are needed! Thank you!

MarleneJ 12/13/2016

I will pray for you, Melinda!

californialynn 12/13/2016

Can you call your primary and get an Rx for an NSAID in the meantime? It should help reduce some of the inflammation.

buddhacat 12/13/2016

What's the "right side?" Are you taking about the lateral ("outside") side of your knee? I get that sometimes - I had a TKR last year - where the IT band passes over (and connects) to the later epicondyl, the big bump at the end of the femur. The anatomy of the later knee involves several pieces, including the hamstring, the IT band, the lateral colateral ligament and the lateral retinaculum. If your hamstrings are weak, that could cause you to over use your IT band, thereby making it tight.

If this all started after being off meds, that would be suggestive of RA affecting your knee, but whether or not that's the case, if you can keep your hamstrings and IT band stretched and strengthened (basically the stuff you did in PT to rehab your knee), that might help. Make sure you do the same for your quads, as well, since one will affect the other. Hamstring and quad stretches are pretty straight-forward, but, if you can't get a good quad stretch, a good method is to stand straight, with your knee on a chair, at a 45 degree (or more, if you can) angle, and push your pelvis forward . Using a foam roller is good for an IT band stretch.

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