If you have arthritis, what did it feel like the very first time in your knees?

[Fooootypain]

I’m probably spiralling a bit!!! But I had out-of-the-blue knee pain this week, one suddenly went and then got swollen and painful. Now both hurt.

I am otherwise healthy and fit and not overweight and in my mid-40s. Googling knee pain, I’m seeing a lot about both arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and I’m worrying.

(And it takes forever to get a GP appointment!)

So if you’ve got arthritis, what did it feel like when you first discovered it? Would sudden knee pain in both knees occur? Right now they feel hot and sore and I can’t squat down. Never had a single problem before.

You say "one went"...did you injure or twist it?

It’s a gnawing pain, and also can be burning or stabbing at intervals. I find brufen/lysiene helps, plus a hot water bottle over the affected site.

I turned around and suddenly had this huge pain in my knee, like it was about to give way. But it wasn’t a bad turn or an awkward one, it was odd! I have an outdoor, physical job and am otherwise fit so it was definitely not an unexpected movement, which is what’s so strange about it!

I get a lot of popping and clicking too and have for years but that hadn’t been painful.

The first knee “went” on wednesday and the other knee hurts now so I’m wondering if it might be arthritis or the beginning of. Worrying myself, really!

Both knees are burning a bit! I feel better after a night’s sleep and it gradually hurts as the day goes on.

Worried about work tomorrow and how it’ll be!

Arthritis pain crept up on me gradually. Could you possibly have torn your cartilage?

Would imagine the other (2nd) knee hurts because it's compensating for the first knee's injury. You have probably been, without noticing walking slightly differently after a twist or similar to the first knee, which has now as a result caused pain in the 2nd knee.

I've just had a knee replacement due to arthritis. I'd say the pain started about 10 years ago and has crept up on me. It did start with my knee collapsing with intense pain one day when I turned awkwardly on it and ripped a tear in the cartilage on the inner edge. Since then I've had an intense burning pain in one spot on the inner edge where bones meet. I'd describe it as someone holding a burning cigarette inside my joint.

Don’t think I noticed a sudden change. It’s started with a tearing sound (crepitus), soreness and stiffness and swelling and now it burns constantly. It’s worse in one knee than the other. Diagnosed as moderate/ severe OA, full thickness loss of cartilage, meniscus tear and chronic tendinitis. Treatment starts with losing weight, physio and anti-inflammatories, progresses to steroid injections, hyaluronic acid injections and when all that fails, surgery. That’s my experience anyway. You can’t cure it.

Since then I've had an intense burning pain in one spot on the inner edge where bones meet. I'd describe it as someone holding a burning cigarette inside my joint
Exactly this.

Hi OP, I just wrote on your other thread.

If it feels like your knee gave way, I'd suggest you have hypermobile joints and so definitely try the osteopath.

They ache and throb all the time, and when taking weight, feel as if there is no pad and the lower leg bones have been sharpened.

I’d see a doctor if you can if it’s both knees and they feel hot. An mri scan would confirm if it’s arthritis.

theres a new injection called arthrosamid which seems to be good if it was osteo arthritis.

This ^^

Artritis is gradual deterioration

theres a new injection called arthrosamid which seems to be good if it was osteo arthritis.

I've never heard of this before now and a quick google tells me its not available on the NHS and privately costs around £2k

I'm going to look into it further though as I fear my other knee is going to need replacing in the next 2 years.

You've got 2 threads on the same matter mentioning different histories ?

Arthritis isn’t always gradual deterioration. Inflammatory arthritis can flare up quite quickly.

Yes, it depends what’s causing arthritis, wear and tear is different and unusual to start suddenly in both knees

The consultant told me it can last four years ( that’s as long as they’ve been using it I think)

It’s worth it for me as I only get paid when I work and need to be able to drive and get about to work. Getting it in the new year

Would you mind telling me where you're having it done? I can't seem to find anywhere near me.

I've always had it, feels either like a dull relentless ache, or like someone has put a knife into my joints and are twisting trying to prise the joint apart. Was terrible this weekend after standing about in the damp and cold. Mine is in my hips, knees, elbows, shoulders, neck and sometimes hands. My joints also grind when they move and its flaring up. Others can feel it if they put a hand on the joint.

I’m in Scotland @thenightsky

Sounds to me like you've torn or pulled a ligament in your one knee, and then overcompensated with the other one which has made that one hurt.

Arthritis wouldn't come on that suddenly.

It can come on quite suddenly if it’s inflammatory. Mine did anyway.

I do - but I have the same histories! I haven’t said anything different?

I made one thread asking if it could be feet, and another asking what arthritis feels like. I can tend to get a bit of health anxiety.

I have a GP appointment lined up for the end of the week, and I am going to look into an osteopath after being recommended that instead of a podiatrist!

Rheumatoid arthritis tends to be symmetrical - so will affect the joints on both sides at the same time. Mine started in toes and fingers, then ankles, wrists, knees, hips. Like it was creeping up my body. Hot to touch, burning pain. Doesn't ease with rest (unlike sprains) and stiffens up when I'm still for a long period.