Knee Swelling and possible RA ?

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi, I've been suffering with heart palpitations and fatigue for about 5 years now. 

I had knee swelling not that long ago, went to GP and was told it may just be wear and tear as she felt clicking. Looked it up to find she meant arthritis. I'm worried as I am only 25 and don't want to be limited to what I can and can't do. Unfortunately Arthritis runs on my dads side of the family. Also My nans side have died from heart Attack. 

These are the symptoms I am currently Experiencing: Knee pain in right knee while walking (Coming somewhere in the front somewhere) Slight left knee pain. 

Clicking when straightening my legs but not bending.

Slight tingling in my leg towards the ends of my foot/toes. 

Heart palps (Can't even walk to the loo without them starting but stop when lying or resting) 

Twitching around my body and above my right eye (That's been happening for a few days) I also have IBS and maybe GERD and have been given Zentiva by my GP. 

My IBS only plays up in the morning but can make me feel tired throughout the day.

I Believe my body works Quickly as it does not digest Food probably as I get diarrhea.  

Bad Fatigue (Feeling of extreme tiredness) I normally get this often.

I would really like some advice as to what this could be ? I'm was hoping maybe I've hit my legs while asleep as I have a wooden bar running across my wall. 

I've been on birth control for 8 Years, 5 years on the pill and 3 on the Coil. And I've heard this can give you heart palps and Tiredness plus a lot more due to the hormones. 

My heart palps don't happen all the time and sometimes there will be a break for a month. They can last anywhere from a few days to months. 

Funny enough I only got some fluttering during a 2 week holiday, but that's when My leg started swell towards the end. 

I'm not sure if I may have rested it on my PC as it's right under the desk in front of me, but can this cause swelling and Clicking when straightening my leg ?

I do Suffer with Anxiety and stress living in London is very stressful and the place I work.

Currently I don't feel that great just tired all the time and don't feel like doing much. And i would love to get up and feel great and work out but I just can't. 

I have a X-ray to attend and a blood Text tomorrow but its waiting for results.

I am very scared at this point and worried something may happen to me. 

I'm attaching a photo of my knee, it looks bruised but it's just the lighting. 

Thanks for any help and advice. 

 

2

You are too young and have to many symptoms to be diagnosed by this group.

You need a complete physical/mental workup to rule out heart problems, arthritis, depression, OCD, arrhythmias, etc. etc.

Get yourself to a good doctor, stat, that can make referrals to the specialists that you need. 

Don't fool around. All these symptoms (or most) can be diagnosed and ruled in or out with the proper tests.

Good luck.

3

Hi Bianca,

i am not a doctor o toe but I would first suggest you take deep breaths and relax. It’s good you are under the care of a doctor who is running tests. Be certain to tell doc all your feelings about how you feel. If need be ask to see cardiologist for reassurance about heart. Exercise as much as possible. Exercise is an amazing thing. Eat lean protein low carb diet. And RELAX.  Calm yourself. You will be alright if you do this. Being calm is healthy. Keep seeking answers from medical professionals. Wishing you all the best 😘

4

A few years ago I was healthy. Suddenly I was limping, got gout in my toe, and could no longer move fast. A friend told me to contact a rheumatologist. Best thing I ever did. She gave me a steroid shot in my butt. She put me on cymbalta and meloxicam. Cymbalta is for nerves, but people found out it helped with RA. After tests showed I did have RA, she put me on plaquenol. Last year I got two knee replacements 4 months apart. No more falling. Good luck. But please find a good rheumatologist.

5

Be careful to NOT mention everything you "FEEL and fear" to your doctor and go on and on, or they will label you as a hypochondriac and not take you serious. Just give them your physical symptoms..one at a time. Get a full blood workup including thyroid. Fear can make you feel all sorts of physical things which heightens everything.  I hope you find answers soon that will alleviate your fears. Find a nutritionist too.

6

Thanks I never mention how I feel to anyone normally. I'm getting my blood results in a week. Thanks for the post.

7

Thanks Robert, Unfortunately there's no good doctors where I live as they all have 2 stars maybe 3 if your lucky! I'm trying to work with my doctors as much as possible but there bad and the woman in there are not that experienced 

8

Hi Bianca,

I'm an old git now and one who has had right knee problems arising from osteoarthritis and heart issues arising from palpitations.

The knee problems have been fixed with a right knee partial knee replacement. I'm 74 next month and still working driving a tourist bus 30 hours a week - no problems.

So lets put aside the knee issue.

From 2007 to 2010 I had shedloads of palpitations, strong and giving me weird feelings over the head but only lasting a few seconds. I was driving buses in those days and trying to get off shift to a Dr. when having a palpitation was impossible. So I just lived with it. Then in Jan 2010 I went to my GP not feeling very well and he sent me to A & E where I was diagnosed with a heart condition known as Atrial Fibrillation (AF) …… now fer gods sake don't panic. 

Here is the rub …… some months after diagnosis and treatment started I found I'd get an AF attack after eating food. Went to my GP because my symptoms were massive, massive and painful bloating, diahorrea, intestinal gurgling and burping. My GP then had some blood tests done to check me out for IBS and Coealiac Disease but they came back clear. However, GP felt I still could be marginal IBS.

I refused any more tests and instead went to a Nutritionist who put me on a course of probiotics. Then told me to go gluten free, wheat free and oats free ………… and my diet today is much wider than that. End result I have had no more AF for 3 and half years (except for one event one night when sleeping on my left side). so now I'm fine. I'll be on medication for my heart for the rest of my days, no sweat.

Now in the human body is a nerve in the central nervous system call the vagal nerve - it is an information superhighway connecting and communicating between the brain - the heart - and the digestive system. so, it can in a dysfunctional state upset both heart and the digestive system.

Whilst one would think you are too young for AF it is not unknown and you certainly wouldn't be regarded as a freak. My daughter had AF in her early 30's during both pregnancies - once she stopped breeding her AF stopped too. Indeed, many endurance athletes get it, marathon runners and Olympic grade cyclists.

I would suggest you consult a Nutritionist ( go online and look up BANT, search their website and you'll find a listing of a Nutritionist near where you live).

But also, and especially when you get palpitations and at any other time for that matter, take your pulse. If you feel your pulse is unstable/erratic, missing beats or beating too fast then go to A & E and get it checked by ECG.

Have either side of your family got a history of strokes ?

Stress and anxiety can also figure in the lives of people with palpitations and AF.

For now at least, with your knee I'd be getting an XRay or getting an MRI and get a referral to an Orthopaedic Surgeon and find out what is going on. But I'd concentrate and sorting the palpitations first.

Hope this helps, any questions ask away.

John