DLA-knee pain...side effect from RAI?

[SVETA]

Hello Dac! Is that true? About knee pain... can it be side effect from RAI reatment? Do you remember where and when  did you find this info.. If this is - side effect from RAI?  My 24/ 7 knee pain and cracking noise. It can explain a lot of things. My knees pain started at the same time when my saliva glands start to swell time to time... And ENT doctor said --it is side effect from RAI.  Maybe, maybe... Thank you very much for your idea. I did have TT and RAI 8 month ago. And my pain started 4 month after RAI. If you find any info about knee pain  and RAI could you please let me know.Is that can be treated? Thanks again. Love, Sveta

[rayneweather]

Me again.  I kept searching and I found someone else asking on another board about arthritis after RAI but nobody really answered her back.  And I found multiple sites saying that people with autoimmune thyroid disorders are at higher risk of getting rheumatoid arthritis, especially women.  And I did find one article that said after the radioactive accident at Chernobyl they've seen an increase in the number of people with rheumatoid arthritis.  Are you knees swollen & warm or are they just stiff & painful.  If you they are just stiff & painful you might have osteoarthritis; either way a rheumy would be the one to care for it.  And have you see any pain specialists?  I believe there is a good group at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.  Even if they can't diagnose the reason for your pain they may be able to help you take the right medicines & do the right activities to lesson your pain.  Just some thoughts.

Rayne

[rayneweather]

Hey, Sveta...I went looking on google for anything saying that RAI can cause arthritis and I found an article saying that it is a possible serious side effect.  The website's address is: http://www.thyroid.ca/Articles/EngE12A.html.  I'm going to keep looking.  If I find anything else I'll let you know.

Rayne

[rayneweather]

Dac's comment about her arthritis getting worse after the RAI made me think of something.  My dad had bladder cancer and received treatment for it which helped kill the cancer but made his mild case of arthritis in his knees really bad - he has to be on anti-inflammatories and every 4-6 months he has to get fluid pulled out of his knees with a needle and then get steroids injected into the joint.  I know you've seen a lot of specialists and I believe a rheumatologist was one of them.  Do you think the rheumy would want to try a steroid injection just to see if it would give you some relief?  I know it hurts but my dad starts feeling better by the time he gets home and is doing great by the next time.  If you want the name of his rheumy I'll ask him - I believe the md is @ Phoenixville Hospital up in Phoenixville.

Rayne

[DLA]

I can't find the thread about the RAI and knee pain, but I think it was Graves Lady who said it (?), as I said not 100% sure about that.  Try posting directly to GL and asking her about your knee pain and she if she can tell you anything about it.

Already had arthritis before the RAI, but my knees got so much worse afterwards.  Thought it was just my weight gain and deterioration of muscle, but it goes back farther than that, so when I read that post got to me, too.

Hope you find some answers, sorry I can't help you any more than that.
Dac

P.S.  Have you tried ibuprofen or aspirin for the pain.  Aspirin is THE best anti-inflamatory.