I was diagnosed with RA in 1999 after a motor vehicle accident. My left knee as well as my wrists are the most impacted by the RA. So far, I have been able to live with the permanent swelling in the knee and the discomfort that would come every now and again. I am not currently on any prescribed medication for the RA and have elected to use alternative treatments such as glucosamine and it has been fine for me.



However, a few weeks ago, I attended a church prayer event, where I knelt down on a well padded surface for approximately 20 minutes. I was unable to get up on my own and needed the assistance of 3 people. When they were able to stand me up, my left knee locked in place and I was unable to move my legs to sit down, so they moved a chair behind me so that I can sit. After a few minutes, I was able to stand on my own, but with much discomfort. Since then, I have been experiencing more swelling and pain in both knees, but predominantly in my left knee. The pain also radiates down to my foot and I experience swelling in my foot as well. Also, when I stand straight, my left knee locks in place so that I can't move. So now I make a conscious effort to stand with a slight bend in the knee at all times. I'm also causing more weight on my right knee due to the pain in the left knee; this gives me slight discomfort in the right knee, but it's bearable. My left knee cap also feels smaller than the right one. It feels as though it's deteriorating in size.



I haven't seen my rheumatologist in about 5 years. One reason is because I moved to another state and I need to find one near where I currently live. But also because my RA symptons have been pretty moderate in my opinion, so I really didn't see the need in seeing one. Should I consult with an orthopedist before seeing a rheumatologist.