My mom has lupus and she has low iron. Today she has been feeling weak, tired, and fatigued. We were sitting at the table talking and all of a sudden both her knees turned dark purple. It stayed for a couple minutes and slowly faded. We both are wondering what could cause this.
What causes a persons knees to turn purple all of a sudden?
Question posted by ashrobb89 on 1 May 2013
Last updated on 1 August 2023 by allkindsofkinds
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7 Answers
allkindsofkinds
31 July 2023
Well, it looks like I get to be the variable in this discussion. I also have the same symptoms of concern as the OP and the rest of the forum. I do not take any medication, nor have I been diagnosed with Lupus; I had one ANA panel done many moons ago with negative results. However, to say that I could count my maternal family members with Lupus, on one hand, would be a fallacy.
Could the purple knees be a contraindication due to medication?
-Absolutely.
Could the purple knees be an indication of Lupus; the Auto-Immune disease that attacks its person inside and out?
-Indubitably.
By playing musical chairs with your medications while charting any change to the symptoms you can easily narrow down its cause.
Did this forum cause me concern enough to revisit the possibility of having lupus?
Larkkira
10 May 2018
I was looking for an answer to this issue as well. My mom said that she woke up today with a very purple kneecap (only the right one). It actually started turning purple 2 days ago and today it looks really awful. Like a giant bruise but it doesn’t hurt. It’s just a bit tender. A little more info on my moms health- she’s 66, has lupus and taking medication for it. She is also taking meds for osteoporosis. She broke her left tibia 3 years ago and then the right one 2 years ago. She has a rod in place for each and healed very well. She also recently had a small surgery for cancer in her left breast. It was successful & cancer free now. She’s very healthy and strong. I’m so thankful she’s doing good now. So, back to the purple right kneecap, she went to her bone doctor today. They took some X-rays & the doctor said there’s nothing wrong at all. He said he’s not sure why her kneecap is like that. I am not happy with that answer.
There has to be something bad going on for a kneecap to look that awful. I’m very worried still & trying to find an answer.
After reading all the comments here & doing some research, I think it might be related to her lupus. I’m not sure about this but it seems plausible.
I asked her to get a second or third opinion on this & will update if we get any new info.
If anyone else is experiencing this and can shed a bit of light, I’d be very grateful. Thank you all for sharing and helping!!
HUGHESCHERYL1
19 Jan 2017
Hi,I get this, sometimes you might notice a peachy colour with it to,also my hands andtoes and maybe the odd patch here and there,sometimes can be sensitive to touch also.I have had this many of years and have just been diagnosed with type 2 raynauds phenomenon and fibromyalgia .it could be worth having a look at some symptoms from the above two I mentioned. I also is currently waiting to see dermatologist of possible lupus. Hope this helps good luck☺
trina0788
10 July 2013
I came on here in the hope of finding the answer as I also suffer from purple knees and sometimes they have a rather bright pink colour also. The discolouring can last for hour's and It is very embarrassing. I hardly ever ware dresses or skirts and in the hot weather I daren't get the sun on my legs in the hope to cover it up with a tan for fear of people seeing the awful sight. It really isn't a joke and at times I have a lot of pain in my knees as well. They are always worse in the cold. I wondered if anyone may know if the two may be connected and if it is anything that maybe I should bother the doctor with? I suffer from raynards disease and wondered if it may be to do with this?
Any serious answers or suggestions would be very much appreciated.
My very kind thanks to you all who are able to impute and my sympathies to fellow sufferers.
Stevenla313
9 April 2015
My knees started doing this about a month ago and I have had a diagnosis of lupus, then told it wasn't. Definite Raynauds and Rheumy. My PCP suggested that it might be a reaction to the methotrexate or plaquenil that I take. But I have been taking these for over a year. If anyone has received any answers, I would love to hear them! Thanks!
Willwright
22 May 2015
I've taken methotrexate for just over a year and I have the same purple knees they don't ache or anything and only notice them in the bath
Stevenla313
22 May 2015
I do notice them more in the bath as well! And my pcp said my circulation was great to my feet. Mine has faded as of late, and don't hurt quite as bad either. Wonder if this is "flare" related.
DzooBaby
1 May 2013
It sounds like some kind of circulatory issue. She should see her Dr.
Inactive
1 May 2013
I suggest you see a Dr. asap, it could be a number of things.
Take care,
kaismama
1 May 2013
I can't think of one thing that would do that and not include the lower legs. If it happens again I would suggest she see her dr.
ashrobb89
1 May 2013
if it happens to the lower legs what could it mean?
kaismama
1 May 2013
Since it went away, I would say it pretty much rules out clots. There is such as thing as vascular spasms that could cause it.
Related topics
anemia, systemic lupus erythematosus, knee
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