Susan benefits from medical pilot study

Susan Dawson, of Norristhorpe, who suffers from osteoarthritis.

It is five years since Susan Dawson started to suffer from osteoarthritis. She started with pain in her knees, which eventually resulted in one giving way. X-rays revealed she was suffering from osteoarthritis. She was prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs and also had steroid injections but nothing seemed to work.

“The swelling in my knees was terrible and I was in agony,” said the 57-year-old from Liversedge.

In the end she was forced to take time off from her job as a school’s learning mentor. She was then offered Methotrexate, which is already used to treat people with rheumatoid arthritis (a different condition), as part of a pilot study led by the University of Leeds.

The study showed that 37 per cent of patients with knee osteoarthritis who took methotrexate had a 40 per cent reduction in their pain.

“It took about three months before I noticed any difference,” Susan said.

“But then the swelling started to go down  and the pain became a  lot better.” Susan was on methotrexate for about 18 months.

“It seems to have done the trick but if my knees swell up again I will definitely want to start taking it again.” For more on the trial contact Sarah Hogg on 0113 392 4990 or [email protected].