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Suggest Treatment For Severe Knee Pain
Question: 31, M
History / Context
Regular athlete (plays multiple sports regularly: swimming, squash). Recently took up triathlons (1 year ago). Now able to swim 1.5Km, cycle 40 Km and run 10Km separately.
Issue
Recently (2.5 months ago) every time i finished a run the knee started hurting.
Typically
1. Everytime i run over 4 - 6 km the knee pain surfaces. Need to use a knee cap for the next 2 - 4 days to aid recovery.
2. If i run 4 - 6 km with Knee cap then almost no pain after the run
3. If i run 8 - 10 km (non-stop) without Knee cap the the knee pain is severe enough that i cannot walk down steps without severe pain.
However even when i have knee pain i can cycle 10+ kms / swim 1+ km with no pain. but climbing and alighting steps is very painful
History / Context
Regular athlete (plays multiple sports regularly: swimming, squash). Recently took up triathlons (1 year ago). Now able to swim 1.5Km, cycle 40 Km and run 10Km separately.
Issue
Recently (2.5 months ago) every time i finished a run the knee started hurting.
Typically
1. Everytime i run over 4 - 6 km the knee pain surfaces. Need to use a knee cap for the next 2 - 4 days to aid recovery.
2. If i run 4 - 6 km with Knee cap then almost no pain after the run
3. If i run 8 - 10 km (non-stop) without Knee cap the the knee pain is severe enough that i cannot walk down steps without severe pain.
However even when i have knee pain i can cycle 10+ kms / swim 1+ km with no pain. but climbing and alighting steps is very painful
Brief Answer:
Due to inflammation.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
At your young age, the pain in the knee is more likely to be due to stress related minor capsular inflammation rather decrease in the joint lubricants.
The mild inflammation of the knee after running extensively usually subsides by taking antiinflammatory agents and mild pain killers like ibuprofen. In some cases for acute problem muscle relaxants like thiocolchicoside are needed after consulting with your orthopaedician.
If still there is no relief then oral steroids and oral lubricating agents like glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin are given. Injections - intra- articular are the last options to be considered if all the above measures fail.
In the meanwhile, for symptomatic relief:
1. Give enough rest to your knee- continue using a knee brace.
2. Take mild pain killers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
3. Stronger prescription NSAIDS with muscle relaxants may help if simple analgesics do not help.
4. Hot compresses to your knee will be useful pain relieving measure. You may apply a local analgesic gel on that area.
5. calf and hamstring stretches can be helpful under the guidance of a physiotherapist after the acute pain subsides completely.
6. Generally we recommended, rest, graded exercises, rest and graded exercises to let you know the right amount of time you can spend on exercise without injuring yourself.
In case the pain is persistent then an MRI scan of the knee is recommended to find out any soft tissue injury.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Due to inflammation.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
At your young age, the pain in the knee is more likely to be due to stress related minor capsular inflammation rather decrease in the joint lubricants.
The mild inflammation of the knee after running extensively usually subsides by taking antiinflammatory agents and mild pain killers like ibuprofen. In some cases for acute problem muscle relaxants like thiocolchicoside are needed after consulting with your orthopaedician.
If still there is no relief then oral steroids and oral lubricating agents like glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin are given. Injections - intra- articular are the last options to be considered if all the above measures fail.
In the meanwhile, for symptomatic relief:
1. Give enough rest to your knee- continue using a knee brace.
2. Take mild pain killers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
3. Stronger prescription NSAIDS with muscle relaxants may help if simple analgesics do not help.
4. Hot compresses to your knee will be useful pain relieving measure. You may apply a local analgesic gel on that area.
5. calf and hamstring stretches can be helpful under the guidance of a physiotherapist after the acute pain subsides completely.
6. Generally we recommended, rest, graded exercises, rest and graded exercises to let you know the right amount of time you can spend on exercise without injuring yourself.
In case the pain is persistent then an MRI scan of the knee is recommended to find out any soft tissue injury.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Answered by
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