What Causes Severe Left Knee Pain?

Posted on Sat, 26 Apr 2014

Question: I have severe left knee pain but have been waiting until this summer to get surgery.(My doctor stated that I need knee replacement surgery but I have been waiting since I am relatively young for this---57) I really messed it up Friday evening and have been in severe pain all weekend-----when I try to walk, I get stabbing pains, sometimes it's so bad I collapse, and it throbs all the time so I can't sleep. My doctor's office doesn't open until Monday and since I don't have an appointment, I doubt I'll be able to see him until later in the week. They are a busy office. What should I do? Should I go visit a walk-in med clinic? I can't just l\keep it immobile because I am a teacher and have to be on my feet all the time (plus it hurts when I sit down). In addition, it is throwing my lower back out of whack.

Answered by Dr. Saurabh Gupta (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: It is better to visit a walk-in med clinic. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for your query. It seems you are suffering from osteoarthritis knee.I generally advise my patients to take 1 tablet aceclofenac+thiocolchicoside combination morning and evening, declofenac ointment locally 3 times a day, cap.glucosamine+chondroitin sulphate 2 times a day. But you should first discus all this medication with doctor who will access you and prescribe you these medications. All are prescription based , so it is better to visit a walk-in med clinic. Right now you can start taking Tablet Tylenol ( Acetaminophen) Double Strength after breakfast and after dinner to reduce pain. Use heat and cold to manage pain. Both heat and cold can relieve pain in your joint. Heat also relieves stiffness and cold can relieve muscle spasms. Apply over-the-counter pain creams. Creams and gels available at the drugstore may provide temporary relief from osteoarthritis pain. Take diet rich in calcium, vitamin d3 and minerals. Do regular Exercise. Exercise can increase your endurance and strengthen the muscles around your joint, making your joint more stable. Stick to gentle exercises, such as walking, biking or swimming. Lose weight if you are obese- Being overweight or obese increases the stress on your weight-bearing joints, such as your knees and your hips. Even a small amount of weight loss can relieve some pressure and reduce your pain. I do hope that you have found something helpful and I will be glad to answer any further query. Take care

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar