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Is Physical Activity Advisable When Diagnosed With Cellulitis In The Knee?
Question: I was diagnosed with cellulitis in my knee 5 days ago and was given a shot of antibiotics to take for 10 days. My question is can I stay active if I can tolerate the pain? There is still some swelling and goes down to my ankle. Also I have been icing it when it starts to hurt and I see it recommends using heat in some of the info. I would like to try golfing if possibly. This started after I had a pimple or ingrown hair on my knee cap and didn't hurt or swell fo at least three days. The pain and swelling started one week ago in the night. Can you give me some advice as I have been staying active and doing work around the house. Also would you recommend any creams to put on it. I saw the Dr on Monday and Thursday and he just gave me another prescription to start after this one if its not better. I also had a ultra sound for blood clots and was ok as I had traveled in a car for a couple of days
Brief Answer:
No need to use local cream, just antibiotics are enough.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for using HCM to post your question.
I read it carefully and I understand your concern.
Yes, you can keep staying active but do not overuse the knee. The pain is the indication for when to slow down. Use the painkillers and the ice/heat as recommended.
No need to use a local cream, just make sure to use the antibiotics regularly.
Hope this is helpful.
Let me know if you need more clarifications.
Otherwise please kindly close and rate the answer.
Regards, Dr.Papaqako
No need to use local cream, just antibiotics are enough.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for using HCM to post your question.
I read it carefully and I understand your concern.
Yes, you can keep staying active but do not overuse the knee. The pain is the indication for when to slow down. Use the painkillers and the ice/heat as recommended.
No need to use a local cream, just make sure to use the antibiotics regularly.
Hope this is helpful.
Let me know if you need more clarifications.
Otherwise please kindly close and rate the answer.
Regards, Dr.Papaqako
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Did you see my other follow up questions regarding the pain in the area of the knee cap and was this a response to that as I am concerned about infection in bone or joint.
Brief Answer:
Continue with the antibiotics. They will cure the possible joint infection
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yes, I read carefully your follow-up answers.
The antibiotic will cover and treat the infection. So don't worry about the infection, just do what your doctor says.
Also, of course if you do activity it will become worse as the leg will be swollen. You need to keep it elevated. So, it is better to not do activity for the time being, but if you really need to play golf it will not be the end of the world.
I hope this is understood now and I have answered your question.
Regards
Continue with the antibiotics. They will cure the possible joint infection
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yes, I read carefully your follow-up answers.
The antibiotic will cover and treat the infection. So don't worry about the infection, just do what your doctor says.
Also, of course if you do activity it will become worse as the leg will be swollen. You need to keep it elevated. So, it is better to not do activity for the time being, but if you really need to play golf it will not be the end of the world.
I hope this is understood now and I have answered your question.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Ok thank you, I appreciate the answer but still have some concern as most of the swelling is gone except a little in the knee cap. I start another 12 day regiment of antibiotics tomorrow but the pain which feels like it is concentrated on the knee cap is concerning. My Dr never did any blood tests and we really don't know what caused this. Worried about permanent damage to my joint.
Brief Answer:
Continue with the next regimen of antibiotics and expect to get better
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
So it looks like you are finishing the course of antibiotics and you still have some pain. This means that you have to take the other course of antibiotics. Treating celulitis is difficult, but as soon as you see improvement from them means that they are working and you need to follow the course of treatment that your doctor recommended.
Why still pain? Because you need to continue your treatment.
If there is permanent damage? Medicine is not an exact science. We do what is recommended by using clinical judgment but at the end the course of the problem may vary. For cellulitis are recommended the antibiotics and you will need your doctor clinical judgment in case he would need to switch to another antibiotic with broader spectrum. So follow up with them in case you are not getting better.
What has caused it? From what you are telling me it seems like the cause was an infected hair folicle which may happen in the case you had low immunity or the tendency as a person for celulitis. Again, since medicine is not an exsact science we just assume the most possible cause, and sometimes are not able to find a cause.
Hope this makes sense and answers your questions.
Please feel free to come back to me if anymore concerns.
Regards,
Continue with the next regimen of antibiotics and expect to get better
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
So it looks like you are finishing the course of antibiotics and you still have some pain. This means that you have to take the other course of antibiotics. Treating celulitis is difficult, but as soon as you see improvement from them means that they are working and you need to follow the course of treatment that your doctor recommended.
Why still pain? Because you need to continue your treatment.
If there is permanent damage? Medicine is not an exact science. We do what is recommended by using clinical judgment but at the end the course of the problem may vary. For cellulitis are recommended the antibiotics and you will need your doctor clinical judgment in case he would need to switch to another antibiotic with broader spectrum. So follow up with them in case you are not getting better.
What has caused it? From what you are telling me it seems like the cause was an infected hair folicle which may happen in the case you had low immunity or the tendency as a person for celulitis. Again, since medicine is not an exsact science we just assume the most possible cause, and sometimes are not able to find a cause.
Hope this makes sense and answers your questions.
Please feel free to come back to me if anymore concerns.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thank you again and I did get a response from another Dr too. He wanted to know what antibiotics I was on so thought I would tell you also. If you read my whole history which I think you did, I was given a shot 11 days ago and then started Sufamethoxazole-TMP DS twice a day for 10 days. I started on Cephalexin 500 Mg 3 times a day for 14 days. The knee is getting better every day although nagging pain but very little swelling. I find if I do too much I ice it and I feel better. Just wanted you to know the whole story. Is there any chance this was a spider bite as I have lost some skin aroun my knee cap about 1 1/2" in diameter and would the treatment have been any different? I appreciate your compassion and prompt reply. I will give you a good review now but probably have to wait until you respond and then I will try not to keep submitting info. Thanks XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
I agree with the treatment. Double checked the recommendations
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thank you for you appreciation. I am happy to have been of help somehow.
Yes, I read your other question and answer from the other doctor as well.
I double checked the recommendations of treatment and I totally agree with your doctor.
I would also encourage to continue with icing if that makes you feel better.
Take painkillers also if the pain is bothering. Of course as needed and with food as they damage your stomach sometimes.
Maybe it was a spider, if you have big spiders at home. Or either a hair folicle infected may be in the same possibility if you have the tendency to have them. So basically anything that has broken the barrier of the skin and made possible for bacteria to go through it, can be the cause.
The lost skin is because the cellulitis causes dying of the tissues. So it is from the infection and not from the cause of it that has happened.
Regards,
Dr.Papaqako
I agree with the treatment. Double checked the recommendations
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thank you for you appreciation. I am happy to have been of help somehow.
Yes, I read your other question and answer from the other doctor as well.
I double checked the recommendations of treatment and I totally agree with your doctor.
I would also encourage to continue with icing if that makes you feel better.
Take painkillers also if the pain is bothering. Of course as needed and with food as they damage your stomach sometimes.
Maybe it was a spider, if you have big spiders at home. Or either a hair folicle infected may be in the same possibility if you have the tendency to have them. So basically anything that has broken the barrier of the skin and made possible for bacteria to go through it, can be the cause.
The lost skin is because the cellulitis causes dying of the tissues. So it is from the infection and not from the cause of it that has happened.
Regards,
Dr.Papaqako
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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