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How Can Stiffness In The Knees Be Treated?
I am 20 weeks post surgical repair of a broken patella. I also broke my ankle on the same leg. I have been doing physical therapy and exercises at home and still do not have 90 degree bend. I also have significant underlying arthritis. Now I am looking at having manipulation under anesthesia or arthroscopy. My surgeon has stated that I have enough arthritis at this time to have a knee replacement. I don t want to have arthroscopy, surgery to remove screws and wires, and knee replacement unless absolutely necessary. My knee is stiff and movement is limited and physical therapy is very painful and seems fruitless at this point. I am not sure what to do
Tue, 12 Mar 2019
Hello,
At your age, the pain in the knee is more likely to be due to stress-related minor capsular inflammation or a decrease in the joint lubricants.
The mild inflammation of the knee after some activity like workouts or kick-starting a bike mostly subsides by taking anti-inflammatory 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- use 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.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Ivan R. Rommstein, General Surgeon
At your age, the pain in the knee is more likely to be due to stress-related minor capsular inflammation or a decrease in the joint lubricants.
The mild inflammation of the knee after some activity like workouts or kick-starting a bike mostly subsides by taking anti-inflammatory 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- use 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.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Ivan R. Rommstein, General Surgeon
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