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Suggest Treatment For Heaviness And Pain In Knees
Question: hello my 70 year old mother has very painful knees with a feeling of heaviness. she has a very difficult time rising from a seated position when seated for 30 or more minutes like when in the car or in the dining chair. she had steroids injected in her right knee which is the more painful one. it has been a month since the injection but there is no improvement. she was prescribed with dolcet to alleviate the pain as needed but she cannot tolerate the dizziness and nausea she feels whenever taking dolcet so she stopped. she had partial menisectomy in the year 2009. what do you recommend as short term treatment for the pain and do you thibk she needs physical therapy or further diagnostic tests like mri or something
Brief Answer:
Due to osteoarthritis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The pain in your mother's knees are due to osteoarthritic changes in the knees which are the age related degenerative changes in the weight bearing joints like knee.
The treatment options include pain killers, hot fomentation, lubricating agents like glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin , dycerin, etc and some life style modifications and physiotherapy.
Right now she can start taking Tablet Tylenol ( Acetaminophen) Double Strength after breakfast and after dinner. It is suggested to add calcium supplements 500mg each twice daily. This will take care of her mild symptoms in 3-5 days.
She can start with walking and aerobic fitness exercises, quadriceps strengthening, patellar tapping, lateral heel wedges, etc- under the guidance of your physiotherapist.
A Big No to Stair case, squatting postures, any chair which has a sitting platform lower than the knees.
Knee brace or elastic knee cap can also be used for an earlier and prolonged relief.
In severe cases intra articular injections of hyaluronic acid may be needed after consultation with her orthopaedician.
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 osteoarthritis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The pain in your mother's knees are due to osteoarthritic changes in the knees which are the age related degenerative changes in the weight bearing joints like knee.
The treatment options include pain killers, hot fomentation, lubricating agents like glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin , dycerin, etc and some life style modifications and physiotherapy.
Right now she can start taking Tablet Tylenol ( Acetaminophen) Double Strength after breakfast and after dinner. It is suggested to add calcium supplements 500mg each twice daily. This will take care of her mild symptoms in 3-5 days.
She can start with walking and aerobic fitness exercises, quadriceps strengthening, patellar tapping, lateral heel wedges, etc- under the guidance of your physiotherapist.
A Big No to Stair case, squatting postures, any chair which has a sitting platform lower than the knees.
Knee brace or elastic knee cap can also be used for an earlier and prolonged relief.
In severe cases intra articular injections of hyaluronic acid may be needed after consultation with her orthopaedician.
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
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thank you doctor. would you recommend further diagnostic procedures such as mri and the like? we will also surely see our ortho doctor here but our appointment is still for next next week. we would like to prepare finances in case he will recommend further diagnostics. thanks.
Brief Answer:
Details below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
Further investigations like MRI scan will help in detecting the extent of damage to the joint due to the degenerative changes. DEXA scan or the bone density can also be done to detect any associated osteoporosis.
Serum calcium magnesium and Vitamin D3 levels will help in detecting any other deficiencies.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Details below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
Further investigations like MRI scan will help in detecting the extent of damage to the joint due to the degenerative changes. DEXA scan or the bone density can also be done to detect any associated osteoporosis.
Serum calcium magnesium and Vitamin D3 levels will help in detecting any other deficiencies.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
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
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