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Suggest Treatment For Severe Knee Pain In An Elderly Person
Question: what is causing the pain at the back of my knee ? It does not hurt during the day when I am walking or standing but gradually gets worse if when I sit in the evening for more than about half an hour. it is also painful at night and forces me to get up early. Should I see my GP ? Could it be a blood clot ? There is no swelling. I am 68 female and about a stone overweight.
Brief Answer:
?? Sciatica; physical examination should suffice for a diagnosis
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. In my opinion the pain could be related to a condition called sciatica. If you do not mind, could you please tell me if the pain ranges from the lower back to to the back of your knee?
Causes for pain relating to sciatica are:
+Sudden gain in weight or loss of weight
+Strenuous exercise
+Long durations of being seated
+Irritation of the lumbar spine
+Spine related abnormalities like disc prolapse, bone spurs, herniated disc, etc.
+Obesity
In my opinion it isn't a blood clot and is just the sciatic nerve acting up, which can be approached in the following ways:
+Weight loss
+Avoid strenuous physical activity
+Medication (e.g. anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxants, etc)
+Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. ibuprofen, diclofenac, etc.)
+Physical therapy
+Corticosteroid injections
+Avoid sitting for long durations
+MRI of spine, to check and treat any spine-related abnormalities
The reason why you stay up at night is because of the pressure being applied on the sciatic nerve while you lay on it. So please do speak to your doctor about the possibility and get yourself the help you need ma'am. I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
?? Sciatica; physical examination should suffice for a diagnosis
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. In my opinion the pain could be related to a condition called sciatica. If you do not mind, could you please tell me if the pain ranges from the lower back to to the back of your knee?
Causes for pain relating to sciatica are:
+Sudden gain in weight or loss of weight
+Strenuous exercise
+Long durations of being seated
+Irritation of the lumbar spine
+Spine related abnormalities like disc prolapse, bone spurs, herniated disc, etc.
+Obesity
In my opinion it isn't a blood clot and is just the sciatic nerve acting up, which can be approached in the following ways:
+Weight loss
+Avoid strenuous physical activity
+Medication (e.g. anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxants, etc)
+Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. ibuprofen, diclofenac, etc.)
+Physical therapy
+Corticosteroid injections
+Avoid sitting for long durations
+MRI of spine, to check and treat any spine-related abnormalities
The reason why you stay up at night is because of the pressure being applied on the sciatic nerve while you lay on it. So please do speak to your doctor about the possibility and get yourself the help you need ma'am. I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
no the pain starts at the back of my knee but if I sit for too long spreads down through the middle of my leg to my foot. Back of knee feels slightly softer than the other one. I did slip on some mud about a month ago but this pain didn't start then. Walking eases the pain.
Brief Answer:
Then possibly not the sciatic nerve thats involved, need Doppler US
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
Yes walking does ease the pain, but the location of your pain does not match sciatic pain, and could be another nerve being affected, but the symptoms and treatment will all be the same. I would thus like to add a test called a Doppler Ultrasound of your leg (especially calf region) to help confirm the cause and also check on conditions like varicose veins, but a doctors consultation is mandatory ma'am, not an emergency, but required nonetheless.
If you have anymore questions, please do not hesitate to write to me, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Then possibly not the sciatic nerve thats involved, need Doppler US
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
Yes walking does ease the pain, but the location of your pain does not match sciatic pain, and could be another nerve being affected, but the symptoms and treatment will all be the same. I would thus like to add a test called a Doppler Ultrasound of your leg (especially calf region) to help confirm the cause and also check on conditions like varicose veins, but a doctors consultation is mandatory ma'am, not an emergency, but required nonetheless.
If you have anymore questions, please do not hesitate to write to me, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
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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