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How Can Pain And Swelling In The Knees Caused By An Injury Be Treated?
I took a hard fall on my left knee 6 days ago. It swelled up and bruised within 6 hours of the fall as well as pain and limited use. I can bear weight on it but I can t bend it easily at all. Stairs are impossible. There is a sharp, knife burning pain if I put any sort of pressure on the top of my knee cap. Also there is a dent in my knee cap that is 1.5 long by about 3/4 wide. I ve had an X-ray in urgent care done with no breaks/fractures but there was severe swelling at the time. Today I still do not have full function of my knee, bruise is still all around knee cap and down the outside of my leg, swelling has diminished, but pain still exists on the top of the knee cap. Every time I start to bend it, it feels as if someone is slowly trying to peel a piece of tape off of my knee. Ibuprofen is doing nothing but killing my stomach every day. Help!? What do I do? Do I have to make another appt with urgent care doc to get a referral to an orthopedic for an MRI?
Tue, 10 Dec 2019
Hi,
The pain and swelling in the knees is secondary to hematoma formation following injury. As the functionality is maintained, major injury to ligaments and bones are ruled out. In my opinion, you do not require an urgent MRI of the knee, rather follow basic guidelines for better outcome:
- Ice application 3 times a day
- Get prescription of antibiotics (as cephalexin or other penicillin) with anti-inflammatory medications including serratiopeptidase and other proteolytic enzymes which will help in process of hematoma dissolution and infection prevention
- Be in regular follow up with ortho surgeon and later on if required he or she will guide for further work up as MRI or not
- Avoid sudden strenuous movements of knee.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel, General Surgeon
The pain and swelling in the knees is secondary to hematoma formation following injury. As the functionality is maintained, major injury to ligaments and bones are ruled out. In my opinion, you do not require an urgent MRI of the knee, rather follow basic guidelines for better outcome:
- Ice application 3 times a day
- Get prescription of antibiotics (as cephalexin or other penicillin) with anti-inflammatory medications including serratiopeptidase and other proteolytic enzymes which will help in process of hematoma dissolution and infection prevention
- Be in regular follow up with ortho surgeon and later on if required he or she will guide for further work up as MRI or not
- Avoid sudden strenuous movements of knee.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel, General Surgeon
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