What are ways to alleviate knee pain and improve walking ability?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 18-year-old individual who weighs 148 pounds and is 5 feet and 5 inches in height. For the last two days, I have been experiencing a sharp pain in my causing it difficulty to walk. I do not have any known medical conditions, and this is the first time I have experienced this type of pain. Please suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Based on your symptoms, there are several possibilities for the cause of your knee pain, ranging from a small tear of structures inside the knee joint to swelling of the joint. Knee pain is a common complaint that affects people of all ages and can be caused by various medical conditions, including arthritis, patellar tendinitis, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, knee bursitis, torn meniscus, gout, and infections.

To help alleviate your pain, you can try some home remedies,

Apply ice to the knee for 15 to 20 minutes every two to four hours.
Elevate the swollen knee above the level of your heart while icing.
Avoid activities that cause pain, such as squatting, kneeling, twisting, pivoting, jogging, aerobics, dancing, and playing sports.

Specific exercises can help you improve range of motion, strength, and endurance, and it is especially important to focus on strengthening and stretching your quadriceps since these muscles are the main stabilizers of your kneecap. Core exercises may also be recommended to strengthen the muscles in your abdomen and lower back, but you should only do these exercises once the pain has reduced. Maintaining a healthy body weight is also essential to avoid over-stressing your knees. Additionally, you can take some tablets, such as

Ibuprofen 400 mg twice a day for 10 days after food.
Rabeprazole 20 mg twice a day for 10 days before food.
Shelcal 500 mg once a day for 30 days before food.
Vitamin D (60 K) once daily for 10 days, then once a month for 11 months.

However, you should only take these tablets if you are not allergic to them and do not have a known case of bronchial asthma. Please follow up with me with more details about your history, how the pain started, and which position causes more pain. This professional advice provided by me is based entirely on the inputs provided to me and stands subject to the actual examination of the report or image.