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Advice please on coping with flare-up

Posted , 5 users are following.

robin93893
robin93893

I'm housebound at the moment due to a knee flare-up: soft tissue inflammation and pain. It's been over two weeks so far with no sign of improvement.

The underlying issue is patellar maltracking (kneecap off-centre). The solution is to build up the quadriceps but exercise is not an option when it's at its worst, as now.

In fact I'm really struggling to get my activity level low enough to let it heal. My GP said "a week in bed" but I live alone and that's impossible. I can't take NSAIDs orally due to a stomach ulcer but I do use ibuprofen gel, as well as ice packs.

What else can I do? Should I be using heat treatment instead of cold (or as well as)? Any other advice? I'm really frustrated, it's extremely inconvenient work-wise, I'll be very grateful for any help.

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • Amsoil_Man
    Amsoil_Man robin93893

    Posted

    Sounds like you over did it...I did the same last week.

    It just takes some time.Elevation helps.

     

  • Waffalobill
    Waffalobill robin93893

    Posted

    I would try cold and heat. Doc sent me to PT to build up quads as well. After work out they ice it up good. Then send you home to use heat. Cold reduces swelling. Heat speeds up healing. Then the jerks hurt me using a tens unit. Had it set to high it shocked me good. Guy laughed . Thought making me yell was funny. Mistake. I am 6 foot 6. Weigh 250 pounds. Told him I was going to throw him threw a window. Told doc he went nuts. Chewed them a new one. Got me a membership at the Y. Told me to swim instead. Zero impact workout. Water is warm to. I used to go at 5am. Nice quiet swim.
    • robin93893
      robin93893 Waffalobill

      Posted

      Thanks. I suppose I should try heat as well, I'm just not sure about when to use which, as I'm not exercising at the moment, but unintentionally hurting it while, for instance, standing preparing food. I guess maybe use heat when it's less painful?

    • Waffalobill
      Waffalobill robin93893

      Posted

      Use cold after standing on it. To reduce swelling. Then heat. 15 minutes cold. Then 15 heat. At therapy the wraps they used was real cold. Make swelling go down fast. Then i go home and heat it up.
    • Waffalobill
      Waffalobill robin93893

      Posted

      What you wear on your feet makes a difference as well. Cheap shoes or flip flops I see alot. As you walk, they cause impact on knees. Doc told me every pond of weight equals 7 pounds of pressure on your knees. Cheap footwear will make that impact hurt. Lol.
  • jen04209
    jen04209 robin93893

    Posted

    My PT uses heat on me for 20 minutes before every session. Then he ices it for 15 minutes when finished. Good luck on your healing.
  • robin93893
    robin93893

    Posted

    Just tried my first heat treatment and it seemed to amplify the pain. It certainly wasn't too warm and I can't imagine how else I might have gotten it wrong. Anyone else experienced heat treatment as painful?

    • jen04209
      jen04209 robin93893

      Posted

      I always use heat before doing my exercises. Make sure it is not too hot. Put a protective cloth on your skin before putting the heat on your knee. Good luck!
  • OConnor
    OConnor robin93893

    Posted

    I too have flareups from at least 3 conditions in my knee and I have not had TKR.  One condition is the mal tracked patella like yours. I also cannot take NSAIDS.  I have had to cope with swelling  when I slightly twist my leg the wrong direction or who knows.  I learned from the forum and from my doctor  to be sure my knee is higher than my heart to reduce the swelling.  I have found this to not be very helpful as I struggle with pillows etc and balancing ice packs.  I hate lying flat on my back, but if I get close to the headboard or on the floor and put my legs up on the wall, I get faster reduction in the swelling.  I realize you can't hold an ice pack there at the same time, but maybe alternate leg lifts with ice.  Also, because I refuse to lie in bed for extended periods, I clap on my metal brace with the hole for the patella and find I can walk around that way without much pain and it certainly can't move out of place with those 2 metal bars on each side.  Another thing I asked for is a RX for Prednisone, a cortisone pill, to rapidly reduce the swelling. In the last 5 major swellings, I used that med twice and recorded a faster time of recovery so say nothing of pain reduction. If you want to get to work reliably in the future , I would keep a brace handy and convice your doctor to let you have a short administration of Prednisone. (I'm assuming your swelling is really significant and as painful as mine.  And as you have read on the forum, Voltaren (need RX in the US) is a little tube of gold as it has saved me many times.  Ask for the generic which is much less costly.

    ?PS: My records show a 23 day recovery from a major swelling using ice, elevation, rest, and whatever resource you can draw on. You are getting there. Think good thoughts.

    • robin93893
      robin93893 OConnor

      Posted

      Thanks a lot for this, encouraging, interesting and very probably helpful, though my case is less extreme. (Same effect from knee twists though!) The swelling is not obvious to the eye and I doubt I'd qualify for Prednisone. I wasn't aware of Voltaren (new to the forum) but recently got a big tube of max strength ibuprofen gel so I'll see how that goes. Might look at getting a brace though I haven't had much joy with them previously, I'm guessing your's is the immobiliser type though which I haven't tried. Thanks again.

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