“Swelling in knee areas?”

It all depends on what you mean by “swelling.“ Is it just tissue swelling, or is there a lot of extra fluid in your knee? What sort of surgery did you have in the past? You might want to visit the surgeon who performed the surgery. Orthopedics is very logical, meaning there is always a cause for the change in the way the joint feels or acts. Have you tried the simple things first such as: elevate the leg at the end of any weight bearing activity; apply ice packs for at least 30 mins; take a short course of anti-inflammatory medication (Aleve would be my choice as it has to be taken only 2x each day [always with meals]); wearing a simple neoprene knee sleeve; physical therapy can also help.

Your swelling may be related to arthritis and should be evaluated by an orthopedist for the next step in treatment.

Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD

Hi there, thank you for your question.

I'm sorry to hear you are experiencing this issue. Without seeing diagnostic studies, it's hard to say whether or not you should stop working. I would recommend staying off of your feet as much as possible in order to reduce the swelling of the knees. The swelling is a sign that something in your knees isn't quite right structurally or you keep repeating the same motions which exacerbate the problem. In order to further assess, I'd need to see you in person and get to know more about the history of pre- and post-surgery rehab done, what the other doctors found, and all of the diagnostic studies available such as radiographs and MRI studies. This will help me triangulate the issue and come up with a treatment plan of action. In order to reduce swelling in the interim, I'd recommend using ice to reduce inflammation, for about 5-10min. as you elevate your feet.
I hope you feel better soon.

Sincerely,

Dr. Morales, D.C.

In my opinion, moderate activity helps keep the knees flexible. There are three things that may help: One is a product called Orthogel, a topical ointment that offers temporary pain and swelling relief. It also has transdermal glucosamine which helps with cartilage and ligaments. Second, you should speak with your doctor about taking glucosamine with MSM supplements. This will take a few weeks before you will notice any difference. Third, go online to www.footlevelers.com and search for a participating doctor in your area. They make customized orthotics using a computer scanner and, in my opinion and experience, are second to none. I wear them myself.

Yours in health,

Doc J

Hello,

It sounds to me that you should focus on modification of activity rather than restricting them. For example, non impact exercise like bike and elliptical or walking. You should have the knees reevaluated as well to discover the muscle imbalances that there are. More than likely the swelling is in the soft tissue around the knees and they should be evaluated to help decrease the swelling.

Vishal K. Verma, DC CCSP