What cause swollen and painful knee after exercise program?
Patient: I am 37 and recently started an exercise program, (cycling jogging and plyometrics) I have been working out for about a month and am starting to get sharp pain behind my knees when i walk , also notice that they are sometimes swollen for an evening after i work out. what do i do? Doctor: Hi,  In your case, there are few possible causes and if there was no injury then some other chronic disorder may be present. Without more information, it is not enough to determine the diagnosis. It could be a hematoma (bleeding in the tissues) or a swollen knee joint capsule. If it's in the back of the knee then it could be a Baker's cyst. Clinical examination (and perhaps fluid aspiration if there's any) would help to determine the diagnosis. Either an orthopedics specialist or your primary care physician can do that.   Until then you can try to apply ice packs (not directly on the skin - wrap them with a towel) and perhaps use some painkillers starting with paracetamol (acetaminophen) and advancing to NSAID if paracetamol is not enough and there's no contraindication for NSAID.  Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.  Regards, Dr. Ivan R. Rommstein, General Surgeon