Hi Marize,
You are experiencing what approximately 3 million people in America also have. The word patellofemoral means that the kneecap and thighbone joints are involved. Sometimes there's a mis-alignment between the kneecap over the thighbone which not only causes pain but also sometimes weakness of the quadriceps muscles. (Those are the large group of muscles that are in the front of your thigh.)
Lots of times you only may need conservative treatment of pain relief. Anti-inflammatory over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen. (Advil, Aleve) Sometimes ice packs will help the pain, especially at the very beginning when it's really acute.
After the acute phase, heat can help but your doctor should advise you on this...i.e. when to start with heat and how much for how long etc.
If you use heat too soon or too often it can make the tissues swell and cause more discomfort. So again, talk to your doctor.
One of the main things that can help are specific strengthening and stretching exercises to get back to full painless motion, and to restore strength and stability to your joint. Also certain stretching exercises can help a lot in relieving the pain.
Strengthening of all the muscles in the area tends to take pressure off your affected knee.
Your doctor should have shown you some of these exercises. But maybe he/she though it was too early if your pain is newly diagnosed and still very acute.
What did he send you home with? Any advice about painkillers or exercise rehab, i.e. physical therapy?
zuzu xx
If you decide on ice-packs, please ask your doc first. That can be too much of a good thing too.
