Intake of Antibiotics or Not
A 52 year-old woman have problems like:
1. The area at the back of my knee, the muscles or the veins become very tight and they sort of form a tight ball/lump which is painful. It happens 2 to 3 times a week especially at night, and mostly with the left leg only.
2. Whenever I take any antibiotic, painkiller or tablet for fever I just cannot sleep. Why is this so and what should I do?
1. What you describe appears to be a Baker’s Cyst behind the knee. It is a benign condition, which usually subsides with cold compresses and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like paracetamol and ibuprofen. If it does not subside you need a thorough check up from an orthopedic surgeon, X-rays to look for underlying causes and may be an MRI to see the contents of the swelling.
2. Remaining awake after taking a painkiller is usually due to gastric disturbances associated with these medicines and possibly also the caffeine present in some of them. Time your medication so it’s not too close to bedtime and preferably take your pills after you’ve eaten something and along with an antacid.