Concerns About Swelling and Pain in Legs - #46307

Hello I​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ understand your concern very well. Unexpected pain and swelling of both legs especially if you have been active and doing household work can be very upsetting.

Keep calm — at your age and weight, such a situation is quite controllable and mostly reversible, especially if the problem is solved at the very beginning

YOUR CONCERN (Summary)

–40 years –Both legs painful + swollen –About 1 week –Osteoarthritis –Regular walk 1.5 km daily without any problem –154 cm / 53 kg (healthy BMI) –Long standing & overuse

AYURVEDIC UNDERSTANDING

According to Ayurveda, this condition corresponds to: Sandhigata Vata (early phase)

Vata dosha aggravation due to: Excessive standing & continuous household work Lack of rest Repetitive stress on joints

WHY SWELLING IS PRESENT?

Typically osteoarthritis has pain more than swelling. Your symptoms suggest:

Vata with a little Kapha Inflammation / fluid build-up resulting from joint overuse, not permanent joint damage

👉 At 40 years, this is definitely NOT irreversible joint degeneration. It is more of a functional imbalance, rather than structural destruction.

IS IT COMPLETELY CURABLE?

✔ GOOD NEWS

Because it is only first-stage Short time period (1 week) Normal body weight Previously active lifestyle

👉 YES, with RIGHT care, this is REVERSIBLE. Gradually you will be able to walk as usual and perform daily activities.

TREATMENT GOALS

1. Alleviate pain & swelling 2. Control the Vata that has been aggravated 3. Improve joint lubrication 4. Stop the disease from becoming chronic osteoarthritis

AYURVEDIC TREATMENT PLAN

INTERNAL MEDICATION<

1. Yograj Guggulu 1 tablet twice daily after food with warm water → Joint pain, stiffness, and inflammation are eased.

2. Dashmoolaristha 20 ml twice daily before food → Very effective for Vata-related joint pain & swelling

3. Shallaki (Boswellia) Capsule 1 capsule twice daily after food → Completely natural anti-inflammatory, lowers swelling

Period: 4–6 weeks

EXTERNAL THERAPY (VERY IMPORTANT)

Abhyanga (Oil Massage) Oil: Mahanarayana Taila or Ksheerabala Taila Massage both legs gently starting from feet to the upward Time: 10–15 minutes Followed by hot water fomentation Once daily (preferably evening)

–Improves circulation – Pain & swelling are reduced – Joints get stronger

DIETARY GUIDELINES

✅ INCLUDE

Warm, freshly cooked food Ghee (1 tsp daily) Cooking with Turmeric + ginger Green vegetables, moong dal

❌ AVOID

Cold food & drinks Curd at night Excess dry food (bakery, namkeen) Sitting on the floor or squatting frequently

LIFESTYLE & ACTIVITY ADVICE

Do not stand for a long time for a few weeks Take small breaks while doing the household work Rest your legs in an elevated position Temporarily refrain from brisk walking Once the pain is gone → start walking slowly (10–15 min)

Gentle exercises when the pain is gone: Ankle rotation Knee bending while lying down Straight leg raise (slight)

INVESTIGATIONS (If pain/swelling persists)

Vitamin D Calcium ESR / CRP (to rule out inflammation)

EXPECTED RECOVERY

Swelling goes down within 7–10 days Pain relief in 2–3 weeks Walking as usual can be gradually resumed No long-term disability if managed now

Please do not be frightened by the term osteoarthrosis. It is stress-related, reversible, and in the early stage in your case.

Therefore, with the help of proper rest, oil therapy, and Ayurvedic support, you will be able to regain your full comfort and mobility again

Kind Regards Dr Snehal ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌Vidhate

Avoid sour, fermented and processed foods. Regular exercise. Increase intake of raw vegetables and fruits. Tab Asthishrunkhla 1-0-1 Cap Stresscom 1-0-1 Cap.Punarnava Guggulu 2-0-2 Follow up after 2 weeks.

Start with Yograj guggul 1-0-1 after food with water Maharasnadi ghanvati 1-0-1 after food with water Mahavatvidhvansh vati 1-0-1 after food with water Gokshuradi guggul 2 tablet once after breakfast with water. Apply nirgundi oil+ mahanarayan oil on affected area twice daily. Once pain reduces start with knee strengthening yogasana or exercises under expert guidance. Avoid sour fermented foods.

Some regime you should follow

✔️Do’s:✔️ Eat freshly cooked food. Chew an inch of fresh ginger half an before meal. Eat only fruit vegetables. Limit dairy products (stop if possible) Include ragi millet, black eyed pea, rajgira, soya, tofu as vegetarian source of protein and egg as non vegetarian source

🧘‍♀️Yoga🧘‍♀️ Virabhadrasana Trikonasana Vrukshasan Prasavkonasan Bhujangasan Balasan Shavanasan

🧘‍♀️Pranayam🧘‍♀️ Anulom Vilom Bhastrika Kapalbhati

❌Dont’s:❌ Sitting directly under a fan or right in front of the A.C Oily, spicy, processed food. Packed food products. Sour and fermented items. Bakery items. Fried food products. Potatoes.

💊Medication💊

Tab. Ampachak Vati. 2 tabs twice a day before food. Tab. Sinhanad Guggul 2 tabs twice a day before food. Cap. Palsinuron 2 caps twice a day before food. Cap. Arnopen 2 caps twice a day before food Syp. Dashmoolarishta 3 tsp twice a day before food with warm water.

Tab. Shankhavati 2 tabs twice a day after food. Suck and eat like hajmola

Sunthi Siddh Castor Oil. 3 tsp at bed time with a cup of hot water.

If you can instead of keeping hot water bag dip your legs in a bucket of hot water till knees for 15 mins.

1.Mahayograj guggulu 2 tab twice daily with water after meals 2.Maharasnadi kwath 20 ml with 20 ml water twice daily after meals 3.Ashwagandha capsules 2 cap twice daily with warm milk after meals

🧾 Supportive Routine

External care - Warm compress or hot water bag on legs (as doctor advised). - Gentle massage with Mahanarayan taila or Dhanwantharam taila (lukewarm) before bedtime.

Diet - Favor warm, cooked foods with ghee, sesame oil, and spices like ginger, turmeric, cumin. - Avoid excessive cold, dry, or processed foods. - Include calcium‑rich foods (ragi, sesame seeds, leafy greens).

Lifestyle - Avoid prolonged standing; take breaks to sit or elevate legs. - Gentle yoga stretches for joints (avoid strain). - Maintain regular sleep and meal timings to stabilize Vata.

From what you hv mentioned , it appears to be early stage osteoarthritis due to mainly by prolonged standing, continuous household work, strain on the joints and gradual wear and tear. At 40 with your height and weight being well within normal range, this is not a severe or advanced condition. In Ayurveda, this condition iscalled as Sandhigata Vata, where Vata dosha gets aggravated in the joints due to overuse, strain, lack of proper rest and dryness in the body tissues. When Vata increases, it causes pain, stiffness, swelling and difficulty in movement. The fact that both legs are affected and that you do a lot of standing work.

Osteoarthrosis is considered a degenerative condition, so the joint cartilage that has worn down does not fully regenerate like in childhood. However, in early and mild cases like yours, the disease can be very well controlled, pain and swelling can be reduced significantly, daily activities can become comfortable again, and further progression can be slowed or almost stopped.

The advice given by your doctor to take rest and apply hot water bag is absolutely correct for the acute phase. Heat relaxes muscles, improves circulation and calms aggravated Vata, which is why you may already feel some relief.

Even though household work feels unavoidable, your joints need a short recovery period. Standing continuously, squatting, climbing stairs repeatedly or lifting weight should be decreased for few weeks.

Walking is good, but since your pain and swelling have appeared, stop walk temporarily. Once pain subsides , walking can be restarted slowly in shorter distances.

From an Ayurvedic point of view, this condition responds very well to internal medicines and external therapies that nourish joints and pacify Vata. Medicated oils like Ksheerabala taila or Dhanwantaram taila for massage of legs before warm bath are helpful. Internal medicines are chosen based on digestion and overall strength, but they are usually safe and effective when taken properly.

Dry foods, cold foods, excessive tea or coffee, late meals and irregular eating increase Vata and joint pain. Warm, freshly cooked food, a little ghee daily, good hydration and proper sleep support joint healing .

With correct care now, you can return to your normal routine gradually and continue walking again.

Medicines 1 Maharasnadi Kwath – 20 ml + 30 ml warm water morning empty stomach 2 Yogaraja Guggulu – 2 tablets morning + 2 tablets night after food 3 Punarnavadi Mandoor – 250 mg morning + night after food (reduces swelling fast) 4 Dashmoolarishta – 20 ml + 40 ml water after lunch & dinner 5 Ashwagandha Lehyam – 10 gm night with warm milk (gives strength & energy)

Oil (must use daily) Warm Dhanwantaram Taila + Mahanarayan Taila (1:1) , gentle leg massage (feet to thighs) nightly followed by hot water bag 15 min

Daily Must-Do Legs elevated on 2 pillows 20 min twice daily No standing >30 min continuously (sit every hour) Hot water + Epsom salt foot soak 15 min nightly Continue 1.5 km walk but slow pace & comfortable shoes

Diet Give only: moong khichdi + ghee, pomegranate, coconut water, thin buttermilk + roasted jeera Avoid completely: curd, cold drinks, fried food, excessive salt

Yes – at your age (40), weight (53 kg), and early stage, this is fully reversible & controllable with Ayurveda + lifestyle. No need for knee replacement ever if you follow this. Start medicines + oil massage tonight – you will feel light & pain-free very soon.

Regards Dr Gursimran Jeet Singh MD Panchakarma

THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING ASK AYURVEDA . FROM WHAT YOU HAVE MENTIONED,THIS APPEARS TO BE AN EARLY STAGE JOINT STRAIN AND DEGENERATIVE CHANGE DUE TO CONTINUOUS HOUSEHOLD WORK AND PROLONGED STANDING, RATHER THAN ANY SERIOUS OR IRREVERSIBLE JOINT DAMAGE.

OSTEOARTHROSIS AT THIS STAGE IS NOT A DISEASE THAT MEANS PERMANENT PAIN OR DISABILITY. SINCE YOUR SYMPTOMS HAVE STARTED ONLY RECENTLY, YOUR AGE IS 40 YEARS, AND YOUR WEIGHT IS WITHIN NORMAL RANGE, THIS CONDITION IS VERY MUCH CONTROLLABLE AND FUNCTIONALLY REVERSIBLE. THE PAIN AND SWELLING ARE MOSTLY DUE TO INFLAMMATION AND OVERUSE OF THE JOINTS, NOT BECAUSE THE JOINTS ARE COMPLETELY WORN OUT.

FROM AN AYURVEDIC POINT OF VIEW, THIS IS AN EARLY FORM OF VATA AFFECTING THE JOINTS, WHERE DRYNESS AND STRAIN CAUSE PAIN, STIFFNESS AND SWELLING. WHEN MANAGED EARLY, AYURVEDIC CARE HELPS REDUCE INFLAMMATION, NOURISH THE JOINTS AND RESTORE NORMAL MOVEMENT VERY EFFECTIVELY.

REST IS IMPORTANT. CONTINUE USING HOT WATER BAG AS ADVISED. AVOID PROLONGED STANDING, SQUATTING, SITTING ON THE FLOOR AND REPEATED STAIR CLIMBING FOR A FEW WEEKS. ONCE THE PAIN AND SWELLING REDUCE, YOU CAN SLOWLY RESUME WALKING, MOVEMENT IS BENEFICIAL AFTER THE ACUTE PAIN SETTLES.

WITH PROPER CARE, LIFESTYLE CORRECTION AND JOINT SUPPORT, YOU CAN RETURN TO YOUR NORMAL ACTIVITIES