It is common for people to experience knee pain at some point in their lives as it affects nearly 25% of adults. The main reason why knee pain is so common is that it can be caused due to many factors, such as overuse, injury, or arthritis. While there are many treatment options, the intensity of your knee pain will determine which treatment is best for you.
In this article, we will cover some at-home knee pain remedies along with other knee pain treatments that are suggested by doctors based on the severity of the condition.
Effective Knee Pain Treatments to Relieve Discomfort
At-home Remedies
When you first experience knee pain, there are a few things you can do to feel better and stop the pain from worsening:
Rest: The first step involves stopping what you have been doing and giving yourself the opportunity to rest and recover. Discontinue exercise and other physical activities you think might delay your recovery.
Ice: Use a cold compress to ice your knee area for 15-20 minutes. If you don’t have a cold compress, wrap some ice in a towel and apply it to the affected area. You could do this hourly on the first day and later switch to icing once every 3-4 hours on subsequent days.
Compress: Cover your knee with a compression bandage to reduce inflammation and get some pain relief. Read instructions on how to wrap the compression bandage online or ask your doctor or local pharmacist.
Elevate: The next step involves elevating your knee above the level of your heart. This can be done by lying on the bed and propping your knee using a few pillows. Elevation helps a lot in reducing swelling and preventing fluid buildup in the knee.
Pain-Relief Medications
If at-home remedies don’t work for you, the next thing you can do is get yourself a pain-relief medication. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) work well in relieving pain and inflammation associated with knee joints.
If your knee pain is a result of other conditions like arthritis, your doctor will prescribe you pain-relief medications along with specific medicines to treat the condition that is causing you the pain.
Physical Therapy
In some cases, your doctor may suggest you consult a physical therapist. The therapist will teach you different kinds of exercises to improve the flexibility and strength of muscles around your knee. With regular exercise, you will gradually feel an improvement in your knee pain and will eventually be pain-free.
Surgical Procedures
While chances of surgery for occasional knee pain remain minimal, you may be required to undergo surgery if your pain fails to improve with other treatments or if you have something serious going on in your knee.
Surgical procedures for knee pain include arthroscopic surgery, partial or total knee replacement surgery, and osteotomy. In arthroscopy, your doctor makes small cuts and examines your knee joint using an arthroscope and repairs damaged areas. Whereas osteotomy involves cutting bone in your knee joint for better joint alignment and pain relief.
Concluding Thoughts
Knee pain is a common condition, but the discomfort it causes can significantly hamper a person’s life. It can make simple activities like walking and climbing stairs difficult for the affected person.
Simple cases of knee pain are easily treatable with a few at-home remedies and do not require a doctor’s visit. However, if your pain continues for more than a few days, is severe, and/or you’re facing difficulties carrying out your daily activities, make an appointment with your doctor for an examination. Your doctor will assess your condition and advise you on knee pain treatment accordingly.
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Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/knee-pain/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350855
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21207-knee-pain#care-and-treatment
