How to Get Rid of Knee Pain | Treatment Options
Wondering how to get rid of knee pain? There are various ways to treat knee pain, depending on what is causing the pain. Treatment may include medication, physiotherapy, or surgery. If you are experiencing knee pain, it is essential to see a doctor and get a diagnosis. This will help you receive the best possible treatment for your specific situation.
Knee Pain Treatment
Here are all the knee pain treatment options that will help you get rid of the knee pain and help you get back to your pain-free life.
Balancing Rest and Exercise
There are a few different options for recovering from an injury. You can choose to rest, which is one option, but exercising can also help long-term.
For the best decision for yourself, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons of each option. If you have stairs in your home, using your suitable leg when going up and your sore leg when going down can be a helpful strategy for recovery.
However, you can simply opt for low-impact workouts like swimming or cycling to strengthen your knee.
It’s also essential to stick to your regular routine as best you can during recovery time; this can be effective too! However, resting the leg or limiting movement may help you avoid pain, but it can also slow down your recovery process.
When recovering from a knee injury, it is essential to balance rest and exercise. Low-impact exercises such as swimming and cycling are useful in the early stages of healing. However, to fully recover from an injury or manage chronic knee pain, you need daily exercise. Find an activity you enjoy and stick with it. Additionally, experts suggest that people practicing with someone else may speed up their recovery time.
In general, it’s a good idea to balance rest and exercise when you’re dealing with knee pain. Low-impact activities, like swimming or cycling, can relieve without putting too much strain on your knees.
If you’re not sure where to start, ask your doctor or physical therapist for help designing an exercise program that’s suited for your condition’s symptoms. Also, adopt the program to ensure that you’re getting the most benefit possible.
You can use the Physitrack app to get instructions on exercises and guidance from your doctor.
Heat/Ice Packs
When it comes to managing pain, heat and ice packs are two of the most popular methods. However, there are some critical differences between the two.
For example, it is generally recommended that you not use heat on a new injury as it can aggravate the wound. On the other hand, ice is often seen as a great way to manage short-term knee pain.
Ice packs can be made from ice cubes, plastic bags, or tea towels soaked in water. They should be applied for 20 to 30 minutes at a time.
If you are experiencing knee pain that lasts for more than a day and is still bright in color, it is best to apply ice packs every 2 to 3 hours.
Weight Management
Losing weight can be beneficial for people who suffer from knee pain. Even shedding a small amount of weight can make a big difference in alleviating the pain. Additionally, obesity puts additional pressure on the knees, worsening the pain.
There are many ways to manage your weight to relieve pressure on your knees. Doctors can help you set a realistic weight goal and change your diet and exercise regime.
Obesity-related diseases like diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, or blood pressure disorder can also cause knee pain.
Suitable Footwear
When looking for shoes to reduce pain, it is crucial to find a heel height of 1-2 inches. Flat feet can be helped with arch supports.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapists are experts in helping people deal with knee pain. They can give tailored advice to individuals on how best to manage their knee pain.
This may involve prescribing exercises that can be done at home or providing other treatments such as massage or heat therapy.
First and foremost, some people find that wearing a brace can help manage knee pain or instability.
Additionally, physiotherapy helps to increase the ease of movement in joints which reduces pain. It is often done at home and provides ample benefits such as comfort, convenience, and privacy.
Surgery or Injections
There are a variety of treatments for knee pain, one of which is surgery. However, not all types of knee pain can be cured with surgery. Many other options, including injections, may provide relief for some people but are not a cure-all.
Osteoarthritis is a condition that doctors may refer patients to discuss surgery as an option. Surgery will only be required for some people when the pain becomes too unbearable.
Learn more about different knee health conditions and treatments in our content on Osteoarthritis of the knee, Knee replacement surgery, Prescription steroids, Estrogen deficiency, Testosterone deficiency, and Rotator cuff tear).
There are many options for treating knee pain, both surgical and nonsurgical. The benefits of each treatment vary depending on the person’s individual preferences and the cause of the pain.
For example, arthroscopic surgery may be a better option depending on the cause of the pain, while there are benefits to both surgical and nonsurgical treatments.
However, arthroscopy is used to remove the loose bodies, repair damaged cartilage, and reconstruct torn ligaments- so it may be more beneficial for some people than others.
On the other hand, there are surgical procedures such as knee replacement and osteotomy. Knee replacement is a surgery where the doctor removes your damaged knee and replaces it with an artificial joint made of metal alloys, high-grade plastics, and polymers.
Osteotomy is another surgical procedure where the doctor removes bone from either the thighbone or shinbone to align the knee better.
Talking therapies and pain management programs
Talking therapies, such as counseling and pain management programs are great ways to reduce your mood and manage your pain.
Pain management programs help you build on your current coping skills and exercise habits which can be helpful if you’re living with long-term pain.
How is the knee structured?
The knee is a complex joint that is made up of four main parts: bones, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons. The knee has many moving parts, which is why it can be so susceptible to pain.
Causes of knee pain
Knee pain can be caused by a variety of issues, both short and long-term.
Some common causes of knee pain are overuse, arthritis, gout, and ligament or cartilage damage. If you are experiencing knee pain, it is essential to see a doctor to determine the root cause and receive the appropriate treatment.
Knee pain is a symptom that often correlates with many health issues, so it is essential to be aware of the signs and causes of your particular knee pain before communicating with a doctor.
Some common causes of knee pain are arthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis. However, other potential causes should not be ruled out without first consulting with a physician.
A variety of reasons can cause knee pain. One of the most common is wear and tear, which can happen to anyone. Knee pain can also be due to an injury, illness, or how you use your knees. Many treatment options are available for knee pain, depending on the cause.
Top home remedies for knee pain
Top home remedies for knee pain always start with rest and stopping whatever you were doing that was causing you knee pain.
You can do a few things at home to help relieve knee pain. For new or acute pain, resting and icing may be effective.
Additionally, avoiding activities that put stress on the knees, such as squatting and climbing stairs, may also help. If the pain persists or worsens, see a doctor for further evaluation and treatment.
One of the most important things is to maintain muscle strength and joint mobility.
This can be done through daily exercise, which will also help keep the knee functioning properly, even with arthritis.
However, resting or limiting movement for an extended period can stiffen the joint and slow down the recovery process.
For those who want to stay active, low-impact activities such as swimming or water exercises are a good option.
Here are the most useful knee pain home remedy that you can do!
RICE:
Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation are the most common steps to do if you are looking to reduce knee pain.
Low Impact workouts:
Exercises for knee pain relief may contain swimming activities and various physiotherapy exercises that your doctor may prescribe to you.
Hot/Cold Compression:
Applying heat can reduce pain when you are resting, and using ice can reduce swelling.
Weight Management:
Excessive weight might put more pressure on the knees. If you have additional weight/fat, you should consider low-impact workouts to reduce them to get rid of knee pain.
When to see a doctor
Knee pain is a common complaint, and in some cases, it will go away without any treatment.
However, there are times when you might need help. If the knee pain is severe or persists for more than a week or two, you should see your doctor.
And when your home treatment for knee pain fails, you should visit your doctor.
They will be able to help you determine the cause of the pain and suggest appropriate treatment options. In some areas of the country, you can access physiotherapy services without having to see your GP first.
Your doctor will be able to guide you if you need medications for knee pain.
Visit North Melbourne Osteopathy for Knee Pain Treatment
If you have knee pain and everything you did fails to cure it, let us know. Our physiotherapists will be able to identify the leading cause of your knee pain and will be able to guide you through it.
Give us a call on 03 9328 1151 to book your appointment today!