Approaches to Knee Pain Relief
You use your knees every time you walk, run, or move your lower
body at all. Knee pain, therefore, dramatically affects the
daily life of sufferers, who must use their knees throughout the
day. Knee pain is the second only to back pain among American
adult pain sufferers. Knee trouble is most often caused by
osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint condition in which the
cartilage that surrounds the two bones that comprise the knee
joint wears away, sometimes causing painful joint-on-joint
contact.
There are many treatment options for knee pain. Under the care
of a doctor, sufferers can select the most appropriate course of
treatment to provide optimum knee pain relief. Over-the-counter
and prescription medications including acetaminophen (Tylenol)
and aspirin reduce pain, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) including ibuprofen, can reduce inflammation as
well as knee joint pain. At-home remedies like ice packs and
capsaicin, found in cayenne pepper, often have a similar effect.
Natural supplements like chondroitin and glucosamine have become
popular alternatives to traditional medicines in recent years
because they present fewer risks of side effects. Both are
naturally occurring substances in the body. The former aids in
building joint cartilage, while the latter fights against
degeneration of cartilage. Studies have proven their
effectiveness in alleviating osteoarthritic joint pain, but have
yet to demonstrate that these supplements actually reverse the
effects of cartilage degeneration that have already taken place.
Modifying knee activity with physical aids such as padding,
crutches, and splints, and even simple rest take the pressure
off of the knee and provide temporary knee pain relief while the
joint recovers from injury. Conversely, specific exercises,
stretching, and low-impact aerobic activities such as biking,
walking and swimming increase joint strength and flexibility,
promoting healing and reducing the risk of further injury.
For severe knee injuries that have not responded to the
aforementioned treatments, surgery remains an option. There are
several common knee surgeries, which range from exploratory
arthroscopic surgery, which orthopedic physicians use to
diagnose the exact source of knee pain so that they can
determine which behaviors and activities need to be modified,
all the way to a total knee replacement. Whichever course of
treatment a patient decides upon, it is important to work
alongside a physician to ensure proper care.