Your arthritic knee might be painful but you have more options than you think. Knee pain relief means being proactive and staying educated as part of the journey towards a happier life.
If your health care provider has prescribed medication for your arthritic knee then these tips will help you live a happier life.
Physical Therapy
Many people don’t realize that physical therapists can help pinpoint and relieve pain by their hands on approach and techniques. Furthermore a physical therapist can assist you with exercises that will reduce pain and increase knee function.
Water Exercises
A pool of water can hold up to 90 percent of your body weight which will feel like pure joy to your knee. A well balanced exercise program can help build muscle strength, improve range of motion, increase mobility and most importantly ease knee pain.
Simple Knee Exercises
Using simple exercises to strengthen your arthritic knee can greatly improve mobility and relieve pain. Go slow at first and watch your progress closely. Here are 7 simple knee pain exercises for pain relief.
Weight Loss
If you have a very painful arthritic knee then you will want to maintain your recommended weight. Losing weight to reduce extra pressure on your affected joints is also beneficial. In addition, weight loss will help you feel lighter on your feet which will give happiness to your knee.
Footwear with Insoles
To alleviate some discomfort in your arthritic knee you might find significant knee pain relief from special footwear with insoles. Ask your doctor if you are a good candidate for insoles.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a methodology originating in ancient China that treats patients by using thin, solid needles inserted into acupuncture points in the skin. According to the trial of 352 patients with knee osteoarthritis, there were small improvements in pain intensity and unpleasantness at two and six weeks for true acupuncture. Read full trial here.
Hot & Cold Therapy
Hot and cold therapies have a lot of benefits. Some of the benefits for cold therapy are reducing swelling and pain. Heat therapy can help the muscles, ligaments and tendons to relax which will make you feel better.
An easy but slightly expensive way for continuous heat therapy are electric knee warmers. These can help alleviate pain after injuries, increase blood flow, and stimulate healing.
Knee Braces
Knee braces, if used sparingly, can improve stability, relieve knee pain and reduce the risk of falling. See our knee braces page for a comprehensive overview and guide on which ones to purchase.
DonJoy Reaction WEB Knee Brace
Exercise and rest helps. But sometimes your knees need proper support. DonJoy's WEB knee brace improves recovery time, stabilizes your patella and alleviates pain.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Taking anti-inflammatory drugs such as Motrin or Advil relieves the pain and swelling temporarily. However, avoid using this method long term.
Surgery
If all else fails you might want to seek knee pain relief from surgery. Speak to your doctor or health care provider for surgical methods to help relieve your arthritic knee pain.
Be sure to read more about arthritis knee pain here. You must also see our comprehensive arthritis guide where you can learn more about types of arthritis, causes, symptoms, treatments and more.
What are some of the Arthritic Knee pain tips you use to live a happier pain free life? Please comment below.
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