How to Deal with the Pain in Your Knees
If you’re bothered by knee pain, you are certainly not suffering alone. In fact, studies show that more women than men have knee pain. About 20% of females deal with it, and between 15% and 20% of men have pain in their knees. General aging, injury and repeated stress on the knees are the most common reasons for the discomfort. The good news is that you have several options for managing your knee pain, and medical authorities are sharing their recommendations.
Stretches/Exercise
If you’re frustrated with knee issues, you might think that stretching and exercising are the last things you need to alleviate the pain. However, Harvard Medical School’s rehabilitation professionals advise moving the body for flexibility so that your knee joints will function correctly.
Stretching is advised for loosening up tight muscles around the knees and to take pressure off the joints to stop the pain. Also, doing gentle exercises such as side-leg raises and single-leg lifts both can help to work other leg muscles to strengthen your knees and make movement easier.
Non-Surgical Alternatives
Most people on the planet suffering from knee pain want to do anything to avoid surgery, and many times, most folks are able to relieve the pain without an invasive operation or potent prescription medications. These days, advancements in the science of human bones and muscles have led to impressive treatments that use cutting-edge regenerative technology.
For instance, you can heal through joint pain management, where today’s specialists offer alternative procedures that include PRP, bone marrow concentrate and amnio-derived fluid and others to enable repair of the damaged areas of the knee.
R.I.C.E.
Here is another method, but this one is only best for relieving acute knee pain. Many know it as R.I.C.E. or the RICE method. It stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation, and all four of these steps can provide a soothing solution for an issue such as knee pain from an injury.
However, medical experts say that the RICE technique will not help you much with chronic knee pain.
Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
PNS or peripheral nerve stimulation is a treatment that uses electrical currents to zero in on specific nerves. Your surgeon will implant electrodes and a small battery pack by the peripheral nerves that transmit pain signals from the knee. When turned on, the device will emit electrical pulses that feel like mild tingles, which will fool the nerves into turning off pain signals to the brain. As the patient, you control the frequency of electrical stimulation.
Acupuncture
The ancient Chinese medical practice known as acupuncture has been found to provide pain relief by identifying and releasing tight muscles and trigger points. There are several randomized, controlled trials that have revealed that acupuncture has merit and can reduce knee pain and improve physical function.
According to acupuncturists, inserting very thin needles through the skin at strategic points can help to heal lateral, anterior, posterior and medial knee pain as well as buckling knee issues.
Medication
When you’re dealing with knee pain, there are plenty of medications to choose from. You can try over-the-counter solutions such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Some patients prefer having steroids, but on a cautionary note, these meds can weaken the cartilage and joints of the knee.
There are also very strong medications prescribed, including opioids, but these powerful pills can become addictive over time even though they can offer superior long-term, pain relief.
Castor Oil
There are also homeopathic recipes to consider, and one of the more popular methods is using cold-pressed castor oil. It boasts anti-inflammatory power that can reduce knee discomfort.
Apply castor oil onto the inflamed joint, and massage it in for about three minutes. Then, place a piece of flannel saturated in more castor oil over the pained area. Wrap plastic (Saran) around the joint to add compression, and apply a heating pad over the wrap for about 20 minutes. Do this treatment once a day for three to five days.
Knee pain is common, but to those who suffer from it, it can be frustrating and challenging to manage. Try these proven methods outlined above and good luck.
