Top 5 Home Remedies for Knee Pain

Knee pain can be mild, moderate to severe as it can be caused by both short-term and long-term issues. Short-term knee issues do not require any help from orthopaedic doctors as those who have such issues can often help themselves for their own recovery. Though home remedies can help improve your condition and manage your symptoms to a certain extent, they don’t offer any help in severe and complicated cases of knee pain. For long-term resolution of knee pain and inflammation you should consult a joint pain specialist doctor.

First of all, Assess your pain

There are many ways in which you can manage arthritis pain and muscle sprains. If you have knee pain which is mild to moderate, you can manage it at home.

Knee pain due to minor injury, arthritis and inflammation will often resolve without any medical intervention. For any type of knee pain assessment of the condition is important.

Weight management

Excess pain – which is up to 10 pounds more can add around 25 to 50 pounds extra pressure on the knee joint. Arthritis foundation says that obesity or overweight can put additional pressure on the knee joints. The foundation also links obesity with inflammation. People who have excess body weight with a higher BMI are at risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee joint than those with a low BMI.

Weight management is beneficial to you if any long-term health issue is causing pain in the knees. It helps reduce pressure and relieve nagging symptoms.

If you have severe knee pain that is interfering with your day-to-day life, then your doctor will help you to deal with it. He or she will set a target weight reduction plan if your high BMI is responsible for making your condition worse. Your orthopedic doctor, physiotherapist and nutritionist may work out a plan based on exercise and dietary changes.

Exercise

People who suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee joint should perform low impact exercises under the guidance of physiotherapists and personal trainers. They should find and adopt an activity they enjoy the most. Walking, cycling, yoga, tai chi, water exercise and swimming are the best options.

Any sort of exercise including a low-impact one is also not recommended if you have severe knee pain or injury, muscle sprain and chronic knee pain and if your symptoms flare up.

If you are recovering from an orthopedic injury, you should consider choosing a gentler option. Ask your orthopaedic doctor or a physical therapist to formulate an exercise regimen that’s best for you.

Try RICE for strains and sprains

RICE: This acronym is important for you and helpful to remember it if you sprained or strained your knee, twisted your leg or have a fall.

• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation

Whenever you feel pain stop the activity that you are doing and take rest and apply a cold compress or a bag of ice to the affected knee joint. You can use a compression bandage and wrap it gently around the knee joint to prevent swelling. Take rest and keep your affected knee and foot elevated.

Ginger extract

Homemade ginger tea from ground ginger root or spice and ginger-based supplements that are available in several forms can help reduce arthritis pain when they are used along with prescription medicines.

Heat and cold therapy

Use a heating pad to relieve knee pain while resting your knee and then use cold treatment to reduce inflammation.

The following are some of the tips for applying heat and cold therapy:

• First use heat pad for up to 15 to 20 minutes
• Check that a heat pad isn’t too hot before applying.
• Heat therapy is not advisable if your joint is warm during a flare.
• To help ease stiffness in the joint take a warm shower early in the morning
• Alternate between heat and cold.
• Apply cold packs for up to 15 to 20 minutes five to six times a day for the first two days after injury.
• During the first 24 hours after injury or joint sprain apply cold pack or gel pack more often during the entire day.
• Never apply ice directly to the skin.
• You can also apply heat and cold treatment along with ointments containing capsaicin and paraffin.

When to see Dr. Vasudeva Juvvadi

You can treat many causes of knee pain at home, but some will need medical attention. Contact Dr. Vasudeva Juvvadi if you observe the following symptoms:

• Knee pain that becomes worse with treatment
• Severe inflammation, pain and swelling
• Severe injury, bruising or deformity
• Knee pain and inflammation that persist even after treatment
• Other symptoms that persist for a few days or longer and get worse instead of getting better
• Fever can complicate the healing process of infection if persists

What Does your doctor do to diagnose the cause of your pain?

Dr. Vasudeva juvvadi examines you thoroughly by performing physical examination. He may order some tests such as X-ray and blood tests. If Dr. Vasu finds any underlying cause or problem that needs medical intervention, he will do a thorough assessment, diagnose the cause and start the treatment immediately.

Bottom Line

Home remedies or management of knee pain at home is not always fruitful or it may help relieve mild to moderate knee pain. When knee pain symptoms persist or get worse – especially in case of moderate to severe knee pain, you must seek medical attention or consult an Orthopedic doctor for complete evaluation and assessment.