Managing Your Knee Pain

Osteoarthritis can be difficult to deal with, and the knee pain it causes can make it harder to do your favorite activities – or even everyday tasks. While the knee pain can be debilitating, many people are hesitant to take painkillers over the fear of addiction. Luckily, medication isn’t the only solution. Here’s a look at some other ways to deal with severe knee pain.

Get some exercise

While you don’t want to overwork your knees, you also don’t want to become too sedentary. Exercise, when done correctly, is a great way to help alleviate knee pain. For example, low-impact exercises are gentle on your knees and also strengthen the muscles around the joints. Swimming, water aerobics, and yoga are all great examples of low-impact exercises. However, be sure to avoid high-impact exercises like jumping or running, which can be stressful on the knees.

Lose weight

Excess body weight can put additional stress on your knees, causing them to become weaker and increasing your knee pain. Just one extra pound of body weight results in four pounds of extra stress on the knee joint. Losing even a few pounds can make a significant impact on how your knees feel.

Practice RICE

When your knee pain is flaring up, try practicing RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Start by giving your knee some time to rest, then apply ice to help the swelling go down. Add a compression bandage, and keep your knee in an elevated position.

Alternate hot and cold

While ice is used in the RICE method, it isn’t the only option when it comes to relieving severe knee pain. You can also try the hot/cold method, which alternates cold and heat. Start by applying an ice pack to your knee for up to 20 minutes at a time. Then, apply a heating pad for up to 20 minutes. A long, warm shower can also do the trick. Doing this for up to three or four times a day may help alleviate pain in your knee.

Wear proper footwear

Shoes with no support aren’t doing any favors for your knees. If you’re experiencing knee pain, be sure to wear comfortable shoes designed with cushioned insoles to help take some stress off of your knees. To help reduce the stress on your knee even more, consider using a walking aid.

Consider our viscosupplementation therapy

At Arthritis Knee Pain Centers, we specialize in digitally guided viscosupplementation therapy, a non-surgical, outpatient solution that has decreased severe knee pain for thousands of our patients. Our specially trained physicians place an FDA-approved viscogel in your knee joint replacing the depleted synovial fluid. This gel provides much-needed cushioning and shock absorption, helping to relieve your knee pain. When combined with a sensible diet, the right kind of exercise, and supportive knee bracing as needed, our comprehensive therapy makes a huge difference in decreasing the effects of osteoarthritis. With less pain, our patients are free to get back to their everyday activities, improving their physical and mental health.

Want to find out if you’re a candidate for this therapy? Click here to learn more and schedule your no-charge, no-obligation knee pain screening. Our program is covered by Medicare and most private insurers.

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