If you have knee pain, you may find it difficult to do many of the things that you want to do. Common causes of knee pain are inflammation, arthritis, and minor injuries, and these often respond well to home care. Approximately 25% of adults deal with knee pain, which has increased in prevalence by 65% over the past 20 years.
Knee pain doesn’t have to stop you from living your life. Many remedies that you can do at home can provide relief. The providers at Beeson Wellness Center offer this guide about what you can do to treat your knee pain at home.
When you have knee pain, you may want to rest as much as possible. However, too much rest can actually worsen your knee pain because it causes your muscles to become weaker. The best thing for your knee pain is to find an exercise routine that you can stick with and keep moving.
When you have any type of minor injury, including knee pain, the best thing you can do is to use the RICE method. This acronym stands for the following:
Even though it’s important to keep moving in general, this advice doesn’t apply if you’re dealing with an acute injury. It’s a good idea to stay off your feet if your knee is injured.
Put an ice pack on your knee if you’re experiencing a flare-up of injury or arthritis. You can also use a package of frozen vegetables instead of an ice pack if you prefer. Ice can help to reduce any swelling that you might be experiencing.
You can use a compression brace to stabilize your knee if you’ve injured it. Compression can keep your knee joint from getting out of alignment.
One of the best things that you can do for an injured knee is to elevate your knee to take the pressure off it. You may find it helpful to put a rolled-up towel or folded pillow under your knee.
Maintaining a healthy weight plays a big part in relieving your knee pain. Although most people know that maintaining a healthy weight is important, it’s especially crucial if you’re dealing with regular knee pain.
Carrying excess weight puts extra pressure on your joints, including your knees. According to the Arthritis Foundation, even being 10 pounds overweight is equal to 15-50 pounds of pressure on your knees. Every step you take bears the extra force of your weight.
Losing weight may feel challenging, but the providers at Beeson Wellness Center can help. We can teach you about dietary changes you can make and exercises you can do.
Though you can try all of the home remedies mentioned above to get relief from your knee pain, there are times when you’ll need more help. The providers at Beeson Wellness Center can help, including some of the following treatments:
If you have knee pain that isn’t getting better despite home treatment, you should call the providers at Beeson Wellness Center. Contact us to make an appointment today.