Knee Pain Therapy
Knee pain can be chronic, sudden, dull or severe. It can be caused by injury or age. Just as the causes are varied, so are the solutions. While there are some things you can do to help your knee pain go away, you should always see your doctor if you are experiencing knee pain, especially severe pain, to ensure you don't have a serious injury or condition.
Other People Are Reading
-
R.I.C.E.
-
One of the best things to do when experiencing knee pain is R.I.C.E., which stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. Rest while the pain is at its worst, and temporarily avoid activities that put too much stress on your knee and may cause or increase your pain. If the pain is mild, you may only need to rest for a day or two. If the pain is moderate or severe, you may need to rest for weeks or even months.
You should apply ice to your knee if it is swelling or you suspect it will swell. Ice helps numb pain, and it relieves swelling. Apply an ice pack or bag of frozen peas to your knee for 20 minutes at a time, up to three times a day while you're experiencing swelling.
Compression helps reduce swelling by preventing fluid build-up and also helps keep your knee supported, protected and aligned with the rest of your body. You can buy compression wraps at most sporting stores, supermarkets and pharmacies. Wrap your knee tightly, but not so tightly as to inhibit your circulation.
Elevation helps drain fluids that may build up in your knee due to an injury. While relaxing, prop your knee up on pillows or rest in a recliner so that your knee is above your heart level. If your knee is very swollen, you may need to elevate it during sleep as well.
Medication
-
If your knee pain is severe, you'll want to see a doctor to obtain prescription pain medications so that you can go about your daily activities. If your pain is mild to moderate, you will probably want to use over-the-counter medications that help relieve pain and reduce swelling. These are called NSAIDs and will help for several days. Because NSAIDs carry a toxicity risk, you will want to see your doctor to make sure that it's OK to continue taking these medications long-term.
-
Physical Therapy
-
For chronic pain as well as knee injuries, physical therapy is a way for you to rebuild muscle tissue in your knee and learn how to properly use it to avoid future injury. Physical therapy is supervised exercise that has been tailored to you and your pain level or injury. Your physical therapist may have you do exercises like stair steps, walking on a treadmill, leg lifts and squats. You may even be given exercises to do at home in between sessions. It's important that you follow your physical therapist's instructions so that your knee will heal properly and your pain will decrease.
-
