Almost every other commercial on TV seems aimed at those seeking pain relief. With so many choices, it is hard to decide what would be the most beneficial. It is important to know what is causing the pain before choosing a pain relief product because some items work well for one type of pain while others work better for another condition. All knee pain should be evaluated by a health professional if the pain is persistent or interferes with daily activities.
Over the Counter NSAIDs
From acetaminophen to acetylsalicylic acid, there are multiple choices for over the counter pain relief. The most appropriate choice is made by the individual based on other medications being taken, possible interactions and side effects from the specific NSAID. Generally, the more prescription medications an individual uses, the more likely a topical or physical form of pain relief should and will be used. A study published by the "British Medical Journal" on January, 19th 2008 reported that 11 different general practices found that most patients choose a topical form of pain relief for mild pain and an oral pain reliever for moderate to severe pain.
Supplements
Anyone with chronic knee pain has probably heard about and tried glucosamine at some point. A recent study published in "Osteoarthritis Cartilage" in January 19th, 2010 compared the effect of glucosamine, ibuprofen and a placebo on the cartilage when used in conjunction with knee strengthening exercises. At the end of a 12 week period, only glucosamine had an effect on the cartilage response in the body when used in conjunction with joint loading via exercise.
Another supplement gaining popularity is curcuma domestica. Curcuma is in the turmeric family and has been compared to ibuprofen in terms of efficacy and safety for use with knee osteoarthritis. The "Journal of Alternative Complimentary Medicine" published a study in August of 2009 comparing a six week trial of curcuma versus ibuprofen for knee pain found no distinguishable difference in side effects, safety or pain relief for either group, indicating curcuma as a possible oral dose alternative for relieving knee pain.
Topical Applications
There is a large range of topical applications for the skin according to the Mayo Clinic. A pain relieving group called counterirratants, containing ingredients that irritate the skin, they help decrease pain temporarily. These items contain menthol or eucalyptus oils and will make the skin feel either hot or cold. Other topicals are called analgesic topicals as they contain NSAID ingredients, and not only help decrease pain, but also relieve inflammation. Other over the counter topical relievers are ones that contain capsaicin, made from essence of chili pepper seeds; they help to deplete the nerve cells of the pain sending signals. These creams work well on joints close to the surface of the skin and may take a few weeks before longer pain relief is felt, according to the Mayo Clinic. Any other topical patches or creams may need to be obtained in a doctors office and will contain more powerful topical pain relievers like lidocain.
Braces and Supports
There are specific types of knee braces ranging from small elastic wrap around bandages to more expensive prescription braces given out in a doctors office. Even purchasing orthotics for the feet can help decrease the wear and tear on the knee joints. All of these items require a more thorough investigation by a health professional rather than simply trying them on your own---as the wrong brace can further irritate and even damage the knee cartilage by shifting the weight load incorrectly.
References
- "British Medical Journal;" Influences on older people's decision making regarding choice of topical or oral NSAIDs for knee pain: qualitative study; Carnes D. et. al.; January 19th 2008.
- "Osteoarthritis Cartilage;" Glucosamine but not ibuprofen alters cartilage turnover in osteoarthritis patients in response to physical training.; Petersen SG. et. al.; January 18th, 2010.
- "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine;" Efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts in patients with knee osteoarthritis.; Kuptniratsaikul V. et. al.; August 2009.
- Mayo Clinic: Topical Pain Relievers
