Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can cause severe arthritic knee pain, impacting a person's quality of life. However, arthritic knee pain does not have to keep you from participating in the activities you enjoy. In fact, according to the National Institute of Arthritis, many things that can help reduce your arthritic knee pain can also prevent your arthritis from getting worse.
Things You Can Do at Home
Step 1
Keep in mind that arthritic knees often get stiff after periods of rest. "Warming" your knees up with movement and exercise can help decrease your arthritis pain. Bend and straighten your knees, or try getting up and taking a short walk. You can also talk to your doctor or a physical therapist about getting an exercise program tailored specifically for your condition.
Step 2
Know that a variety of over-the-counter and prescription medications are available to help you cope with arthritic knee pain. Medications you can buy at a pharmacy include aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen. If you need something stronger, however, your doctor can also prescribe medication for daily use.
Step 3
Understand that heat helps to loosen stiff joints and muscles, while ice helps to decrease swelling. Both can be useful for controlling arthritic knee pain, and can be used at home. Heating pads are available for purchase in most pharmacies, and are easy to apply anytime of the day. Alternatively, you can fill a plastic bag with ice and apply it directly to your knee. Some people find alternating heat and ice to be the most beneficial for arthritic knee pain.
Step 4
Prevent excessive wear and tear. Using joint preservation techniques can keep your joints stronger and safer over time. Avoid abnormal knee movements like twisting, and avoid kneeling whenever possible. Try to reduce the load on your knee joints: avoid heavy lifting, excessive stair climbing and high-impact activities.
Things Your Doctor Can Do
Step 1
Know that according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, powerful NSAIDs as well as COX-2 inhibitors can help ease arthritic knee pain. These, however, are only available through a doctor's prescription. If you have breakthrough pain, or if over-the-counter medications are not strong enough to control your arthritic knee pain, ask your doctor for something stronger.
Step 2
Keep in mind that corticosteroid injections can provide short-term pain relief for moderate to severe knee arthritis, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Performed by a physician, these injections go directly into the joint, and can reduce swelling as well as help increase the strength of the muscles that support the knee.
Step 3
Understand that when conservative measures fail, surgery may be necessary to control arthritic knee pain. An orthopedic surgeon can perform a variety of procedures, including cleaning out debris in the knee joint, replacing worn cartilage or even replacing the entire knee joint. After surgery and therapy, arthritic knees are often just as good as their pre-arthritis counterparts.
Things You'll Need
- Heating pad
- Ice pack
