If your knee is bothering you, don't dismiss it as a symptom of aging and keep walking on it. Knee pain may be caused by arthritis, torn ligaments, tendinitis, bursitis, torn cartilage, or a muscle sprain or strain. Rather than ignoring your symptoms, see a doctor as soon as you notice pain. With the help of your physician, you may be able to reduce the pain in the knee and prevent your injury from becoming more severe.
Step 1
Lose weight. Each pound you weigh adds an additional 6 lbs. worth of stress that your knee must bear, says Dr. James M. Fox, M.D., director of the Center for the Disorders of the Knee in Van Nuys, California. This means that if you are 5 lbs. overweight, you're adding 30 lbs. worth of stress to your knees, which may cause pain and knee injuries.
Step 2
Rub the knee and surrounding muscles with an over-the-counter cooling ointment. The cream relaxes the muscles, which may help temporarily soothe the pain.
Step 3
Sleep with your knees cushioned by a pillow if you sleep on your side. If you sleep with your knees pressed together, it may cause additional pain. Put a pillow between your knees while you sleep to reduce the pressure.
Step 4
Apply ice to your knee every hour for 15 minutes the day you injure your knee. After the first day, apply ice to your knee four times or more per day to reduce pain and swelling.
Tips and Warnings
- Doing leg lifts and other leg exercises may help strengthen the knee joint and prevent further injury -- ask your doctor before performing any new exercises. Go to physical therapy sessions if they are suggested by your doctor. If you have sustained a knee injury, physical therapy may help strengthen the legs and reduce knee pain. A physical therapist may be covered by your insurance.
- Go to the emergency room if your leg is severely swollen, discolored or causing extreme pain. Keep the weight off of your knee and stop doing any activity that causes additional knee pain until you know the cause and recommended treatment for your knee injury.
Things You'll Need
- Over-the-counter cooling ointment
- Pillow
- Ice
References
- "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies"; Deborah Tkac; 1990
- Mayo Clinic: Knee Pain
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Knee Pain
