Knee pain associated with running and walking on a treadmill could be caused by overuse, runner's knee, damage to the cartilage in your kneecap, iliotibial band syndrome or patellar tendinitis. No matter what the cause of knee pain, taking certain measures at home and with a physician can help relieve the pain. Speak with a physician before resuming exercise to prevent further injury.
Rest
The first and most basic remedy for knee pain is to take some time and rest your legs and knees. This is the best remedy for knee pain that is associated with overuse. Try not to put any weight on your knee if possible. If you need to continue exercising, try something like swimming, which will not put pressure on your knee. When your pain goes away, begin running again gradually until you are back to your regular exercise routine.
Home Remedies
Other ways you can stop the pain include taking over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or ibuprofen and using a cold pack to keep inflammation down. Use the cold pack for only a few minutes at a time, several times a day. Keep your knee raised and resting above your heart as much as possible. You can also use a compression bandage.
Rehabilitation
Depending on the severity of the injury, you may need reconditioning or physical therapy to help your knee pain go away. You may need to begin a new exercise routine that will stretch, flex and strengthen your leg and knee before getting back to running. In the case of patellar tendinitis, your doctor may suggest physical therapy to strengthen the tendon that is stressed and causing pain. Your physician will tell you when it is time to resume running and may suggest a gradual reintroduction to the treadmill.
Steroid Injection
Pain may be persistent due to a condition such as patellar tendinitis or iliotibial band syndrome, and steroid injections may help relieve pain. Your doctor will be the one to decide whether your injury necessitates this type of intervention. Injecting corticosteroid into your knee can relieve pain and make it possible for you to continue exercising when it would be too painful without the medicine.
Surgery
Sometimes, you may need surgery to correct your knee pain. In an arthroscopy, your surgeon will remove parts of your kneecap cartilage that are damaged from a small incision in your leg. If your knee pain is occurring because your kneecap is out of alignment, your surgeon may realign your kneecap, which reduces pressure and pain in your knee.
