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Your knees are some of the most important joints in your body. They support your weight and provide stability and a “hinge” to help keep your body moving. But between standing, walking, running, jumping, crouching and turning, it’s easy to see how knee pain can show up.
When you suffer from knee pain, it can prevent you from enjoying the things you love to do most and make everyday activities painful.
SYMPTOMS OF KNEE PAIN
It’s a good idea to see your doctor any time you’re experiencing knee pain, but especially if you have these symptoms:
- Heavy swelling around the knee
- Inability to put weight on the knee, or knee that gives out
- Severe pain
- An obvious abnormality in the knee or leg
- Fever in addition to knee redness, swelling or pain
COMMON CAUSES OF KNEE PAIN
Certain risk factors can make people more prone to knee pain, such as:
- Excess weight
- Lack of muscle strength or flexibility
- Playing sports that can put stress on knees, like basketball, football, volleyball or running
- Occupations that put repetitive stress on the knees, like construction and farming
- Having a previous knee injury
When you experience knee pain, see your doctor to get a diagnosis, as many conditions can cause knee pain.
HOW TO FIND KNEE PAIN RELIEF
How to treat knee pain often depends on the type of injury, but these strategies may help you find knee pain relief:
EXERCISES AND STRETCHING
Exercises and targeted stretches for knee pain can help strengthen muscles and ease pain around the joint. Building a strong core through yoga, Pilates and kickboxing can also help keep your knees where they should be to ease joint compression and pain. Consult with your doctor or physical therapist to learn which exercises and stretches to use or avoid based on your unique needs.
EXERCISES AND STRETCHING
Exercises and targeted stretches for knee pain can help strengthen muscles and ease pain around the joint. Building a strong core through yoga, Pilates and kickboxing can also help keep your knees where they should be to ease joint compression and pain. Consult with your doctor or physical therapist to learn which exercises and stretches to use or avoid based on your unique needs.
ICE AND COMPRESSION
For acute knee pain, you can try the RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation) method:
- Avoid strenuous activity that puts pressure on the knee.
- Apply ice three to four times a day for 10 minutes at a time.
- Compress the area with bandages (not too tightly).
- Elevate the knee with pillows to help keep swelling to a minimum.
ICE AND COMPRESSION
For acute knee pain, you can try the RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation) method:
- Avoid strenuous activity that puts pressure on the knee.
- Apply ice three to four times a day for 10 minutes at a time.
- Compress the area with bandages (not too tightly).
- Elevate the knee with pillows to help keep swelling to a minimum.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES
If certain activities, like running, put too much pressure on your knees, switching to lower-impact activities could help. Extra weight can also put pressure on your joints and make knee pain worse — even a 5% weight loss can reduce stress on your knees. If you think you would benefit from weight loss, talk to your doctor about a sensible weight-loss plan.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES
If certain activities, like running, put too much pressure on your knees, switching to lower-impact activities could help. Extra weight can also put pressure on your joints and make knee pain worse — even a 5% weight loss can reduce stress on your knees. If you think you would benefit from weight loss, talk to your doctor about a sensible weight-loss plan.
COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES
Some people may find relief from alternative medicine practices such as massage, acupuncture, meditation or relaxation techniques. Explore what options could fit into your routine.
COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES
Some people may find relief from alternative medicine practices such as massage, acupuncture, meditation or relaxation techniques. Explore what options could fit into your routine.
OTC PAIN RELIEVERS
Over-the-counter knee pain medications like Aleve® Caplets can help relieve minor knee pain when used as directed. Just one Aleve® caplet is strong enough to provide pain relief for up to 12 hours.
OTC PAIN RELIEVERS
Over-the-counter knee pain medications like Aleve® Caplets can help relieve minor knee pain when used as directed. Just one Aleve® caplet is strong enough to provide pain relief for up to 12 hours.
INJECTIONS
These may include steroids for possible long-term pain relief, fluids that mimic the natural fluid that lubricates joints and platelet-rich plasma to reduce inflammation and encourage healing. Only your doctor can determine which treatment options are right for you.
INJECTIONS
These may include steroids for possible long-term pain relief, fluids that mimic the natural fluid that lubricates joints and platelet-rich plasma to reduce inflammation and encourage healing. Only your doctor can determine which treatment options are right for you.
SURGERY
In some cases, surgery may be the best option, but it’s usually only considered after trying a variety of other treatments first.
SURGERY
In some cases, surgery may be the best option, but it’s usually only considered after trying a variety of other treatments first.
Knee pain is a very common condition that can interfere with even the simplest daily activities, like walking or bending. Though there are many causes of knee pain, there are also a variety of treatments and pain management tactics that can help alleviate your discomfort. Talk with your doctor to find the best knee pain relief options for you and your lifestyle so you can get back to enjoying life — rather than just tolerating pain.
References
Mayo Clinic. Knee pain.
Nicolini AP, de Carvalho RT, Matsuda MM, Sayum JF, Cohen M. Common injuries in athletes' knee: experience of a specialized center. Acta Ortop Bras. 2014;22(3):127-131. doi: 10.1590/1413-78522014220300475.
American Society of Anesthesiologists. Knee pain.
