Arthritis Knee Pain, Knee Sprains, and Strains Home Remedies!
Arthritis Knee Pain, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention, And Home Remedies:
Knee Pain is a common complaint that affects people of all ages. Knee pain may be the result of an injury, such as a ruptured ligament or torn cartilage. Medical conditions including arthritis, gout, and infections, also can cause knee pain. Many types of minor knee pain respond well to self-care measures. Physical therapy and knee braces also can help relieve knee pain. In some cases, however, your knee may require surgical repair. strains
How is the knee structured?
The knee is the largest joint in your body. It is made up of four main things: bones, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons.
1. Bones:
Your knee joint is formed where three bones meet. These are your:
- thighbone, which is also known as the femur
- shinbone, which is also known as the tibia
- the kneecap, which is also known as the patella.
2. Ligaments:
These join bones to other bones. There are four main ligaments in your knee. They act like strong ropes to hold your bones together and keep your knee in place.
These ligaments in your knee are:
- Collateral ligaments – which are found on the sides of your knee. One is on the inside and one is on the outside. They control the sideways movement of your knee.
- Cruciate ligaments – which are found inside your knee joint. They cross each other to form an X shape. These ligaments control how your knee moves backward and forwards.
3. Cartilage:
There are two types of cartilage in your knee:
A. Articular cartilage:
This covers the ends of your thighbone and shinbone and the back of the kneecap. This is a slippery substance that helps your knee bones glide smoothly across each other as you bend or straighten your leg.
B. Meniscal cartilage (meniscus):
These are two wedge-shaped pieces that act as shock absorbers between your shinbone and thighbone.
- The medial meniscus is on the inner side of the knee joint.
- The lateral meniscus is on the outer side of the knee.
The meniscus helps to cushion and stabilize the joint, which is why they are tough and rubbery. When people say they have torn cartilage in the knee, they are usually talking about torn meniscus.
4. Tendons:
These connect muscles to your bones.
Causes:
Knee pain is often caused by ligament sprains, muscle strains, or irritated-damaged cartilage. These can be a result of a traumatic injury or stress over time.
- 1. Injuries:
- Trauma falls, or sports injuries can produce forces that tear, overstretch or compress the joint or the soft tissue.
- 2. Overuse:
- Advancing too quickly in your sport or activity can overwhelm the body’s ability to adjust and may lead to muscular fatigue and joint strain.
- 3. Muscular Weakness-Imbalance:
- Muscles that are too weak for the demand and cannot support the joint may become injured or cause other muscles to strain to compensate.
- 4. Decreased Flexibility:
- Tight muscles or restricted joint motion can lead to functional weakness or compressive force at the joint.
- 5. Posture:
- Poor posture especially locking the knees and over-pronation (flattened arches) of the feet can increase the stress around the knee.
- 6. Incorrect Footwear:
- Shoes that are too worn or not suitable for your sport, body type, or feet can result in increased knee stress.
Signs And Symptoms:
The location and severity of knee pain may vary, depending on the cause of the problem. Signs and symptoms that sometimes accompany knee pain include: 
- Swelling and stiffness.
- Redness and warmth to the touch.
- Weakness or instability.
- Popping or crunching noises.
- Inability to fully straighten the knee.
Call Your Doctor if You:
- Can’t bear weight on your knee.
- Have marked knee swelling.
- Are unable to fully extend or flex your knee.
- See an obvious deformity in your leg or knee.
- Have a fever, in addition to redness, pain, and swelling in your knee.
- Feel as if your knee is unstable or your knee “gives out”.
Treatment:
When an injury occurs, appropriate rehabilitation is necessary to avoid re-injury and prevent chronic problems from developing. Here are some things to consider when rehabilitating your knee.
1) Control swelling:
Follow the RICE principle:
- Rest- Give your knee time to heal. Stop all activities that cause pain.
- Ice- Use a bag of crushed ice or frozen peas for 20 minutes, 4 times a day.
- Compression- An elastic bandage can provide support and reduce swelling.
- Elevate- Elevate your knee above your heart to help reduce swelling.
2) Encourage pain-free movement And flexibility:
- After an injury, your knee may get stiff. The early movement will help regain your range of motion and decrease muscle weakness. Stretching helps maintain flexibility which also protects the joint.
- Weight-bearing helps joints to heal. The goal is to be weight-bearing as soon as possible without a limp. It may be necessary to use crutches or a cane at first to allow pain-free walking and allow the swelling to diminish.
3) Strengthen and develop support for the injured knee:
- The muscles of your knee must be strong before you return to your activities.
- Simple exercises can be done as shown on the back of the page.
- When appropriate exercises can be progressed with weight, elastic bands, or weight machines.
Knee Pain Therapy Medications:
Knee pain therapy medications include:
A. Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs):
- NSAIDs are painkillers, such as Advil and Motrin.
- These medications can help alleviate some of the pain and inflammation caused by injury and osteoarthritis in the knee.
- Most NSAIDs can be bought over the counter, without a prescription.
- DO NOT use aspirin.
B. Opioids:
- If the pain is unbearable, some doctors may prescribe opioids as part of a patient’s knee pain therapy.
- Otherwise, Opioids known as narcotics, are usually offered for a brief period of time due to dependency issues and negative side effects.
- They are superior at masking the pain but do not help reduce inflammation.
- Great care must be taken if opioids are prescribed for your knee pain therapy.
C. Corticosteroids:
When corticosteroids are used as part of your knee pain therapy, they help minimize inflammation, therefore relieving much of the pain.
- Corticosteroids can be ingested orally, or injected into the site of inflammation.
- Corticosteroids can offer immediate pain relief; however serious side effects have been confirmed, such as thinning of the cartilage and ligament weakening.
- Corticosteroids must be used with care.
The usual medical explanations for knee pain include arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, ligament injury, and joint cartilage deterioration. MRIs and other tests often seem to substantiate such diagnoses and while good indicators they are not the holy grail and too often lead to mistaken diagnoses.
Even in,
The absence of objective evidence, knee pain alone many times is assumed to be proof that the joint itself is in trouble. This has lead to needless surgery when in fact the surgery was more than likely unnecessary in a large number of cases. Always get a 2nd and 3rd opinion where your knee is involved to have sufficient information to make the “right” decision. After all, it is your knee…and your pain.
Prevent Knee Pain and Injury:
Helpful Tips to Ease and Prevent Knee Pains:
Whenever this symptom starts to sprout, below are some strategies and helpful tips that can help alleviate your knee pain.
1. Apply a warm and cold compress:
Cold compress is a great and all-around pain killer that can be used to ease the pain on your knees. Application of cold compress is highly recommended for acute or occasional pain while hot compress is used for prolonged or chronic pain.
2. Stay physically fit and build some muscles.
Heading to the gym once in a while and running a couple of miles within your community can bring tons of health benefits you’ve never imagined!
Staying active can help you build and repair the knee muscles you need as cushions for your knees to prevent your bones from skidding each other. Doing isometric exercises and cardio can extremely help build those muscles. Remember not to overdo it to prevent muscle strain from exercise stress.
3. Drink prescribed medications and try natural supplements.
Anti-inflammatory and NSAIDs medications can temporarily help alleviate pain away. Just be sure to consult your physician for the right medication that suits your needs.
You can also try some natural herbal supplements that are available in the market to prevent the severity of the pain you’re experiencing. Make it a point to double-check its counter actions and contraindications that can hinder the effects of your prescribed medication.
Using products that contain relaxing essential oils can lessen the suffering due to injury or inflammation. Avoid using excess cream that may cause discomfort due to high temperatures that may burn the skin.
4. Wear comfortable shoes:
High heels and fabulous-looking shoes are nice and edgy to wear. But, everyday use of high-heeled shoes may bring knee and joint problems in the long run. To prevent yourself from pain, make it a point to wear comfy shoes and alternate your high heels with flat ones every other day.
5. Consider hypnotherapy:
If you’re looking for a natural way to fight your pain problems, you may want to consider hypnosis. Pain control hypnosis can help you power your mind to gain control over your pain and manage it. Hypnotherapy is one of the popular methods for pain management and managing symptoms of certain diseases. Give it a try and experience it for yourself.
6. Healthy Diet:
A proper diet is important if you are serious about learning how to heal knee pain. Watching out on your diet provides the internal cure which is necessary for your joints and muscles. Eliminate sodium and fatty foods from your daily diet as much as possible; include plenty of fruits and vegetables and drink enough water of at least six glasses per day.
Your knees help you to walk, bend, and do everyday activities. You don’t usually notice them until they start to hurt. The knees are the largest joint in your body, and they play an important part in your ability to maintain an active lifestyle. Use these tips to educate yourself and help prevent knee injuries and pain.
Here’re Effective Home Remedies For Knee Pain:
Many individuals suffer from the problem of knee pain. Osteoporosis and arthritis are the two main causes of knee pain. Further, common causes of knee pain include injury, bone tumors, aging, and so on. Common symptoms of knee pain include swelling, stiffness, weakness, inflammation in the knee area, and so on. Different home remedies can be used to treat the problem of knee pain.
Elderly people face a lot of problems like arthritis, among other things, that result in suffering. If the knee joint problem is not taken care of over a time period, it can cause huge and intense suffering. However, immediate attention and regular knee pain remedies can reduce this issue.
1. Fenugreek Seeds:
You can prepare a mixture with the use of fenugreek seeds and mustard oil. Massaging the affected knee with this mixture can help in reducing knee pain. You can also soak fenugreek seeds (3 teaspoons) and cumin seeds (3 teaspoons) in water (1 cup) at night. This water should be consumed in the morning (empty stomach) to reduce knee pain.
2. Turmeric Powder:
You can create a paste with the use of turmeric powder (2 teaspoons) and asafoetida (1 teaspoon). Massaging the knee with this paste 2 to 3 times a day can help in the treatment of knee pain. You can also consume a glass of warm milk containing turmeric powder on a regular basis to cure knee pain.
3. Garlic:
You can massage the affected knee with garlic oil 3 to 4 times a day to reduce the pain and stiffness resulting from knee pain. Intake of food items containing garlic can also help in the treatment of knee pain.
4. Fruits And Vegetables:
You can consume fresh fruits (such as kiwi, mango, grapefruit, papaya, and so on) on a regular basis to treat the problem of knee pain. Intake of tart cherry juice can provide effective results. You can also consume vegetables (such as cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, and so on) to deal with the problem of knee pain.
5. Oil:
You can massage the affected knee with a mixture of rum at one gold, lavender, and marjoram oil on a daily basis to improve the flexibility of the knee joint. A mixture of sandalwood, chamomile, lemon, and grapefruit oil can also be directly applied to reduce knee pain.
This mixture should be used on a regular basis to obtain the desired results. You can also use castor or olive oil for massaging the affected knee.
6. Carom Seed:
You can consume carom seeds (1 teaspoon) with lukewarm water (1 cup) on a regular basis to treat the problem of knee pain. You can also massage the affected knee with carom seed oil 3 to 4 times a day to obtain relief from knee pain within a short span of time.
7. Ice Pack:
You can apply an ice pack on the affected knee for a period of 15 to 20 minutes to reduce the inflammation resulting from knee pain.
8. Exercise – Yoga:
The problem of knee pain can be treated with some knee stretching exercises. Practicing yoga postures such as tadasana, pavanamuktasana, and veerasana may also provide relief from knee pain. Do exercises for your painful joints that target muscle mass around the knee and help in building up the muscle mass. While doing stretches be sure to go slow and do not overstretch as it may split a muscle.
Proper and consistent use of the muscle mass that maintains the knee with exercise routines is the most vital thing to do to look after your legs from harm or injury. Weak and worn-out muscle masses can’t sustain the knee joint or act as a shock-absorber for the knee.
Being overweight is also,
one of the major reasons for knee joint pain and hence losing those excess pounds can help you to get rid of the chronic suffering. Try running, walking, or swimming, or whatever you are comfortable with, and stay fit to steer clear of pain. During the winter, keep your knee heated and warm by using a wintergreen treatment as it produces a high temperature and reduces pain. If it’s not adequate, then wrap your legs with heated clothes after applying the treatment.
- Do jogging, walking, or swimming, whatever you are comfortable with, and stay fit to avoid any knee pain.
- During the winter, keep your knee warm by using wintergreen lotion as it produces heat and reduces pain.
- If it’s not adequate, then wrap your knees with warm clothes after applying the lotion.
- Always seek advice from experts before opting for any remedies as your keens are an important part of your body and help your body movement and do other important activities.
9. Daily Steam Bath:
A steam bath can be used as an effective home remedy for knee pain. You can take a steam bath on a daily basis to reduce the pain and stiffness in the knee area.
10. Epsom Salt:
Epsom salt is known to have high quantities of magnesium, which is considered good for bone health.
- Mix 3 tablespoons each of fresh lemon juice, and Epsom salt into a pint of hot water.
- Have one tablespoon of this mix twice a day (morning and night) for desired.
Recommendations:
When you have knee pain, the way you sit can cause problems:
- So you will need to sit in a favorable way.
- Be wary of sitting in a position that may put your knees in a much-flexed position.
- If you sit for quite long, make sure that the affected leg is straightened in order to disengage the kneecap from its grove and relieve the pressure.
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Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment of any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”
