Treatments for knee pain before seeing a doctor
Knee pain and swelling can be a real bummer, especially around the holidays as we look forward to enjoying much needed time with family. The holiday season is also a busy time at the doctor’s office, so it can be hard to find an open appointment. In this post, I summarize the best home remedies for knee pain that you can try before coming to the doctor.
Rest & activity modification - This is by far the best treatment for the majority of our patients who come in with overuse injuries. Try to identify what activities are making your knee pain worse and avoid doing them. If your knee pain is worse with running, cut back your mileage. If it’s worse with stairs, try to limit the number of stairs you climb or try taking the stairs one at a time. Limiting the activity that is causing your pain will result in a quick and rapid improvement in your pain.
Anti-inflammatory medication - Medications like Aleve, Ibuprofen, and Naproxen are especially good for knee pain. These medications are classified as non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs and are specifically designed to help cure musculoskeletal pain. These medications work better than Tylenol because they specifically target your knee. If you can, it’s best to take these medications on a daily basis for 2-3 weeks consistently, rather than sporadically just when your knee hurts.
Topical gels - Applying a topical pain-fighting cream can also do wonders for knee pain. My favorite is Voltaren. This medication just recently became over-the-counter and can be purchased at your local pharmacy. Apply this cream over your knee right where it hurts and you’re notice relief pretty quickly.
Compressive wraps - Compressing your knee with a ACE wrap can be a pain buster. Compression helps to reduce the swelling and will gradually improve your pain. There are no specific recommendations on how long to keep your knee wrapped, but a good rule of thumb is to keep it wrapped when you’re up and about and unwrap it when you’re relaxed laying on the couch or in bed.
I hope these tips can help you manage your knee pain at home and provide you relief!