A patient came into the clinic last week limping due to knee pain and asked:
“I’ve had this knee pain for a few weeks now. I’m not sure what I’ve done to it, but I’ve tried taking medication and it just didn’t help. It seems that it only stops hurting when I sit down. Now I’m wearing a brace when I walk, but I can still feel the pain when I take the brace off. What else can I do to get rid of the pain?”
We understand how frustrating it can be when you become injured and how even more frustrating it is when you’re trying to get rid of the pain and nothing seems to help.
Often, we see patients that are skeptical about what can be done for their knee pain. Everyone hopes for a “quick fix” to their problem, but most times these “quick fixes” do the opposite. Here are the three most common “quick fixes” that people THINK ease their knee and joint pain:
- Painkillers: When you’re in pain, one of the easiest things to do is reach for the painkillers. Unfortunately, it’s also the first option that your doctor will give you to help with knee and joint pain. The truth of the matter is: painkillers don’t get to the root of your problem. They instead just mask the pain. Once the effects of the painkillers wear off, your pain will still be there. So, it’s better to find a long-term solution to fix your pain.
- Resting: When pain arises, it’s very tempting to do nothing but rest “in case the pain gets worse”. However, when it comes to knee pain, “rest” actually means “don’t overdo it”. Resting too much causes your joints to become stiff and tight which in turn can make your knees feel worse when you try to move them. In order to help your knee, you can perform low impact exercises that will keep you moving and not add any extra pressure on your knees. You can try one of the following: swimming, a light walk, yoga, or cycling.
- Wearing a Support: Wearing a support on a daily basis to ease pain actually masks the pain and can potentially create a bigger problem. Supports should only be used as a last resort. Because it supports your joint, pressure is taken off of your muscles which can weaken them. Once the support is removed after a prolonged period, there is a strong chance the pain could return quicker and worse than before.
As you can see, “quick fixes” like painkillers, resting, and wearing supports aren’t what they seem and can have the potential to do more harm than good. When it comes to your joints, choose a long-term solution to pain free living instead.
Check out my book, Five Ways to Wellness for more information on how to ease that knee pain OR contact our office to schedule your FREE consultation with one of our knee specialists TODAY!
