Athletes often fight through their knee pain to reach their ultimate goals. Specific pain therapies may get them back to performing at their best.
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knee pain |
When athletes in knee pain seek medical help, they tend to have one thing in common. Whether they are professionals or amateurs, they want to get back to their workouts and events as soon as possible.
v Home Remedies and Lifestyle
Immediately after your knee begins to bother
you, there are several steps you can take at home to help alleviate the
symptoms.
While these treatments may be helpful, it is
still important to make your physician aware of any pain you are feeling. This
is especially true if the at home remedies are not effective or if the pain is
getting progressively worse.
· RICE Principle" Rest-Ice-Compression-Elevation"
One of the most tried-and-true ways to address
your acute knee pain and the swelling and inflammation that often accompany it
is to utilize the RICE principle. This acronym, which stands for
Rest-Ice-Compression-Elevation, is a common first line of defense and can help
reduce your symptoms regardless of their cause.
To properly put the RICE principle into practice,
Begin by taking a break from any strenuous activities, especially those that
cause more pain in your knee.
Ice the affected area at least three times per
day for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. While you do this, elevate the leg above
your heart so that gravity can help clear any swelling that is present in the
joint. You can also prop your leg up any time you are sitting throughout the
day.
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elevate the leg above your heart |
Utilize a compression sleeve or an ACE bandage
around your knee to help push the swelling out of the area. Be sure this
compression is snug but not overly restrictive or tight, to avoid cutting off
circulation in the knee.
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Weight Loss
While it won’t immediately reduce the symptoms
you are feeling, one of the most effective ways to prevent knee pain from
recurring is to maintain a healthy body weight. This is especially true for
knee pain that is caused by osteoarthritis, as excess weight can place undue
stresses on the damaged areas of the joint.
BMI
"body mass index" and Knee Pain
Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) over
25 should strongly consider taking steps to lose weight in an effort to reduce
the frequency and intensity of their knee pain.
Several different lifestyle changes-including diet modifications and the introduction of low impact aerobic
exercises-can help facilitate this weight reduction.
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Bracing
In limited situations, a knee brace may also
help improve the pain you are feeling in your knee and add support to damaged
structures in the joint.
Using a Brace
after Injury
A knee brace can help improve pain after more
severe ligament sprains or tendon strains, when instability in the joint
commonly occurs.
Unfortunately, there is minimal evidence supporting the use of braces for other
conditions that cause knee pain like osteoarthritis or meniscus degeneration.
To help ensure a brace is appropriate in your situation
and that you purchase the correct one, it is best to speak to your doctor first.
v
Over-the-Counter
(OTC) Therapies
In addition to the home remedies described
above, there are also several OTC medications that may be useful in reducing
your knee symptoms.
As with any medication, however, it is always a
good idea to speak to your doctor prior to starting a new regimen. This is
particularly important advice for individuals with other health concerns that
could be negatively impacted by taking an additional drug.
Non steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
such as ibuprofen, Aleve, and aspirin, can be helpful in reducing the knee pain
caused by several different conditions. This is because this type of medication
helps:
- Decrease pain and swelling associated with osteoarthritis, sprains, and cartilage tears.
- Combat inflammation.
- Knee dislocation.
NSAIDs can also be helpful in treating the pain from
muscle strains; however, they may interfere with tendon healing and should be
used with caution in these circumstances.
This class of medications can have significant
side effects, including stomach pain and increased risk of bleeding. Because of
this, they should be taken at the lowest possible dose that is still effective.
In addition, NSAIDs should be used for
short-term treatment only, as they have not been found to be effective for
managing chronic knee pain.
Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, is
another OTC medication that can help manage your knee pain.
This class of medicine has been found to be as
effective as NSAIDs in treating the soreness associated with osteoarthritis.
Because acetaminophen does not have the same gastrointestinal or bleeding side
effects, however, the drug can be a nice option for people who are not able to
tolerate NSAIDs.
Acetaminophen Liver Warning:
High doses of acetaminophen can have toxic
effects on your liver. Because of this, Tylenol should not be taken while
consuming alcohol.
Prescriptions
In certain cases, OTC medications are not
effective enough in addressing your knee pain and your doctor may suggest a
prescription instead.
Depending on your specific condition and any
other health concerns you have, these drugs may provide greater benefit in
decreasing your symptoms.
Selective NSAIDs
Selective NSAIDs (such as Celebrex or Mobic)
are a class of prescription drugs that work to reduce the pain, swelling, and
inflammation in your knee without causing side effects in the stomach. They do
this by allowing the production of a stomach-protecting lipid called
prostaglandin (which is usually blocked by OTC NSAIDs).
Like their OTC cousins, selective NSAIDs can be
used for knee pain caused by:
§ Osteoarthritis.
§ Ligament sprains.
§ Cartilage damage.
They are also meant to provide short-term
relief, however, and should not be taken to manage chronic knee concerns.
Opioid Analgesics
In rare circumstances, where other medications
are not effective or where surgery is not an option, opioid (narcotic)
analgesic medications may be necessary to control your knee pain. This class of
drugs, which includes medications like hydrocodone, morphine, and oxycodone,
may be beneficial in treating (typically advanced) cases of osteoarthritis.
Over time, however, the body adapts to these
drugs and they become less effective in relieving your pain. Because of this,
opioids are typically recommended only for short-term pain control.
Opioids and Addiction
Narcotic medications are extremely addictive
and must be prescribed with caution.
In addition to being habit-forming, other
potential side effects of opioid analgesics include constipation, drowsiness,
nausea, confusion, and slowed breathing.
by: Dr Asmaa Reda
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