Knee pain: 5 ways to help alleviate knee pain without surgery
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. Here are 5 ways to help soothe knee pain without surgery.
- Chiropractic adjustments
Knee pain can be reduced with chiropractic adjustments. This method involves using the hands to adjust, massage or stimulate the knee. There are usually several angles of approach when it comes to treating knee pain this way. Some common synergetic treatments include using ice to reduce inflammation around the joint and some soft tissue massage to help improve the knee’s range of motion.
- Weight loss
Knee pain is one of the most common complications of being overweight or obese. If you’re among the millions of people who experience knee pain, even a small amount of weight loss can help reduce pain and lower the risk of osteoarthritis (OA). Those extra pounds increase the stress on your knees, which in turn can cause chronic pain and lead to other complications such as OA.
- CBD oil
People use CBD to help treat a variety of ailments, including pain. According to Healthline, CBD oil interacts with two receptors, called CB1 and CB2, which can help reduce pain and the effects of inflammation. CB2’s involvement in immune system could help explain why CBD oil may be helpful in people with inflammatory autoimmune forms of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis. Although there has not been a massive amount of studies on this subject, many health experts agree that CBD oil helps with pain management.
CBD can be taken as a liquid, a tincture, in capsules, or applied topically. You can take the capsules orally, add the liquid to foods or drinks, or apply creams with CBD to affected joints.
- Physical therapy
You might feel like the last thing you should do is get on your feet and move your joint around. However, often physical therapy (PT) is what your doctor suggests to get your strength back and put you on the road to recovery. This involves doing specific stretches and exercises under the guidance of a licensed physical therapist. These exercises may relieve tension or help strengthen specific areas to help relieve pain and make your body feel and move better.
Some things you might need are:
- Stretches and exercises
- Ice and heat
- Ultrasound massage
- Electrical nerve or muscle stimulation
Good supportive shoes allow your foot to move more naturally as you walk, and help to maintain balance. Most importantly, picking the right shoes, whether it be trainers for running or heels for a party, is crucial for achieving proper foot and knee alignment, and correctly distributing stress through your knee joints during activity. Wearing improper footwear can change the stress placed on your knees, leading to injury and pain. Everyone’s feet are different, and therefore, choosing proper footwear is determined on an individual basis.
If you think your shoes may be the cause of your knee pain, don’t wait, because further complications can occur as a result.