Knee pain is common and can affect people of all ages. However, the commonality of it doesn’t make the problem any less important, especially when it impacts your quality of life.
Fortunately, a pain management specialist can provide you with treatments to bring you pain relief. Along with treatment, there are many things you should or shouldn’t to ensure your pain symptoms remain in control.
Let’s discuss the do’s and don’ts of knee pain.
Do Stop When You Have Knee Pain
You’ve probably heard the expression, “No pain, no gain.” However, joint pain can be the indication of a problem. You could risk further injuring your knee if you keep pushing through the pain.
Therefore, if you experience knee pain while working out or participating in any physical activity, you should stop and take a break. Don’t push yourself thinking the pain will go away or won’t get any worse.
Don’t Use Heat on an Acute Injury
If you have a repetitive stress injury or an acute injury that happened suddenly, you should avoid putting heat on it. Heat causes blood vessels to swell, which can worsen inflammation and end up increasing pain and swelling.
Heat is best for chronic joint pain, such as arthritis. It increases blood flow and decreases pain and stiffness that are common with chronic conditions.
Do Use Cold on an Acute Injury
When you have an acute injury, you should use ice therapy. You can use an ice pack or a bag of ice wrapped in a cloth. The ice causes blood vessels to constrict. This decreases swelling and inflammation, which can help reduce pain. Make sure to seek treatment right away for acute injuries.
Don’t Forget About the Importance of Weight Loss
Your lower extremities work hard to carry you around every day. If you’re overweight, you’re putting additional pressure on your knees unnecessarily. Therefore, you can reduce your pain by losing weight. Even losing 5 – 10% of your body weight can do wonders in reducing pressure on your joints.
Don’t Give Up on Exercise
You still need to keep moving even if you have knee problems. When you keep your legs moving, you enhance strength and flexion. It is important to also strengthen muscles around the knee, so there is less pressure on the joint itself. Exercise can help with balance, as well, which can reduce your chances of falling and sustaining an injury to the knee.
If you’re unsure of what exercises are ideal for someone with your specific knee problem, a doctor or physical therapist can help you find ones that are easy on your legs.
Do Visit Your Pain Management Specialist
If your pain is persistent and not improving, you should visit a pain management specialist for knee pain treatment. Before recommending any treatment, your doctor will find the underlying cause of your pain. Examples of effective treatments include medications, injections, physical therapy, and more.
Choose a Blue Springs, MO Pain Management Specialist for Your Knee Pain Treatment
At Core Medical Center, we understand how debilitating knee pain can be. Besides offering more ‘do’s and don’ts’ for knee pain relief, a pain management specialist from our practice can provide you with alternative pain treatments to analgesics and invasive procedures, such as chiropractic care. Our specialist will continuously work with you to manage your pain.
Book an appointment with Core Medical Center, serving Blue Springs and the nearby area, for assistance with your knee pain today. Call us at (816) 427-0201 , or use our online booking tool.
