When cartilage gets damaged or destroyed, it cannot repair itself, so it’s important to partake in preventative measures to minimize the wear and tear of the cartilage.
Factors that increase a person’s risk for osteoarthritis knee pain include older age, heredity, being a female, repetitive stress on the joints, athletics, and other illnesses, like rheumatoid arthritis and metabolic disorders.
Because knee pain can be limiting at times, treating that knee pain can help improve mobility, allowing you to partake in your favorite activities. Here we will highlight effective home remedies to help you ease your osteoarthritis knee pain.
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Knee pain relief home remedies
The following list will offer you several different home remedies for easing osteoarthritis knee pain at home. The good news is, these lifestyle habits and natural remedies aren’t associated much with any unwanted side effects – unlike many medications used to treat knee pain.
- Willow bark: A 2001 study showed those taking willow bark experienced relief from knee pain.
- Tai chi: This ancient Chinese mind-body exercise is slow enough to allow you to improve strength and flexibility without promoting additional pain.
- Exercise and weight management: Being a few pounds heavier adds extra stress to the joints, causing greater pain. Regular exercise not only helps with weight loss, but also strengthens the necessary muscles to stabilize the knee.
- Hot and cold compresses: Use cold compresses to relieve swelling and hot compresses to ease muscle tension.
- Rest: It’s important to know your limit and give your knee adequate rest when you’re in too much pain.
- Elevation: Keeping the knee elevated can minimize swelling.
- Proper form: When completing exercises or lifting objects, ensure you maintain proper form and posture to avoid greater strain.
- Salvia: If you have impacted the knee but there is no inflammation, wrap salvia leaves with a cloth soaked in warm water and rub it on the knee for about 10 minutes.
- Massages
- Acupuncture
- Assistive devices like a cane or walker can help you on days when your knee is particularly bad.
- Avocado: Dry and crush avocado seeds and mix with hot honey until the texture is creamy. Rub it onto the affected knee – this remedy is also good for all muscle tension.
- Guava: Add guava slices to boiling water and allow to sit for three hours. Consume the drink once cool and infused.
- Lemon: Massage a lemon slice onto the knee to help relieve inflammation.
- Diet: Consume foods high in calcium to promote strong bones, protein-rich foods to promote strong muscles, and aloe vera in the morning to prevent knee pain later on.
When to see a doctor for your knee pain
If natural remedies don’t work and you continue to suffer with osteoarthritis knee pain, you will definitely need to see your doctor. You should also see your doctor if your knees cannot support your weight, if the pain is constant even when not standing, if your knees crack or doesn’t respond right away, if your knee appears disfigured, if there is pain, numbness or a bluish color, or if the pain continues after three days of trying home remedies.