As the body’s largest joint, the knee goes through a lot of daily stress to carry your weight, facilitate movement, and maintain stability. While the knee is strong and durable, the stress can take its toll, making the joint vulnerable to injury and knee pain.
Let’s talk about some of the options you can consider for pain relief if you’re experiencing knee pain, and where you can go in Palm Beach County for orthopedic treatment that fits your needs.
The RICE Method for Treating a Hurt Knee at Home
The RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) is an effective self-care method for minor injuries:
- First, take a break from the sport or activity that triggered the knee pain. Rest gives your knee time to recover naturally.
- You can then try icing the affected area periodically to reduce pain and swelling. However, do not apply the ice pack directly to your skin, but rather wrap the ice pack in a towel to prevent skin damage (frostbite). Use it for up to 20 minutes at a time at about four-hour intervals during the day.
- Compression helps to prevent fluid from building up in your knee, and it keeps the knee in proper alignment. Wrap the knee with an ACE bandage using gentle pressure, not too tightly.
- It is also a good idea to elevate your injured leg whenever you’re sitting or lying down. Prop up the knee area in order to harness gravity to pull fluids away from the knee and back toward the heart. Try to keep your knee above the level of your heart.
Over-the-Counter Medication for Knee Pain
You can take over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Topical treatments may also help with knee pain, such as capsaicin. Do not take these medicines for a longer period of time than what is recommended on the packaging, or you could sustain liver damage or other irreversible and harmful issues.
Physical Therapy to Treat Knee Pain Without Medicine
Physical therapy involves manual manipulation, exercise, stretching, and/or other nondrug modalities to help restore physical function after having a musculoskeletal injury or pain. Your physical therapist will walk you through specific stretches and exercises designed to strengthen the muscles around the knee.
Visit an Orthopedic Doctor for Long-Term Relief from Knee Pain
While self-care methods are helpful to some degree, it’s wise to seek professional help for persistent cases of knee pain. Your knee doctor may ask you to undergo imaging tests to assess the damage to the knee.
Based on the results, the physician may suggest home remedies, prescribe medications, recommend wearing a knee brace, and/or recommend medical procedures, such as PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection therapy. This treatment harnesses the healing capabilities of platelets from your blood. During the brief in-office procedure, the orthopedic physician will collect and process a small sample of your blood in a centrifuge, and the doctor will then inject the concentrated PRP solution directly into your knee to help promote healing.
Knee Pain Treatment in Boynton Beach, FL
If you’re struggling with persistent knee pain, turn to Personalized Orthopedics of the Palm Beaches for care aimed at lasting pain relief. Our board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic doctors and surgeons can diagnose and treat various knee conditions.
To learn more about our orthopedic services or to schedule an appointment, call our office today or fill out our easy-to-use online appointment request form. We look forward to serving you!
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. For advice about your condition, talk with your physician. Request an appointment with our team.
