Whether you are dealing with a severe joint condition, tweaked your knee, or are carrying some extra weight, living with a sore knee is never easy. After all, you rely on your legs on a daily basis. Since your knee bends and moves every time you walk, you are probably finding yourself facing a serious situation. However, you will be surprised to learn that there are a variety of different over the counter treatments that provide pain relief for a sore knee. However, before you learn about treating a sore knee, there are other thins you need to be aware of, which is what you will learn below.
Understanding Causes Of Knee Pain
Being active and exercising on a daily basis can be one of the best things that you can do for yourself and your body. However, injuries often occur during the activities, as well. And, once they do they are usually associated with the knee. Some people find themselves facing sprains, runner’s knee, meniscus tears, and injured ligaments. It is even possible that you had an old knee injury that was not appropriately treated in the first place, which causes a flare-up. With all that being said, you also need to be aware of the fact that there are a variety of other conditions that can cause knee soreness.
- Bursitis – Located under your skin, right above the joint, is a little sac known as the bursa sac. This sac holds a small amount of fluid and helps prevent friction when your knee joint moves. Overuse of the knee, incorrect kneeling, or bending can irritate the sac, which leads to knee soreness.
- Dislocation of the Kneecap – Did you know that it is possible to dislocate your kneecap? This happens when the kneecap slides out of position, and it can cause severe soreness of the knee.
- IT Band Syndrome – You have a piece of tissue that runs from your hip all the way down to your knee, known as the IT band. Sometimes when you overdo yourself with certain activity, this band can become inflamed, which causes soreness or pain in the knee region.
- Osgood-Schlatter Disease – This condition usually only shows up in younger individuals, because it occurs when the bones are changing and developing. When this condition occurs, it will often show up in the form of a bump right below the knee where the knee connects to the actual shinbone.
Symptoms Related to Knee Disorders
The knee is a diverse joint and a lot that can go wrong with it. By understanding how your knee, you can better determine what is causing the soreness in the area.
- Noisy Knee – Are you hearing popping and clicking of the knee when you are moving or adjusting it? If you do not experience any pain, then there is nothing to worry about. However, if you do feel pain, along with the popping and clicking noise, it is possible that you have damaged ligaments. The two most common damaged ligaments in the knees are the ACL and the MCL.
- Soreness when Walking Up and Down Stairs – If you are experiencing extreme knee soreness when walking up and down the stairs, it is possible that you are dealing with one of four different conditions. You could be suffering from runner’s knee, chondromalacia patella, osteoarthritis, or pes anserine bursitis.
- Soreness When Bending – Are you aware of the fact that when you bend the knee, it forces seven times the body weight through the knee? That’s a lot of extra weight going through the knee when you think about it. So, it only makes sense that over time this could lead to pain and soreness. If you are experiencing pain when bending the knee, it could be due to a variety of different conditions like meniscus tears, knee sprain, bakers cyst, runner’s knee, bursitis, housemaids knee, or arthritis.
Learning How to Treat Knee Pain
With such a variety of different things that can go wrong in the knee, you need to understand how to treat and prevent pain symptoms. You might be surprised to learn that mild to moderate knee soreness can be treated right in the comfort of your own home. However, if you have an underlying condition or you feel that the pain occurs due to an injury or twisting, you should seek out medical attention. Some forms of knee soreness can only be treated through surgical measures and attempting any of the following home remedies might delay or worsen the condition. That being said, below you will discover some natural pain relief treatments for a sore knee.
1. The RICE Treatment
The RICE treatment is one of the most common and well-known types of treatment for knee soreness. It involves rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Start off by simply getting off your feet, applying a cold compress to the injured area, wrap your knee with a compression wrap to prevent swelling, and keep the knee elevated, while you rest.
2. Daily Exercise
Keeping the leg at a standstill can only make soreness worse over time. Make sure that you are keeping the knee active every day by partaking in exercise. Walking, running, or jogging can be great, as they provide the knee with a wide range of movements.
3. Weight Management
Moving and bending the knee can force as much as seven times the body weight to go through the knee joints. If you are overweight, this is a lot of extra weight and pressure being put on the knee. This is why it is imperative to maintain a healthy and balanced weight. If you are overweight seek out a good diet regimen.
4. Ginger Extract
Ginger comes in a variety of different forms and has tons of health benefits, pain relied being one. This herb helps when dealing with knee soreness.
If your symptoms persist after trying a natural remedy, consult your healthcare professional.
Know of any other natural pain relief treatments for a sore knee? Share them in the comments section below!
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