Knee pain has become one of the common problems faced by people these days. It acts as a constant reminder about the physical stress you put into your body all throughout the day. Amidst going through this pain, the first thing one does is pop in a painkiller. Hold on! Before you step out to visit a nearby medical store and buy a random painkiller, try considering natural remedies.
Causes of Knee Pain
Here are some of the most common causes of knee pain:
- Knee injuries are one of the most common causes of knee pain. A knee injury affects the ligaments, tendons or fluid-filled sacs that surround the knee joint as well as the bones, cartilage and ligaments that form the joint itself. The most common knee injuries include fracture, Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, torn meniscus, knee bursitis, and patellar tendinitis.
- Mechanical problems such as loose body, Iliotibial band syndrome, dislocated knee cap, hip or foot pain.
- Arthritis is one of the main underlying causes of knee pain. There are different types of arthritis that affect the knees. The most common ones include osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and pseudogout.
Excess body weight and lack of muscle flexibility or strength are the major risk factors of knee pain. You can try taking ayurvedic medicines for weight loss, such as triphala and dalchini.
Knee pain can sometimes prevent mobility and cause extreme discomfort. This affects a person’s emotional well being as well as social life in a very negative way. However, knee pain is something that you should nip in the bud, or else chances are there that it will destroy your life.
Home Remedies for Knee Pain
Over the counter medicines offer relief to knee pain but are often associated with side effects. Given below are some of the natural home remedies for knee pain.
1. Ginger
Ginger is one of the best knee pain solutions. The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger help to soothe the pain as well as decrease the swelling on your knee. Both topical application of ginger oil, as well as ginger tea, works well in relieving knee pain.
Crush small pieces of ginger and add it to one cup of water. Boil the mixture for 10 minutes. Strain the mixture and add a little honey and lemon juice. Drink two to three cups of this ginger tea daily to get relief from knee pain.
2. Cold therapy
When knee pain causes a sensation of burning, cool it off using a cold pack. This helps to numb the areas affected by the pain and reduce inflammation. It prevents muscle contraction, as well as the formation of scar tissue. Placing a cold pack on a swollen knee helps to bring back down its size which further reduces knee pain.
An ice pack, if not used correctly, can aggravate knee pain. Therefore, ask a doctor before starting cold therapy. If you find it difficult to go to a hospital, you can also consult doctor online.
3. Fenugreek seeds
Fenugreek seeds are perhaps one of the easiest home remedies to get immediate relief from a sore knee. It possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that help in treating the pain and inflammation associated with the knee joint.
Soak around two teaspoons of fenugreek seeds in water and leave overnight. Consuming this in the morning can turn the aching knee joints warm and provides relief from knee pain. Applying a thick paste of fenugreek seeds into the affected area will also help to relieve the pain.
4. Turmeric
An antiseptic with healing properties, turmeric when teamed with warm milk helps in treating joint pains and facilitates the healing process. The active ingredient in turmeric known as curcumin has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Due to this reason, turmeric has become a popular medicinal spice in Ayurveda.
Add one teaspoon of turmeric powder and half a teaspoon of black pepper into two cups of boiling water. After 10-15 minutes, add honey or lemon into the mixture. Drinking turmeric tea is one of the best knee pain solutions.
5. Apple cider vinegar
The alkalizing effect of apple cider vinegar helps to remove the mineral build-up and harmful toxins present in the knee joint. Repairing the lubricants in the knee joints, it reduces pain and also promotes mobility.
Mix two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar along with two cups of water. Drink this mixture daily until you have completely recovered. You can also try adding two cups of apple cider vinegar into hot water and soak the affected knee for thirty minutes.
6. Cayenne pepper
Cayenne pepper is a type of pure ground chilli. The active component in cayenne pepper, capsaicin works as a painkiller. Its natural analgesic properties produce a warm feeling in the knee, thereby reducing the pain in the affected area.
Add two tablespoons of cayenne powder to 120 millilitres of warm olive oil. Applying this paste twice a day in the affected area relieves pain. For best results apply this paste for at least one week.
Along with these home remedies for knee pain, there are many physical exercises such as planks, squats, and knee extensions that you can try at your home.
Read- Exercises to Relieve Neck Pain
When to See a Doctor?
If you have persistent pain even after following all the home remedies for knee pain mentioned above, consider talking to a doctor. However, you should immediately visit a doctor if you have the following problems:
- Excessive knee pain associated with an injury
- Obvious deformity in your knee
- Pain, swelling, and redness in your knee along with fever.
- Inability to bend or walk
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