Full recovery from arthritis of the knee is not possible. However, it is possible to feel less pain, swelling and stiffness because of medications, physical therapy and other treatments.
Knee pain will usually go away without further medical treatment, using only a few self-help measures. If you need help you might first see a physiotherapist or your GP.
If your knee is badly damaged, you may need surgery to repair torn ligaments or tendons, or to reposition a shifted kneecap. However, for many instances of knee pain, one or more of these more conservative treatments will set you on the road to recovery without the need for surgical intervention.
The answer is yes, but it depends on the type of injury. If you simply strain or sprain your knee, it can heal by itself if you allow it time to rest and repair. Major injuries such as ligament or cartilage tears may require surgery.
Give your knee the RICE treatment — rest, ice, compression and elevation — and take an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen, Rue advises. “If it gets better on its own, you can go back to what you were doing,” he says. If it doesn't respond in a week or two, have it looked at by a doctor.
Walking is a low-impact activity that doesn't put too much stress on your knees and can help strengthen the muscles in that area. Start slow and try to work up to a half-hour walk three to five times a week.
The Pain Won't Go Away
But if the pain doesn't lessen or disappear after about three weeks, or the knee is giving out when you try to walk, you should probably see a doctor. Torn cartilage, which can occur with injuries of the knee or arthritis, is another common cause of knee pain, adds Gotlin.
Decreased range of motion: Knee injuries can lead to decreased range of motion, such as the inability to bend the knee or completely straighten it out. Decreased range of motion in the knee can make walking, sitting and rising from a chair difficult.
With an ACL tear, in young people or active older adults, surgical repair is typically necessary after an ACL tear. The biggest issue with a surgical repair is that it takes about 9 months to rehabilitate afterwards. Most people would agree that the ACL ligaments is the worst ligament to tear in the knee.
But high-impact activities can make knee pain worse. Exercise like running, kickboxing, or high intensity interval training (HIIT) can jar your joints and make your knee pain worse. Some stretching exercises, like squats and lunges, can put extra pressure on your knees as well.
There are several cartilage-regeneration techniques that you may consider and discuss with an orthopaedic surgeon. Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), for example, involves taking a sample of your cartilage cells, growing them in a lab and then surgically replanting them in your knee.
Walking as a form of exercise has enormous benefits, particularly for older adults. It's easy on the joints and helps boost heart health and improve circulation and balance. And new research now suggests that taking a walk can reduce and prevent knee pain related to osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis.
Knee pain is the most common symptom of osteoarthritis in the knee, making it painful for you to jog, run, climb stairs or kneel. It can also make your knees feel stiff or swollen. Over time, osteoarthritis of the knee can change the shape of your knee joint, making your joint feel unstable or wobbly.
You should see the biggest change in your symptoms within the first couple of weeks. Most problems should have improved within 6 weeks. If your knee problem hasn't improved within 6 weeks of following this advice, it's a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional about your symptoms.
There is no cure for arthritis of the knee. It's a lifelong condition. But the good news is treatment can relieve some of the symptoms. Treatment might even slow down or stop the disease from getting worse.
While chronic knee pain doesn't fade away on its own, it is treatable. The type of chronic knee pain you're experiencing will dictate which course of treatment is best for your situation.
The most common causes of knee pain are related to aging, injury or repeated stress on the knee. Common knee problems include sprained or strained ligaments, cartilage tears, tendonitis and arthritis.
High-impact exercises can further injure painful knees. Avoid jarring exercises such as running, jumping, and kickboxing. Also avoid doing exercises such as lunges and deep squats that put a lot of stress on your knees. These can worsen pain and, if not done correctly, cause injury.
Sleeping with knee pain may require you to elevate the knee and leg. If so, sleeping on your back is the best option. Place pillow under both legs to elevate the knee above the level of the heart. If there is swelling in the knee, the elevation can help to reduce it.