Knee Arthritis Treatment – Reduce Arthritis Pain
There are 40 million Americans who suffer from some form of arthritis. Many of these people experience such severe knee pain that they cannot function normally. No matter which type of arthritis you have, the condition is degenerative and will require constant medical attention. Proper knee arthritis treatment can reduce pain and slow arthritis progression, however. There are many knee arthritis treatment methods that relieve pain and treat arthritis, both conventional and natural. If your knee arthritis treatment involves medication, make sure to contact your doctor to discuss risks and potential side effects. Other knee arthritis treatment options include exercise and chiropractic care.
Medication is the most common form of knee arthritis treatment. Although arthritis drugs have come a long way, doctors still rely on two traditional favorites: NSAIDs and analgesics. NSAIDs, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are used to relieve joint inflammation and relieve pain. Ibuprofen and Aleve are typical NSAIDs. Unfortunately, these drugs can damage the stomach lining when taken for extended periods. If you experience vomiting, ulcers, or gastrointestinal bleeding, you should stop taking these drugs right away. Analgesics are painkillers that are used for short-term knee arthritis treatment. While some, such as Tylenol, are fairly mild and non-addictive, analgesics such as Morphine, Codeine, and Vicodin are powerful narcotics. You will have to decide if the addictive properties of these drugs are worth the pain relief they provide.
Exercise might not be the most obvious knee arthritis treatment, but it provides many benefits in addition to pain relief. Exercise boosts your mood, reduces stress, stabilizes joints, strengthens muscles, and improves range of motion. You should not consider high-impact exercises in your knee arthritis treatment plan, however. Instead, try gentler exercises such as walking, swimming, tai chi, or yoga for knee arthritis treatment. Tai chi not only strengthens your core muscles, but also increases balance. Swimming is a great knee arthritis treatment that improves muscle tone and allows you to exercise without putting any stress on your joints.
Another popular knee arthritis treatment is chiropractic care, a treatment method that has been around for thousands of years. Chiropractor literally means, “done by hand,” and involves manipulation of the spine to relieve pressure, relax muscles and correct spinal alignment. Although most people visit chiropractors solely for back and neck pain, chiropractic care is also an effective knee arthritis treatment. A chiropractor will focus on your lumbar and lower back to reduce knee pain.
