What is the best thing to use to ease pain in an injured knee?

Knees are the joints in the body that are most prone to injury and that are also the most complex. This is simply on the way that they are designed. Unlike the hip joint that is placed within a deep cushioned pocket, knee joints are more exposed making them more vulnerable. The knees comprise the femur (thighbone), which has the lower end made up of 2 round structures (condoyles). These are placed on the flat upper end of the tibia (shinbone). The kneecap in turn is a tiny, round bone that is placed within the vertical channel in between the 2 condoyles which is what gives the joint its strength. As the knees straighten and bend, the kneecaps slide up and down within the channel or groove. The kneecaps are attached to the thigh muscles with the help of a tendon, while it is connected to the shinbone with a ligament. The kneecap basically performs the job of a pulley. This complex mechanism is what makes this joint very susceptible to injury.

There are several knee pain home remedies that can help in treating knee pain. One of the most commonly used remedies is the application of a hot pack on the affected knee. Dip a piece of cloth in some hot water, squeeze out the excess water and then place it over the knee for a few minutes. Keep doing this several times, it will ease the pain and will also help in relaxing the joint. If the knee is swollen then do not use a hot compress but resort to using an ice pack instead. Mix together 1 tablespoon each of coconut oil and clove oil. Gently massage this mixture on the affected area. This will also help in alleviating pain.

Ginger is known to possess excellent pain relieving properties. Incorporating ginger into your diet will help fight the pain. If you are overweight, then you may want to consider losing weight, as it will lift the pressure of the knees. Take a piece of muslin cloth and place a few diced onions in it. Now wrap the onions with the cloth and tie it around the knee for 30 minutes. This will work well in reducing knee pain. You could also use a paste that has been made from butter and lime leaves instead of onions. If the pain does not reduce in a few days, then visiting a doctor would be recommended.

answered by G M

The first thing to do is to take weight off the hurt area. Also avoid climbing up and down stairs and don't do anything that involves impact or load bearing. All of these may worsen the injury. Ice is the best possible way to reduce swelling. Wrap a few ice cubes in a cloth and apply for twenty minutes. Take it off for twenty minutes and apply again for twenty. Keep this up for the first couple of days. After that you can tray an alternating hot and cold compress. Apply a hot compress before any activity and a cold one afterwards to reduce swelling.

Gentle pressure in the form of a crepe bandage will reduce swelling and prevent aggravation due to hasty or jerky movements. Don't tie the bandage so tightly that the area around it turns blue. Tie it just tight enough to exert a gentle and comfortable pressure. Elevate the leg which has suffered injury whenever possible. While lying down prop your feet up on a couple of pillows and while sitting put your leg up on a stool.This way blood flows away from your injury and the swelling goes down. Boswellia and Curcumin singly or in combination work beautifully for pain caused by inflammation. They will reduce the swelling and the time to heal for a knee injury. The main thing is to give the knee time to heal and to avoid all hectic activity in the meanwhile.

answered by S E