Doctors first recommend cortisone shots and pain relievers such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen for Knee joint but physical therapy and weight loss are also quiet effective.
Losing weight makes a significant difference, since the force you place on your knee can be up to six times your body weight.
Supplements for arthritis knee joint pain like chondroitin sulfate helps to keep cartilage from deteriorating. Glucosamine stimulates cartilage formation and repair. They are also found naturally in our body. These supplements take about four weeks to be effective.
Viscosupplementation injects hyaluronic acid into the knee. It’s a naturally occurring substance in joint fluid that lubricates bones so they can move smoothly over each other.
Platelet rich plasma or PRP doctors extract platelets from your own blood, then inject increased concentrations of the cells into your knee. The platelets contain hundreds of proteins called growth factors which can stimulate and speed up the healing response in your body. It is also used to treat tendon, muscle and ligament injuries.
Prolotherapy uses the body’s own healing process. Doctors inject an irritant such as glucose into the knee, which may stimulate the body to call healing cells to the damaged joint. It’s usually combined with massage and exercise.
Chinese art of acupuncture focuses on points along your body where large amounts of nerve endings intersect. These points are then manipulated using painless hair-thin needles.
Tai Chi traditional Chinese form of exercise can strengthen your muscles, help your coordination, and makes your joint more stable. This exercise done regularly can lessen the pain considerably.
Massaging your leg loosens the muscles that control your knee. It can improve your range of motion in the joint.
Yoga not only builds up muscle and improves your balance, but it also fights pain, makes you more flexible, eases your stress and it also helps you to sleep better.
Hot and Cold wraps are both very helpful. You might want to try a warm bath or put a washcloth soaked in cold water on your knee. Heat helps loosen knee stiffness and cold is good if you want to reduce the swelling and inflammation which is common in arthritis knee joint pain.
No matter what type of alternative treatment you use, always keep up with the therapy your doctor suggests and check with him before you try anything new.
GLME manufactured by Healtheries of New Zealand is now available in India through their Authorised representatives – Perma Healthcare. The cost for this therapy of 1000mg/day comes to Rs 50/- per day for first three months, which can be later reduced to 500 mg/day, i.e. Rs 25/- per day.
