Chronic knee pain is something millions of adults deal with across the United States each year. There are varying degrees to both the pain and the damage causing it. Sometimes surgery will be necessary and sometimes over-the-counter medication such as Aleve or Ibuprofen will do the trick.
Most of the time, it’s somewhere in-between those two examples. Luckily, there are a few simple ways to deal with knee pain without having to visit a hospital or doctor’s office. Here are some of them:
Rest
This may be obvious, but it’s important to keep in mind. As you get older, your body is no longer able to do as much as it used to. If you feel you hurt your knee in a minor way, it will not heal as easily as it would have in the past. You may just need a day or two of rest from your normal activities.
Compression
A lightweight compression bandage that’s breathable should be comfortable to wear and will prevent fluid buildup in the knee while also maintaining alignment. Make sure it’s tight enough to support the knee, but not so much so that it cuts off circulation.
Heat and Cold
Ice has been known to heal both pain and inflammation and it’s freely available to most people. You can wrap an ice pack around your knee in a towel or even use a bag of frozen vegetables for no longer than 20 minutes. You can also experience pain relief by doing the opposite: placing a heating pack on the area of your knee that’s in pain for a short while as well.
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy
Unlike the other solutions, this will require a visit to a doctor’s office. Platelet rich plasma is created by taking blood from a patient and putting it through two phases of centrifuge, where platelet rich plasma is separated from platelet poor plasma and then from red blood cells. It’s then re-injected into the patient wherever the pain is occurring (the knee in this case). The increased platelet rich blood supply will allow the knee to heal faster.
If you believe you’re in need of platelet rich plasma therapy for knee pain, Dr. Kirit Kothari can help you. Dr. Kothari tailors specific PRP treatments based on all the aspects of the patient’s life and health. Schedule a consultation at his Bethlehem, PA office today to take the first step on your journey to a pain-free life.
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