How to reduce pain in arthritic knees

Aside from maintaining a healthy weight through diet and appropriate exercise, there are a few other ways of easing the discomfort associated with arthritic conditions of the knees. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) has a full article on knee conditions.

Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs (NAIDS) are often recommended. Some physicians recommend taking dietary supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin to help ease arthritis pain. Check with your own physician before taking these supplements as they may react with other medications.

You may want to try eliminating gluten from your diet and thus reduce inflammation. It may not get rid of your pain completely. The diet takes getting used to but there are now so many options in grocery stores and restaurants that it is not as hard to manage as it once was. Reading labels and looking up information on the internet helps.

Using a brace can stabilize the knee during particularly active periods of exercise.

Surgery may be the only option that relieves knee pain. Talk with your doctor and get a second opinion.

Heat may help to increase blood flow in the knee and make exercise less painful. Maine Warmers sells a Knee Pack that can be heated in the microwave -- or frozen if ice is needed to reduce swelling.  For a child with arthritis, the gift of a Bunny or Penguin heating pad offers comfort and companionship.

Hassles of using a bag of frozen peas for cold therapy

Physicians often recommend icing a pulled muscle by using a bag of frozen peas to help reduce the swelling during the first 48 hours after an injury. Holding a bag of frozen peas in place becomes quite tedious after a few minutes. Ten to fifteen minutes can seem like hours!

To find out when to use heat or ice for a specific injury go to the Mayo Clinic or National Institutes of Health. They have reliable up-to-date information and recommended resources for more research.

Maine Warmers makes a soft flannel case to hold a one pound bag of frozen peas and has an adjustable strap to hold it in place. No need to be bothered with holding onto it to keep it from sliding to the floor. See their Mainely Ice Pack.

After thawing and refreezing a bag of frozen peas it seems best not to cook and eat them. But if they are stored in the freezer inside the flannel pouch then they’ll be ready to cool you on a hot summer day, to ease the pain or itch of an insect bite, or to help sooth a mild burn.

If putting cold peas on an injury feels too harsh then one may purchase an insert of whole corn filling to use instead of the peas. The water content in whole corn has been reduced, therefore the filling will not get as cold as frozen peas (or frozen corn).

Whole corn has the versatility of being able to go in the microwave and provide heat after the swelling has
gone down. Mainely Ice may be purchased with a whole corn-filled insert that weighs about 1 and 1/2 lb.

Heat therapy will help relax tight muscles, improve flexibility, and aid in stimulating circulation.

Whole corn will not pop in the microwave and does not require added fragrances – unlike rice socks. Microwave heat packs are more convenient than conventional electric heating pads and hot water bottles.

Check out Maine Warmers Mainely Ice Packs.