| You use your knees every time you walk, run, or | | | | while the latter fights against degeneration of |
| move your lower body at all. Knee pain, therefore, | | | | cartilage. Studies have proven their effectiveness in |
| dramatically affects the daily life of sufferers, who | | | | alleviating osteoarthritic joint pain, but have yet to |
| must use their knees throughout the day. Knee pain | | | | demonstrate that these supplements actually reverse |
| is the second only to back pain among American | | | | the effects of cartilage degeneration that have |
| adult pain sufferers. Knee trouble is most often | | | | already taken place.Modifying knee activity with |
| caused by osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint | | | | physical aids such as padding, crutches, and splints, |
| condition in which the cartilage that surrounds the | | | | and even simple rest take the pressure off of the |
| two bones that comprise the knee joint wears | | | | knee and provide temporary knee pain relief while |
| away, sometimes causing painful joint-on-joint | | | | the joint recovers from injury. Conversely, specific |
| contact.There are many treatment options for knee | | | | exercises, stretching, and low-impact aerobic activities |
| pain. Under the care of a doctor, sufferers can select | | | | such as biking, walking and swimming increase joint |
| the most appropriate course of treatment to provide | | | | strength and flexibility, promoting healing and reducing |
| optimum knee pain relief. Over-the-counter and | | | | the risk of further injury.For severe knee injuries that |
| prescription medications including acetaminophen | | | | have not responded to the aforementioned |
| (Tylenol) and aspirin reduce pain, and non-steroidal | | | | treatments, surgery remains an option. There are |
| anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including ibuprofen, | | | | several common knee surgeries, which range from |
| can reduce inflammation as well as knee joint pain. | | | | exploratory arthroscopic surgery, which orthopedic |
| At-home remedies like ice packs and capsaicin, found | | | | physicians use to diagnose the exact source of knee |
| in cayenne pepper, often have a similar effect.Natural | | | | pain so that they can determine which behaviors and |
| supplements like chondroitin and glucosamine have | | | | activities need to be modified, all the way to a total |
| become popular alternatives to traditional medicines in | | | | knee replacement. Whichever course of treatment a |
| recent years because they present fewer risks of | | | | patient decides upon, it is important to work |
| side effects. Both are naturally occurring substances | | | | alongside a physician to ensure proper care. |
| in the body. The former aids in building joint cartilage, | | | | |