Those who suffer from pain know exactly how much of an impact it can have on daily life. This is especially true for those with chronic pain, where it can feel like they have little if any pain-free days. Pain can limit your abilities at work and home, and at the very least make things uncomfortable. For those suffering from knee pain, mobility can also be challenging. To say this affects your daily routine can be an understatement.

Here we’ll take a look at some of the best ways you can combat knee pain and start to get the relief you deserve so life can feel a lot more normal and comfortable.

Resting the Knee Too Much Isn’t Ideal

If you’ve got knee pain due to a recent injury, you may be tempted to rest it as much as possible. It’s a natural response, and in the first couple of days, it can be wise. However, resting the knee too much can end up weakening the muscles, which makes recovery more difficult. Exercise and stretches are important to help the knee heal and build its strength. A good tip is to take things in moderation, you never want to overdo it but, at the same time, you must be active.

Know What Kind of Exercises Are Best

And speaking of exercising, did you know that some exercises are better and easier on your knees? For those with chronic knee pain, one of the best forms of exercise can be swimming. It doesn’t put stress on the joints yet it allows you to work all your muscles. Other exercises can include elliptical machines, aerobics (low impact), stretching (Tai Chi, yoga and Pilates), weight training to rebuild strength and using a stationary bike.

Be sure to check with your doctor if you have any doubts about which activities and exercises are best as they can advise which to embrace and which to avoid.

Ice and Heat Can Both be Used

To address pain and flare-ups, ice and heat packs can be used. Experts tend to suggest ice within the first 72 hours of an injury and after that, switch to heat. So, if you have chronic pain, you may be best with heat since it’s not a recent injury. It’s best to give them both a try (separately) and see what kind of results you get.

Lifestyle Changes May Be Necessary

Then there are lifestyle changes that may be necessary. These just help to manage pain moving forward and they can help to prevent further injury or damage from occurring.

Some of the lifestyle changes you may want to embrace include:

• Losing weight so that there is less stress on your joints and muscles
• Switching to better quality shoes that offer excellent support and traction
• Make sure you are careful when moving about so you don’t end up falling
• Using a walking aid if needed

Medications Will Offer Pain Relief

While it’s great to find relief without having to use medication, the fact is that it may be necessary to manage your pain. This is something that can be discussed with a doctor. Even if the medication is just a temporary solution until your knee starts to heal, it can be quite helpful.

Use a Compression Wrap

Compression wraps can be another good option and are perfect for people with mild knee pain. These work especially well if the knee pain is a result of soft tissue injury. The compression wrap just helps to keep things secure, prevents further injury and it gives the tissue time to heal. They can and should be worn when you work out or do any sort of physical activity.

Visit a Knee Specialist

If you’ve tried all of the abovementioned tips and you’re still not finding relief, or you have concerns about your knee pain, it’s always best to see a specialist. A medical professional can do a proper diagnosis and then create a treatment plan that works for your specific condition and needs. You can visit a place like Kneecare Clinics to get a better idea of what’s going on with your knee.

As for what the common issues are that would bring a person to a knee care clinic, this can include such things as knee bursitis, knee pain that is caused by bone-on-bone rubbing and knee arthritis. If you suspect any of these issues, it’s best to speak to a medical professional. The fact is that, if you have knee pain, there are solutions and treatments that can help.