3 "Quick Fixes" For Knee Pain - That Don't Work!

Knee pain that seems to come on gradually and slowly gets worse over time is much more common than knee pain caused by an injury, like stepping wrong or twisting your knee doing your favorite activity or sport. 
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Most people who sustain a knee injury are more likely to get proper help right away, which is obviously a good idea.  Unfortunately, when knee pain develops gradually most people just try to figure it out on their own.  

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​But it can be very frustrating when everything you try to get rid of your knee pain doesn’t work.  

Without a clear cause of your knee pain, like an injury, it’s common to look for a “quick fix” for your pain.  And sometimes a “quick fix” works, but when it doesn’t it can leave you confused about what to do next.  In fact, many people start to wonder if it will ever get better. 

“Maybe I’m just getting old.” 

Have you ever said that to yourself or maybe you’ve even said it out loud?

Well, we’re all getting older, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with things like knee pain.  Just because you didn’t have an “injury”, doesn’t mean your knee pain can’t be fixed. 

It’s very common for muscle imbalances to develop in your body “gradually over time” that can put stress on your knee and other joints.  Things like poor posture, too much sitting, repetitive activities, or even flat feet can cause these muscle imbalances…and cause your pain.

So, I want to address this idea of “quick fixes” for knee pain or any other joint problem, especially when the pain comes on gradually.  

There are 3 common “quick fixes” that people THINK will ease their pain, that don’t work.

1.  Relying On Pain Relievers
One of the easiest things to do when you’re in pain is to reach for the nearest bottle of pain relievers to stop the pain. 
Or maybe you are a little more proactive and you go to your primary care doctor who recommends pain pills to help you manage your pain. 

Don’t get me wrong here.  I’m not against pain relievers.  They can help manage pain, but the problem is they don’t actually do anything to fix the problem.  At the end of the day, the pain will still be there when the pain pills wear off.

Whether you take pain relievers or not, it’s always better to do something to solve the underlying cause of your pain. 

2.  Resting
It’s a normal human response to “avoid pain”.  So, if your knee hurts it’s very tempting to rest and do nothing out of fear “it might get worse”. 

When it comes to knee pain, too much rest makes the problem worse.  It will cause your joints to become stiffer, tighter, weaker and more painful.  The concept of “resting” really means to avoid doing too much. 

I like to use the term “relative rest” with my patients, which just means doing less than you normally would.  Avoiding or limiting activities that aggravate your knee pain while working through a rehabilitation program can help you recover more quickly. 

And lastly…

3.  Wearing a Knee Brace
Relying on a knee brace or any other knee support should be a last resort.  Just like resting, bracing your knee to ease your pain will actually make it worse and it does nothing to fix the underlying issue. 

“But my knee feels better when I wear a brace.”

I know!  It’s because the brace supports your joint and takes the pressure off your muscles, which means your muscles can be lazy…and your muscles will just get weaker and weaker. 

Then when you take that knee brace off, there’s a good chance your knee will hurt more because your muscles aren’t strong enough to support your knee. 

If you continue to rely on a knee brace to get through your day, that cycle of pain and weakness continues to get worse.
 
So, don’t expect a long-term fix by relying on “quick fixes”.  Things like pain relievers, resting or wearing a knee brace should be used sparingly and are much more effective when used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan focused on correcting the underlying cause of your knee pain. 

If you want more information about how to finally solve your knee pain problem...

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If you’re ready to get help from a physical therapy knee pain specialist, just give us a call at 503-744-0046 to schedule or click the link below to fill out a short form and we’ll call you to arrange a time for your Initial Evaluation & Treatment Session.

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If you’re still a little unsure if physical therapy is the right solution for your knee pain problem, you may prefer to start with a FREE In-Person Discovery Visit.  This gives you the opportunity to ask any questions you might have and discover:

• What’s wrong
• What your options are to fix the problem
• How long it might take
• What the cost will be
• How you can speed up the process by doing things at home.

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There is no obligation!  After your consultation if you decide you want to work with us, great!  We can't wait to see your transformation unfold!  If not, we will try to guide you to the right person to help you. 

More Information To Help Stop Your Knee Pain

If you want to get even more knee pain advice right now, then download our free e-book entitled:
“5 Expert Tips to STOP Chronic Knee Pain & Stiffness...Without Relying On Injections or Having to Wear A Brace!"

This e-book is packed with powerful, but simple strategies to help you start your journey toward living without knee pain.

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​You can also check out our other knee pain blogs by clicking the link below.
Click Here To Read More Knee Pain Blogs