Pain Research, Translated: Why Function Matters as Much as Pain Scores
A plain-English pain research explainer on why function, sleep, walking, activity, and quality of life matter alongside pain scores.
The Do’s & Don’ts of Dealing With Knee Pain
There are a variety of options to deal with knee pain or a stiff knee. However, most people unintentionally make their knee pain worse while attempting to cope with it. For example, when we experience pain, our first thought is to rest and when we are experiencing knee pain, we tend to rest our knee. Although this may be helpful in some scenarios, resting your knee can actually make your knee pain worse by weakening your knee muscles. Here, the Pain Specialty Group has outlined some do’s and don’ts when suffering from knee pain:
Do’s
- Exercise – Exercising your legs strengthens the muscles which support your knee. Exercising can also make you become more flexible. There are many exercises that people can find beneficial like swimming, walking, cycling, and using elliptical machines. It’s important not to overdo it, however, and cause more pain on your knee.
- Try Losing Weight – In many cases, being overweight can contribute to your knee pain, since weight tends to put more pressure on your knees. Speak with your doctor about how to best approach the situation and develop a personalized diet and exercise program that’s best for you.
- Remember “RICE” – RICE is an acronym standing for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. During times of severe pain or even minor injuries, this acronym can prove quite useful for all types of pain. As for your knee, it’s important to rest your knee, use ice to reduce swelling, use compression to reduce pain, and be sure to keep your knee elevated.
Don’ts
- Be Shy About Using a Walking Aid – Walking aids like crutches or a crane can reduce the amount of weight on your knee and are proven to be highly beneficial.
- Use the Wrong Kind of Insoles – Ask your doctor what kind of insoles you should use in your shoes to reduce the amount of stress on your knee.
- Rest Too Much – Too much rest can weaken your leg muscles and cause you more knee strain whenever you have to walk. Try both exercising and resting in moderation.
If you are suffering from chronic knee pain and can’t seem to find any solutions to ease the pain, contact Pain Specialty Group today to speak with an experienced New Hampshire pain provider.
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