3 Mistakes People Make About Knee Pain
- Category: Blog, Center for Pain Management
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Most of us will experience knee pain at some point. But when knee pain and dysfunction last more than a couple of weeks, or when it becomes intense enough to disrupt your daily activities, it’s important to seek out help.
What else should you do—and not do—when you have knee pain? Here are three common mistakes to look out for.
3 Mistakes People Make About Knee Pain
- RESTING TOO MUCH
Rest is one of the first things you should do when dealing with an acute case of knee pain (ice, compression, and elevation can help, too). This way, you’ll avoid irritating the injured tissues in your knee and allow the joint to start healing. But if you avoid activity too much, the muscles surrounding your knee can get weak. This may end up putting even more strain on the joint and could contribute to chronic dysfunction.
- OVERDOING IT
The opposite of resting too much? Not resting enough! To be more specific, “overdoing it” refers to continuing an exercise or activity that causes the knee pain to come on or get worse.
If you experience knee pain during certain activities (for example, running or gardening), take a break from these tasks until your symptoms improve or until a healthcare provider, like a physical therapist or physician, gives you the all-clear. You might need to incorporate some stretching, technique modifications, or adaptive equipment to help you return to these activities safely.
- TRYING TO “TOUGH IT OUT” OR SELF-TREAT
Let’s be clear: if your knee pain is the result of an injury or an underlying chronic illness, you need medical attention. Trying to “tough it out” and hoping that your knee pain will simply go away on its own is a risky choice because it could lead to long-term joint damage and recurring dysfunction. And while knee braces, canes, and other devices can help, they could be doing more harm than good if they haven’t been properly prescribed or fitted.
Conclusion
Recovering from a knee injury and managing knee pain requires a balance between too much and too little activity, as well as ongoing medical care. If knee pain is interfering with your day-to-day life, come see our pain management team at IndyPain. We provide our services in three convenient locations including Indianapolis, Greenwood, and Lafayette. Call the Center for Pain Management Today at 317-706-7246 to schedule an appointment today!