Stiff and achy knees are most often caused by osteoarthritis a.k.a. wear-and-tear arthritis. The disease is characterized by the wearing away of the cartilage that covers the bone surfaces within a joint. The prevalence of osteoarthritis has been steadily increasing every year. It is estimated that 32.5 million adults in the US have osteoarthritis. As the Month of May is Arthritis Awareness Month, here’s what you can do to help your stiff achy knees.
Stay Physically Active: This may seem counterintuitive, but moving the painful joint will actually make symptoms better. If you are sheltering in place to avoid the COVID-19 pandemic, make it a point to get up and walk around your house at least once an hour or do some house work at regular intervals throughout the day. Any low-impact activity such as walking, an elliptical machine, or cycling will help keep the joint flexible without damaging the knee.
RICE Therapy: This is an acronym that stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. This is an effective treatment to reduce pain and stiffness if you overexert yourself.
Protect Your Knee: Depending on how bad your symptoms are, consider wearing a physician-approved knee brace or using a cane or walker to help support the knee.
Over the Counter Pain Medications: Anti-inflammatory medication or other over the counter pain medications may be taken occasionally to effectively control syrup of symptoms.
Consult a Knee Specialist: If symptoms do not improve with the above suggestions, a specialist may be able to identify an underlying problem, suggest specific physical therapy exercises and lifestyle modifications, or other treatments that could improve your condition.
Book an appointment today with Dr. Paul Jacob for a telehealth or in-patient visit to discuss your options. For more information, please call (405) 424-5426.
Dr. Jacob brings cutting edge techniques and technology to the Oklahoma City area. He has extensive training in minimally invasive, rapid recovery joint replacement as well as robotically assisted hip and knee replacement. Dr. Jacob is a pioneer in outpatient joint replacement allowing some patients to go home the same day as their procedure and recover in the comfort of their own home. The cornerstone of Dr. Jacob’s practice is to have the recovery process be easier, faster and less painful allowing his patients to get back into the game of life. Dr. Jacob is committed to bringing the highest level of orthopedic care while treating each and every patient like a family member. Providing you with patient centered care you can trust.
