Knee replacement surgery is usually needed in patients suffering from extreme knee pain and restricted knee mobility and functionality. The surgery entails that the impaired cartilage and bones from the terminal end of the thigh bone, shinbone, and kneecap are surgically removed and in their place, an artificial knee joint system is put in. This prosthesis is typically made up of alloys of various metals, as well as high-density plastics and polymer materials.
Though various exercises and home remedies may temporarily relieve knee pain, knee replacement surgery is necessary for people whose knees are severely damaged due to conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or post-traumatic injury to joints.
Here are some signs that may indicate that you need knee replacement surgery:
Exercises are good for your body as a rule of thumb. Exercise will help you gain more strength in the muscles supporting your knees and may help you achieve better mobility of the knees. However, in case you suffer from knee aches or conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or post-traumatic arthritis, it is always advisable to seek the opinion of your doctor and an excellent physical therapist to know what exercises may be helpful and which exercises to avoid. This will help you plan out an exercise regimen in keeping with your body’s needs and limits. Having said this, in case of acute knee damage, knee replacement surgery is a sustainable option that you may look into. The exercises suggested by your physical therapist may help you make a quicker recovery post a knee replacement surgery.
Pre-knee replacement surgery exercises may help you to build up muscle strength around the area of your knees and, therefore, may have a significant effect on the speediness and nature of your post-knee replacement surgery recovery. Some step-by-step exercises to do pre-knee replacement surgery (only after confirming with a doctor) are:
Post-knee replacement surgery, your doctor and physical therapist will generally advise you to do exercises and activities that are less strenuous to help in a smooth recovery and to ensure minimal damage to the prosthetic implants that have been put into your knee joint. Begin the exercises as and when directed by your surgeon. Some step-by-step exercises that may be advised post-knee replacement surgery are:
Begin with slow walking with support and gradually increase the duration and frequency.
These include walking, cycling and swimming are great for strengthening your knee post-knee replacement surgery in a safe and fun way.
Although you will be able to do most activities and exercises safely after a knee replacement surgery, it is advisable to stay away from strenuous activities and exercises that put excessive pressure on your knee implants, such as:
Immediately post-operation, take measures to keep yourself safe; for example, put away tripping hazards like loose rugs, use a shower mat with a secure grip, and install handrails beside low-height toilet seats.
This may cause blood to clot in your legs and the legs to swell. Keep your leg propped up if you’re sitting for over 45 minutes.
Don’t lift weights or objects that are very heavy, as this may put too much strain on your artificial knee joint system.
Immediately after the operation, you’ll have to walk with crutches or a walker. It is advisable to avoid stairs until your doctor gives it a thumbs up.
These are high-impact activities that may damage your knee joint.
Avoid sports that may cause injury through unexpected buckling of the knee, such as football, skiing, basketball, gymnastics, etc.
Although you may be able to kneel for short periods of time, this will typically be a source of discomfort. You may do half-squats that feel comfortable to the knee, but avoid full squats and sitting on Indian-style toilets.
Knee replacement surgery can lead to reduced pain in the knees and better mobility through a lessening of stiffness of the knees. It is a common and relatively safe surgery that is used as a highly effective mode of treatment for conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or post-traumatic arthritis. It thus enables you to regain ease in doing day-to-day activities and may thus improve your overall quality of life.
Ans. Knee exercises may help keep your knees strong and more flexible, but in cases of severe knee damage, knee replacement surgery may be the only option to relieve chronic knee-related problems. Speak to your doctor and seek guidance about whether or not you need knee replacement surgery.
Ans. Knee replacement surgery is a common and relatively safe surgery. Most patients who adhere to a healthy lifestyle and exercise following the advice of their physical therapist are likely to experience longevity of their knee implants from 10 to over 20 years.
Ans. Although you will be able to do most activities and exercises (that you previously were able to) safely after a knee replacement surgery, it is advisable to stay away from strenuous activities and exercises that put excessive pressure on your knee implants. Examples include contact sports, jumping, and squatting on Indian-style toilets.
Ans. Soon after surgery, you will be able to walk using a walker or with supporting crutches. Most patients take between four to eight weeks to slowly regain the ability to do the everyday activities of their regular lives.
Ans. It is advisable to ask your orthopaedic surgeon and physical therapist about the duration of your exercise sessions after a knee replacement surgery.
Ans. Although it is normal to feel some discomfort while doing knee exercises pre and post-knee replacement surgery, do contact your orthopaedic surgeon and physical therapist to seek advice should you experience symptoms such as severe pain around the calf muscles, ankles, and foot, bleeding, inflammation of surgical area or high fever, etc. They may ask you to discontinue particular exercises and suggest other ones more suited to you.
Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.
Our elders are usually the ones complaining about knee pain, but it is not necessarily limited to them. Knee joint pain may be experienced by in anyone and at any age. As we grow older, we might experience joint pains due to tissue degeneration. Specifically, knee joint pain might occur due to injury, joint overuse or a condition of the joints known as arthritis. Your doctor will examine you thoroughly, run a few tests and diagnose the cause of your knee pain. They will then decide the treatment plan based on the severity of your condition. The treatment options may range from simple home remedies, exercises, medications and minimally invasive procedures to surgery.1 However, there might be a few simple helpful tips and tricks that might ease your knee pain. Let’s look at these in detail.
You can experience pain in the knee joint because of following conditions:
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Knee pain is itself a symptom that can occur due to the above-mentioned causes. However, you may experience the following symptoms of joint pain along with knee pain:
Kindly ensure that you consult a doctor and do not self-medicate.
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The scientific community is always looking for safer ways to treat diseases, which is why natural products such as Guduchi, Masha, Linseed, etc. are being researched extensively. However, more research is required to ensure their safety in humans. Therefore, the following home remedies for knee joint pain might be helpful along with the treatment your doctor has advised.
Agastya is also known as West Indian pea in English, Agatha in Hindi, Avisa in Telugu, Bak in Bengali and Agathiyo in Gujarati. It might be helpful to relieve knee pain. Application of the paste made from the root and bark on the surface of the knee may have an alleviating effect on the pain. However, more research is required to prove such effects. Kindly consult a doctor before starting any medication.3
Hadjod or Asthisamharaka is the Hindi name of the Eldt grape. It is also referred to as the Devil’s backbone or Adamant creeper. Its scientific name is Cissus quadrangularis and it belongs to the family Vitaceae. It might help with knee pain and other joint pains. Your Ayurvedic physician might advise you to fry the stem of hadjod in ghee and consume it with milk. This might be helpful in fractures and in osteoarthritis. However, there is need for further research to prove such claims.3
Also Read: Hadjod: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects & More!
Atasi, which is known as linseed in English, might help with knee pain due to arthritis. Commonly, your doctor might suggest that you first take a few seeds of linseed and soak it in sour buttermilk. A fine paste is to be made from this and applied it on the affected knee(s). However, more research is required to know about its efficacy and safety.3 You should use it as per the prescription of your Ayurvedic doctor. Do not self-medicate.
Guduchi, or Tinospora cardifolia is also known as Giloe or Gurcha (Hindi), Seendal (Tamil), Indian Tinospora or Heartleaved moonseed. It belongs to the family Menispermaceae. It might be helpful in arthritic pain. Your doctor might recommend drinking guduchi juice for your arthritic knee joint pain. However, more research is required to prove these effects. Therefore, do not self-medicate. Kindly consult a doctor.3
Also Read: Guduchi : Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More!
This herb is known by different names in different parts of India. In Hindi it is called Kuppi or Aamaabhaaji, Indramaris in Oriya, Muktajhuri in Bengali, etc. It belongs to the family Euphorbiacea and is called Acalypha indica also commonly known as Indian Acalypa. The leaves of this plant might be helpful with the knee pain mainly associated with arthritis. Your doctor might advise that you fry these leaves in ginger oil and use that oil for application on the painful joints. However, more research is required.3
Indravalli has a variety of names like Fatphati (Marathi), Vekkudutiga (Telugu), Ulinna (Malayalam), Bodha (Gujarati) and Ballon vine or Heart’s pea (English). This leaf might prove to be effective in treatment of knee pain and other arthritic pain. It is used by cooking the leaves in tila oil and then using the oil for massaging the painful joints. However, there is a requirement for more research on this subject. 3
It belongs to the family Fabaceae and is known as Teramus labialis scientifically. It is also known as Jangli urad, Mashoni and Mashavan among many other names. A paste is made by adding black gram seed powder to few drops of sesame oil and applied to the painful knee joint; this might be helpful for joint pain. This might help to reduce the swelling and pain. However, more research is required to prove these effects. Therefore, please consult an Ayurvedic physician for the same.3
Your doctor might recommend some of these solutions for your knee pain:
Please consult a doctor before following any of these natural remedies for knee pain. Kindly do not self-medicate.
More human studies are needed to establish the true extent of the benefits of these home remedies in knee joint pain relief. Thus, these should only be followed with caution and never as a substitute for medical treatment.
For Knee pain due to a minor injury or from arthritis symptoms, “RICE” i.e., Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) is known to be of some benefit. Give your knee some rest, apply ice to reduce swelling, wear a compressive bandage, and keep your knee elevated.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.
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You should always seek medical help when you are doubtful and are experiencing symptoms of knee pain. You should especially get a check-up done under the following circumstances:
Overweight and obesity can put additional pressure on your knee joints. According to the Arthritis Foundation, an additional 10 pounds of weight can add between 15 and 50 pounds of pressure to a joint. The foundation also notes the links between obesity and inflammation. For example, people with a high body mass index (BMI) have a greater chance of developing OA of the hand than those with a low BMI.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
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Knee pain can affect anyone, especially in the older age group. It might occur mainly due to injury, arthritis, or overuse. The treatment options vary and depend on the severity of your condition. It is at the discretion of your doctor based on your consultation. There are few natural herbs that might be useful for knee pain Some of them are masha, linseed, indravalli, hadjod, etc. However, more research is required to prove the effectiveness and safety of these herbs. Please ensure that you consult a doctor and do not self-medicate.
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Natural herbs that might help with knee pain are linseed, masha, indravalli, hadjod, etc. However, there is not enough scientific evidence for the use of these home remedies for knee joint pain. More research is required to prove the effect of these herbs. Therefore, please consult a doctor and do not self-medicate.3
Linseed might help with arthritic knee pain. However, more research is required to prove such effects. Therefore, please consult a doctor before using linseed for knee pain. Kindly do not self-medicate.3
There are no reports claiming the possible positive effects of coconut oil for knee pain. There is need for more research regarding the same.
There are a few herbs like linseed, guduchi, hadjod, etc. which might potentially help with knee pain. There is not enough research to prove the effectiveness of the mentioned knee pain home remedies Please consult a doctor for treatment of knee pain and refrain from using home remedies without consultation.3
1. Knee Pain [Internet]. Cleaveland Clinic. [cited 2022 Jul 11]. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21207-knee-pain
2. Knee pain [Internet]. Mayo clinic. [cited 2022 Jul 14]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/knee-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20350849
3. AYUSH. Ayurveda Offering Herbal Healing [Internet]. 1–128 p. Available from: https://www.esic.nic.in/attachments/publicationfile/7d11b02e5abb4717d53b4ce05efabd21.pdf
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
Knee pain has become a part of life for many people because it never goes. This pain can start at any age. However, usually, it is more as you age. Whether it is due to an injury or some underlying medical condition, knee pain can interfere with your daily activities. The debilitating pain may last for some hours or at times for days altogether.
The prominent cause of knee pain currently everyone is facing is – obesity. Obesity causes knee pain at any age as it causes extra pressure on your knee joints. For some, it can turn into a lifelong issue. Many types of minor knee pain respond well to self-care measures. Physical therapy and knee braces also can help relieve knee pain. In some cases, however, your knee may require surgical repair.
Knee pain can have different causes. Being overweight puts you at greater risk for knee problems. Overusing your knee can trigger knee problems that cause pain.
The location and severity of knee pain may vary, depending on the cause of the problem. Signs and symptoms that sometimes accompany knee pain include:
When someone is going through knee joint pain, the first thing one does is dependent on pain killers. But before you step out to visit a pharmacist and pop some pills, try considering the natural remedies.
Both heat and cold compression work as an anti-inflammatory. But the treatment you choose depends on the type of pain you have. Heat relaxes muscles and improves lubrication, leading to a reduction in stiffness. For better results, you can use a hot water bottle or a warm pad. Ice can also be a good option at the end of a long day if your knee becomes inflamed. You can wrap an ice cube in a cloth and apply it to the affected part.
Ginger contains anti-inflammatory compounds that help reduce inflammations. This herb is rich in a compound called gingerol, which is anti-inflammatory. Topical application of ginger oil, as well as drinking ginger tea, can help. You can also brew ginger in hot water, with honey & lemon. Drink 2- 3 cups a day until the pain eases.
Turmeric is a magical spice with excellent health benefits. It has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidants properties. It contains Curcumin that is an anti-inflammatory chemical found in turmeric with a lot of antioxidant properties. Its root slows the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, which is one of the causes of knee pain.
For instant relief, boil a half teaspoon each of ground ginger and turmeric to a cup of water for 10 minutes. Strain, add honey to taste and drink this ‘tea’ twice a day.
Tulsi or holy basil is known for its magical effects on rheumatic arthritis. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties. Tulsi also works in relieving joint pain and pain associated with arthritis. You can drink Tulsi tea 3-4 times per day for knee pain relief.
Massage with essential oils can give you instant relief from joint pains. As per some studies, ginger and orange essential oils work well in getting rid of knee pain. It releases stiffness and reduces pain in the affected part.
This red and strong spice contains a specific compound called –capsaicin, which acts as a natural painkiller. It temporarily uses up substance P-a brain chemical that stimulates pain receptors which redirects nerves, so you don’t feel pain in the joint. You can apply its paste to the affected area for instant relief.
Epsom salt acts as an anti-inflammatory to reduce joint pain and swelling. It contains magnesium and sulfate which are both powerful pain-relieving agents. You can put a spoon of Epsom salt in your bath water and soak yourself in it for 30 minutes.
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And above all,
A sore knee can be quite painful and stress may only increase the strain on this joint. While it is important to stay fit and healthy, it is also integral that you ensure adequate rest is taken as you recuperate from any issues pertaining to your knee. A minor sprain or sore knee would require around a day or two of rest to gain some relief. More severe cases would require a substantial period of rest and rehabilitation for any knee-related injuries. If you still find yourself having knee problems even after this, you should consult a doctor so you may be correctly diagnosed. Any problem that is identified sooner can also be treated with ease and prevent any long-term damage to your knee.
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Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
