Pain in the knee joint is one of the common diseases that affect millions of elderly people in the United States and most people have experienced this problem at some point or the other. There are several factors that could cause you to experience knee pain, some of which include aging, injuries, medical conditions, obesity and structural abnormalities to name a few. But do you often wonder why the pain in your knee worsens during the winter months?
During winter, your nerve endings become hypersensitive because of which your threshold for pain goes down.
Natural Remedies For Knee Pain In Winter
It is only natural for your body to be more aware of the pain during the winter months. In case you experience chronic knee pain caused by arthritis and are taking medication for it, you may need to increase your dosage in the winters. Of course, you need to check with your doctor before taking any additional medicines for pain relief. Fortunately, there are many other ways in which you can relieve knee joint pain in winter, which include:
- Cold therapy: You can alleviate most types of aches, pains and swellings by applying an ice-pack to the area.While applying cold therapy to the knee make sure that the entire knee is covered. This is probably why people often apply a bag of frozen peas to the area. You could also wrap a few cubes of ice in a large napkin or a towel. You may find it difficult to keep an ice pack on for a long period of time during winters. Therefore, you could apply ice on your knee for 5 to 10 minutes, around 4 times a day.
- Steam: Fill your bathtub with steaming hot water and soak your knee in it for around 15 to 20 minutes. This helps reduce the pain in your knees almost immediately. If you find it difficult to sit in a hot tub, you could apply a hot water bag on to your knee instead. Heat therapy is as effective in relieving knee joint pain in winter as cold therapy is.
- Massage therapy: A massage administered by a well-qualified and experienced masseuse can help relieve aches and pains all over the body, including the knees. For best results massage your knee gently with warm olive oil two or three times each day. Each massage session should last for at least 5 to 10 minutes.
- Walking: Most people believe that when they are suffering from pain in the knee they should not exercise. However, walking makes you flex your knee, which improves the circulation of blood to the area, thereby strengthening your bones and muscles. Walking for half an hour each day can help reduce knee pain. Walk at a moderate pace and wear a knee pad to support your knees and protect it from the cold. It is also important for you to warm up and cool down, before you exercise.
- Rest: Make sure that you do not apply too much strain or pressure on your knees at any time. Get an adequate amount of rest to reduce the pain in your knees. If there is swelling in your knee or if you have recently suffered an injury, try to keep your knees elevated while you rest.
These remedies for relieving knee pain in winter are quite safe if they are used correctly. However, make sure that you check with your doctor before trying any of them. If the pain in your knee does not improve in spite of using the above remedies, consult your doctor without any delay. You may be suffering from a serious problem, which requires medical treatment.