Whether you're scheduled for knee replacement or another kind of surgery involving your knee, it's likely that you're in some pain. That pain can affect how you get through life before your procedure, and other than medication, you may feel stuck until your surgery date. Luckily, these pain-alleviating pointers may reduce some knee pain beforehand.
Be Smart with Shoes
Your shoe choices could affect your pain levels; you may know this on a superficial level, but not know how badly you're hurting your knees with some choices. If you're wearing stilettos to work and out on the town, you could be especially at risk for a lot of pain. Heels can increase pressure on knees and ultimately cause joint degradation, so if you're serious about reducing discomfort, you should reconsider the shoes you're wearing. Even if you're not spending your days in stilettos, you still need to give proper attention to your footwear. Seek orthopedic inserts that support both heels and arches, for example, even though you'd rather wear slippers.
Lose Weight
Extra pounds and weight put stress on your entire body, and your knees are affected, too. The more weight you carry on your frame, the more you're asking of your knees. To feel somewhat better, clean up your diet and consider low-impact exercise to lose weight. Dropping even as little as 10% of current body weight can produce a shift in knee pain.
Strengthen Your Core
It's possible that your posture has a lot to do with your ongoing knee pain. This is especially true if your job entails a lot of standing or walking, or you're in the same position throughout the day. You may not be able to quit, but you can start working on back- and stomach-area muscles, sometimes referred to as "core muscles." If you've got a flabby belly or have never attempted back exercise, your knees are vulnerable to pain. That's because you're likely putting pressure on them without adequate support from those core muscles. Without support, your legs and knees may rest unnaturally or lean inward. Arthritis and knee injuries could, in fact, feel worse because of the pressure and lack of support from back and belly muscles.
Plank exercises, crunches, and other exercises that engage your core muscle groups should be tried. Make these exercises a habit and you may start experiencing relief in both knees, in addition to other benefits.
With these suggestions, knee pain may be alleviated somewhat as you await knee surgery. Regularly consult your doctor, so they can continue to monitor your knees and adjust treatment as needed until your surgical procedure.
