If you’re one of the 27 million Americans affected by osteoarthritis, you know just how painful this disease can be. This condition involves the cartilage in your joint wearing away. Without the cushioning benefits of the cartilage, bone begins to grind against bone – causing the pain you feel. Sometimes bone spurs can also develop, further complicating the problem.

With the concerns surrounding taking prescription painkillers on a regular basis, you may be looking for a better way to manage your pain. Here are 4 tips for naturally dealing with the pain of knee osteoarthritis.

1. Lose Weight

Every pound of weight you gain puts about 4 more pounds of pressure on your knees. Thus, one of the best ways to alleviate pressure on your arthritic knees is by losing any extra weight you might be carrying around. You may be wondering how you’re supposed to lose weight. After all, running 3 miles is going to put you in some serious pain. We’ll talk more about exercise in the next section. However, exercise is only one piece of the weight loss puzzle. Focus on eating healthy and portion control to help lose weight. As you lose weight you may notice relief from other types of pain as well, like back pain. 

2. Exercise 

High impact exercises like running or playing sports aren’t the only ways to get exercise. There are plenty of forms of exercise which don’t involve running or jumping on hard surfaces. 

Bicycling is a great option for low impact on your knees. But the repetitive motion may bother you. In this case, you can opt for swimming instead. Another option may be to use an elliptical. You could even get an elliptical bike for use outside.

Another great form of exercise is strength training. This doesn’t involve a lot of jumping and other impacts that will affect your knees. Plus, strengthening the leg muscles will help take additional pressure off your knees. 

3. Eat a Healthy Diet

The body is incredibly adept at repairing itself. But only when it has the necessary building blocks to do so. Not only will eating healthily help you keep off any extra weight, but also it will provide your body with the nutrients it needs to self-repair.

You may even consider taking vitamin supplements to help target your knee pain. Though results from studies are mixed, there is some indication glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate can help slow or reverse the effects of arthritis in the joint and alleviate pain.

4. Stem Cell Stimulation Protocol

There comes a time when a healthy diet and exercise just won’t cut it anymore. Before you reach for stronger painkillers or opt for knee surgery, consider the Busch Stem Cell Stimulation Protocol at Busch Chiropractic in Fort Wayne. This unique protocol uses a combination of therapies including low-level light therapy, cold laser therapy, and chiropractic techniques to yields astonishing results for patients. The Busch Stem Cell Stimulation Protocol is a safe, effective treatment for knee pain without surgery, drugs, or steroid injections. 

Managing Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

The bottom line is there are effective ways to treat knee osteoarthritis pain. You don’t have to choose between suffering, taking potentially dangerous medications, or invasive procedures. 

To learn more about ways to manage pain all over your body, check out our other articles.