Achieving knee pain relief without surgery is the goal of anyone who is suffering after an injury or simply experiences aching knees. Maybe you’re an athlete that’s continually putting extra pressure on your knees or, after years of wear on the job, keeps you standing all day. As a result of overuse, our knees are screaming for relief. Sometimes it’s hard to describe exactly what you are feeling or know where to turn for treatment. The important thing is finding ways to relieve pain that work for your specific situation.

Let’s Start with the Basics

The ten most common symptoms of knee pain:

  1. Swelling
  2. Stiffness
  3. Red or warm to the touch
  4. Weakness
  5. Popping or crunching sound
  6. Difficulty extending fully
  7. Locking
  8. Visual deformity
  9. Buckling
  10. Difficulty climbing stairs

If you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms, there are many options available to get knee pain relief without resorting to surgery. First, consult your doctor to help define your injury. Then, try a few of these suggestions below.

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Solutions for Knee Pain Relief Without Surgery


Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (RICE) is good for knee pain caused by a minor injury or an arthritis flare. Give your knee some rest, apply ice to reduce swelling, wear a compressive bandage, and keep your knee elevated. Don’t overlook your weight.

2. Chiropractic Care

Many chiropractors offer options to surgery for meniscus tears or even knee replacement. Through manipulation, strengthening, and stretching, many patients are achieving great success through chiropractic care.

3. Anti-Inflammatory Medications

Over-the-counter medications can help with knee pain. Pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are readily available options at grocery and convenience stores, as well as online.

4. Switch to Heat

After 72 hours of intermittent icing, you can add in some heat. Consider taking a warm bath or use a heating pad or warm towel for 15 to 20 minutes a few times a day. If the swelling becomes worse, stop the heat.

5. Massage

Massaging the knee may help fluid drain from the joint. You can give yourself a gentle self-massage or get a massage from a professional. For a self-massage, you can choose to apply lubrication to your knee with castor oil. Not only will the oil help your hands to easily glide over your knee, but also the topical application of castor oil is known to reduce pain and inflammation.

6. Knee Exercises

Joint exercises are key for knee pain relief without surgery. Once the injury has healed a bit, you can do isometric exercises to strengthen the muscles that support your knee. When the muscles around a joint are strong, they can help relieve joint pressure. These exercises can also help reduce fluid in the knee.

It’s often a good idea to keep your knees strong as a preventive measure against knee damage and swelling. Certain exercises can be helpful for maintaining strong knees, including:

  • flexibility training
  • weight training
  • low impact exercises, such as water aerobics and swimming

Maintaining a healthy weight can also help prevent unnecessary wear-and-tear damage that can result in a swollen knee.

The bottom line? If you want to beat joint pain, you MUST keep moving. But, when you’re suffering from aches, pains, and stiffness, movement is the last thing on your mind. After proper evaluation and ongoing relief from pain, try Therapouf.  For knee pain relief and more, this product has been designed to provide a cushion for elevation of the knee, with the option of ice/heat therapy, all in one.