4 Ways to Make Knee Pain Worse (And 1 Path to Relief)

When you’re living with osteoarthritis knee pain, we know the thought of worsening discomfort is frightening. So what can you avoid worsening knee pain? And what action can you take to find lasting knee pain relief? Here’s what you need to know!

4 Things That Make Knee Pain Worse

Avoid these mistakes if you don’t want to experience worsening osteoarthritis knee pain!

1. Remaining sedentary

Many patients with knee pain try to use their knees less, hoping that doing so will allow their joints to rest and heal. Unfortunately, the less you move your knees, the weaker your joints can become, ironically worsening your discomfort. So, what should you do instead? As long as you’ve been cleared for movement by your doctor, keep getting regular exercise, choosing movements such as cycling that can lubricate your knee joints, reducing your discomfort and preserving your mobility.

2. Carrying extra weight

Every extra pound you carry puts excess pressure on your tender knee joints. That’s why this study suggests that taking Semaglutide once weekly can help individuals with obesity reduce their knee pain. And it’s why reaching and maintaining a healthy weight could help you find knee pain relief.

3. Wearing the wrong shoes

Walking around in unsupportive footwear—especially high heels—can increase pressure and pain in your knee joints. As such, wearing supportive, appropriate footwear is incredibly important for individuals who have knee osteoarthritis.

4. Ignoring your pain

In its early stages, many people can manage the pain of osteoarthritis with simple interventions such as finding relief from over-the-counter medications. However, arthritis is a progressive disease, so ignoring or masking your pain will only work for a limited time.

So, what should you do if you’re beginning to notice pain in your knees? First, speak to your healthcare provider about your symptoms, helping ensure a timely arthritis diagnosis. Then, make sure to avoid the highlighted triggers that can make knee pain worse. Finally, if your discomfort is beginning to interfere with your daily activities, and you want relief without invasive surgery, request a consultation request a consultation request a consultation at the Texas Knee Institute. Our interventional radiologists can treat knee osteoarthritis with Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE), a minimally-invasive procedure that relieves pain and inflammation while allowing you to delay or avoid knee replacement surgery.