Medication That Knocks Out Knee Pain

There is a variety of medication available for knee pain, including both oral and injectable medication, depending on the source of your pain. But most medication used by people with knee pain falls into one of two categories: anti-inflammatories and pain relievers, also known as analgesics.

Over-The-Counter Medication for Knee Pain

Most medication that falls in the anti-inflammatory category also has analgesic effects, says William Bargar, MD, director of the Joint Replacement Center with Sutter General Hospital in Sacramento, Calif., and a spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

The main over-the-counter drugs are acetaminophen (Tylenol and other brands) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (or NSAIDs), including aspirin (such as Bayer), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve). These can help with simple sprains or even arthritis.

Dr. Bargar points out that even though knee pain-relieving medication is available without a prescription, you should use care when taking it. Be sure to follow the instructions for any medication and read the warnings.

“What you also have to watch for is that some of these over-the-counter drugs are sold as ‘arthritis strength,’ and that means they are larger doses. For example, too much arthritis-strength Tylenol can damage the liver,” he says. “Ibuprofen can cause gastrointestinal damage, such as ulcers and bleeding, if you take too much. You have to be careful about overdoing it with over-the-counter drugs for knee pain.”

Another option to try is glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, which are oral supplements believed to relieve the pain of osteoarthritis. Side effects can include headache, upset stomach, and skin reactions. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that these supplements might help you during the earliest stages of knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, but it can take up to two months of consecutive use to notice any relief. Be sure to tell your doctor you are taking the supplements, because they can interfere with other medication.

Prescription Medication for Knee Pain

Prescription medication is usually a more potent pain reliever than the over-the-counter variety. These include prescription-strength NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors (meant to decrease gastrointestinal side effects like stomach bleeding). These drugs are typically used if your pain level is considered moderate to severe. The only COX-2 inhibitor currently on the market is celecoxib (Celebrex). Rofecoxib (Vioxx) and others were removed from the market because it was discovered that they led to an increased risk of heart complications.

Bargar says that although the data wasn’t completely clear, the consensus was to remove Vioxx and valdecoxib (Bextra), both COX-2 inhibitors, from the market because of associated cardiac issues. Celebrex was not shown to have a significant increased risk of heart problems. “I don’t think [COX-2 inhibitors] work better than standard anti-inflammatories, they just don’t have the gastrointestinal side effects,” he says. “I would prescribe Celebrex for someone who isn’t tolerating conventional NSAIDs because of GI side effects.”

Bargar also advises people with knee pain who are taking large doses of ibuprofen regularly to have blood tests every four months to check for kidney toxicity and anemia.

Injectable Medication for Knee Pain

Injecting medication to reduce knee pain is usually the step between taking oral medication and replacing arthritic knee joints with surgery. Corticosteroids or viscosupplementation with hyaluronic acid can be injected when knee pain becomes severe.

• Corticosteroids reduce inflammation and offer pain relief and are injected directly into the knee. These injections aren’t permanent solutions, and you may need to return for repeat injections every few months (though not to exceed four injections in the same joint per year).
• Viscosupplementation is an injection of hyaluronic acid that lubricates your joint to reduce knee pain and increase mobility. A series of three to five weekly injections is necessary to complete the therapy. These injections are helpful if you have early stage arthritis and haven’t responded well to oral medication.

“The whole concept of viscosupplementation was developed by rheumatologists to get some lubrication into the joint, but I found it doesn’t work very well,” Bargar says. “It’s also expensive, but a lot of people will try it before surgery.”

If you have modest knee pain caused by a simple strain, try an over-the-counter medication. If your knee pain or injury is severe, visit your physician for a prescription medication that may improve your particular condition.

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What You Can Take to Relieve Pain

Written by Madison Park

• Drugs for Pain
• Drugs That Tame Inflammation
• Shots: The Next Step
• Consider Other Treatments, Too

The first thing to try for knee pain is usually RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. What if that’s not enough to make you feel better?

When your pain is severe or you can’t move your knee, you should call your doctor. If it’s not that bad — twinges or aches from an old injury, for instance — you have other options.

Some medicines you can get over the counter. Others you’ll have to see your doctor for. Whatever you use, make sure you follow the instructions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions.

Acetaminophen treats mild to moderate pain. It’s in over 6,000 products, by itself and with other medicines.If you take too much, it can harm your liver. So check the label on everything you take so you don’t accidentally overdose.

Capsaicin creams, gels, or patches lower the amount of a chemical in your body that sends pain messages to your brain. The product may sting or burn, and you have to put it on your skin regularly so it keeps working.

These are called NSAIDs — nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They include:

• Aspirin
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin)
• Naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn)

Your doctor can prescribe stronger doses than you can get in the store as well as delayed-release and extended-release forms of naproxen.

All of these NSAIDs have similar side effects, including a greater chance of a heart attack or stroke. You could get ulcers, bleeding, or holes in your stomach when you take them for too long.

Diclofenac, another prescription NSAID, comes in a gel (Voltaren) and as a liquid (Pennsaid) that you put on your skin.

Your doctor can give you a shot into your knee, after numbing it, to deliver medicine directly to your joint.

Corticosteroids aren’t the type of steroid that builds muscle. In the best cases, they can lower inflammation and relieve pain for months. You probably won’t get more than two or three steroid shots per year.

It can take about 2 to 3 days before you feel the effect. Most people can return to work or go home right after they get the shot.

Some people get what’s called the “steroid flare,” a burst of pain in the injection area for up to 48 hours.

Hyaluronic acid is similar to the thick fluid that’s supposed to lubricate your joint. Some people who got injections of it into their knee were able to move easier and hurt less for as long as 6 months.

The downside is that neither of these types of shots will help everyone. They can also cause discolored skin where you got the shot, infection, and weakened tendons, which connect muscles to bones.

Physical therapy can help strengthen the muscles around your knees. Occupational therapy shows you how to do everyday movements in a way that’s safer for your knee.

For some people, complementary medicine, like acupuncture or glucosamine supplements, may help.

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to <1/10), infrequently (≥1/1000 to <1/100), rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1000), very rare (<1/10,000), frequency unknown (not can be estimated based on available data).

The most frequently observed adverse reactions were from the gastrointestinal tract. It is possible to develop a peptic ulcer, gastric perforation or gastrointestinal bleeding, sometimes fatal, especially in elderly patients (see section “Special Instructions”).

Within each group, HPs are listed in descending order of severity.

Blood and lymphatic system disorders:

Uncommon: Eosinophilia, granulocytopenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia.

Nervous system disorders:

common: headache, vertigo, dizziness, drowsiness;

infrequently: depression, sleep disturbance, impaired concentration, insomnia, malaise.

Visual disturbances:

common: visual impairment.

Hearing and labyrinth disorders:

often : tinnitus, hearing impairment;

infrequently: hearing loss.

Cardiac disorders:

common: swelling, palpitations;

Uncommon: congestive heart failure.

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders:

often : shortness of breath;

infrequently : eosinophilic pneumonia.

Gastrointestinal disorders:

often: constipation, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, nausea, diarrhoea, stomatitis, flatulence;

infrequently: gastrointestinal bleeding and / or gastric perforation, hematemesis, melena, vomiting;

very rare : relapse or worsening of ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease;

frequency unknown : gastritis.

Liver and biliary tract disorders:

infrequently: increased activity of “liver” enzymes, jaundice.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:

often : pruritus, skin rash, ecchymosis, purpura;

infrequently : alopecia, photodermatosis;

very rare : bullous reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders:

infrequently : myalgia and muscle weakness.

Renal and urinary tract disorders:

Uncommon: glomerulonephritis, hematuria, interstitial nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, renal failure, renal papillary necrosis.

General disorders and administration site disorders:

often : thirst, increased sweating;

infrequently : hypersensitivity reactions, menstrual disorders, hyperthermia (chills and fever).

During therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, edema and symptoms of heart failure, increased blood pressure were reported.

Clinical studies and epidemiological data suggest that the use of some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (especially high doses for long-term therapy) may be associated with a small increase in the risk of arterial thrombosis (eg, myocardial infarction or stroke).

Undesirable effects, the causal relationship of which has not been established with the use of naproxen

Blood and lymphatic system disorders: aplastic anemia, hemolytic anemia.

Nervous system disorders: aseptic meningitis, cognitive dysfunction.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: erythema multiforme; photosensitivity reactions like porphyria cutaneous tartar and epidermolysis bullosa; hives.

Vascular disorders: vasculitis.

General disorders and administration site disorders: angioedema, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia.

If you notice these adverse reactions, stop taking the drug and, if possible, consult a doctor.

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Pain in the knee joint of the right or left leg: causes and treatment

Symptoms of knee pain

The symptoms of knee pain depend on its causes and severity. Knee pain is a common problem.

Pain in the knee can occur suddenly due to too much stress and injury.

The knees can often become unstable or weak, to the point of feeling like the legs are about to give way.

Depending on the cause of the pain, other symptoms may occur: stiffness, clicking in the knee, jamming of the knee joint in one position, inability to straighten the leg.

How does knee pain affect us?

Knee pain is more common in older people, who are overweight (due to increased stress on the joints) and when playing sports. The knee joints are actively involved in movement, so knee pain greatly affects our lives. With knee pain, we cannot play sports, it is difficult for us to walk and climb stairs.

Relieve Pain

The knee joint is made up of three bones, tendons that attach muscles to bones, and ligaments that stabilize and connect bones. In the cavity of the knee joint are two C-shaped cartilages – menisci. Their main role is to cushion the joint. A fluid-filled bursa keeps the joint moving smoothly. *

80% of people surveyed have experienced knee pain**

Relieve pain

*Knee (human anatomy): images, functions, ligaments, muscles. 2016 Knee (Human Anatomy): Images, Functions, Ligaments, Muscles. [ONLINE] available at: http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/knee-pain/picture-of-the-knee. [checked 02/19/2019].
** According to the 2018 Global Pain Index survey, 80% of 24,000 respondents experienced knee pain

Why knee pain occurs

Knee pain often occurs due to trauma (sprains and tendons, dislocations, torn ligaments or menisci), as well as osteoarthritis, tendinitis (inflammation of the tendons) and bursitis (accumulation of fluid in joint capsules).

Sports injuries

Knee injuries are common among athletes. They often have a ligament tear in the knee joint, accompanied by sudden pain in the knee. Excessive stress on the knee joint, such as when running, walking, jumping and cycling, can cause the so-called “runner’s knee” (or tibial tract friction syndrome). It usually manifests itself in the form of pain in the patella and occurs due to excessive exertion, injury, disease of the leg bones or muscle weakness.

Other causes

Knee injuries can develop gradually with osteoarthritis. If, as a result of problems with the hip or ankle joints, a person’s gait is disturbed, this, in turn, can cause an asymmetry in the load on the knee joints, which, in turn, is fraught with injuries. Knee injuries, even minor ones, increase the likelihood of similar injuries in the future.

Determine the cause of the pain

Pain in the side of the knee may be due to ligament damage and a tear in the meniscus (cartilage that stabilizes the joint). Pain in the front of the knee is usually due to inflammation of the joint capsule and cartilage problems. Pain in the back of the knee can be caused by osteoarthritis.

Treatment

Diagnosis and treatment of knee pain depends on the cause of the pain. To determine it, you need to consult a doctor. The doctor will examine your knee, check its mobility, swelling, bruising and local temperature increase. The doctor may recommend physical therapy and a knee brace to relieve pain, refer you for additional tests (X-rays, MRI, ultrasound, or CT), as well as show you exercises to strengthen the knee joint, and prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain and treat its cause. In addition, after consulting a doctor, at home, you can provide protection and rest to the injured knee, apply ice, apply a compression bandage and keep the knee in an elevated position. Over-the-counter topical and internal pain relievers can help relieve short-term, moderate pain and reduce inflammation.

Exercises to relieve knee pain

Knee pain is common: out of 100 people complaining of pain, 80 reported knee pain*. Three simple exercises will help make the muscles that support the knee stronger and more flexible. Doing these exercises regularly will help prevent or relieve knee pain.