Knee Pain

I'm 20, and I've got arthritis in both knees. One's usually ok, but the other's going need surgery by the time I'm 50, lol. I'm not sure why your knee is in pain, but mine was from athletic injuries and fighting. The only things I can recommend are ibuprofen, heat wraps, and a cane if you need one. I have a really pretty one I need to use after a really long day at work (I do a lot of lifting) or playing with my kids. There are so many beautiful sticks out there. My bf made mine from an almost black piece of driftwood he found in the Mississppi. We did some gold leafing on it and I attached a polished crystal to the top and a rubber stop on the bottom. They sell pretty nice ones at fairs too. You could try tart cherry. It's a supplement found at most health food stores, although it's usually prescribed for arthritic pain. The creams work too, even though they stink. Blessed Be

Have you tried a knee brace, something for support when you're walking, it could help. What I'm talking about is something stretchy with Velcro closures made for the knee. I think they come in several adjustable sizes. I've seen a lot of people with sports injuries wearing them. As for using a walking stick, if it will ease your pain, you should try and use it. It may help promote healing by decreasing stress on your knee. I've used one before when I twisted my ankle. It was swollen and purple, and very painful to put any weight on. I also have pain in my knees due to arthritis. It's only bad if I try to go up and down steps a lot. I had to have railings put on my steps at home to help. I've never tried the knee braces, but if my knees get worse, I will.

My knees used to hurt really bad when I played on this adult softball team, and it turned out my cleats were not providing enough arch support. I put some arch inserts in my cleats and have never felt better. You should definitely see a doctor ASAP to see if it is something that simple or something that requires surgery. If you want some effective pain relief, and don't like taking pills (like me... upsets my stomach), then try Biofreeze. You can get it in spray or gel form and it works really well. This place has it: http://www.activeforever.com . I hope you get some relief soon. Knee pain is about as miserable as back pain!