If you’re an injured worker with chronic knee issues, you should know that there are many options out there that can help you get better.
One of the tragedies that work injury attorneys often sees is people who suffer from lingering injuries. What happens is that they think their issues will go away with treatment, but then years pass, and things don’t get better. One area in which this frequently occurs is the knee. Here’s how to manage chronic knee issues and make your life as comfortable as possible. Keep in mind, the following is general information and should not be taken as medical advice. Always speak with your doctor before treating any injury.
Pain Medication
One way to reduce pain is taking medication. You can do so with over the counter (OTC) pills or ones that you obtain through a doctor’s prescription. You should be careful with your usage, though. OTC pills tend to cause damage if taken in excess and prescription medications can be addictive.
Ice
One of the factors that might make your knee pain worse is inflammation. Forunately, icing is a treatment method that has been around for hundreds of years and does an excellent job of reducing swelling. Generally, the best way to utilize this technique is through daily use after exercise.
Physical Therapy
While doctors are skilled in the domains of diagnosis and medication, they often know less about the physiology of injuries. For this reason, seeing a physical therapist is in your best interest. What this professional can do is apply ice, use heat therapy, have you do targeted exercises, give you massages, and utilize a variety of other scientifically supported techniques that reduce pain and lead to healing.
Exercise
As we mentioned in the section above, exercise is a critical factor in managing your knee pain. You don’t need to have all activity overseen your physical therapist, though. Instead, you can learn some guidelines for working out with an injury and do it on your own. Doing so will help your knee, make you more fit, and increase your confidence.
Support Equipment
One issue that you might face with your knee is the feeling of instability. When you experience this problem, you must listen to your body. If it is telling you to take it easy, then that is what you should do. The next step is exploring equipment that supports your knee during everyday tasks. This gear can be something as simple as a cheap brace ordered online or in a sporting goods store.
Surgery
One thing we’d like to note is that surgery should be your last option. The reason is that any procedure comes with its share of risk, and knee surgeries are no exception. When you get one, there is no guarantee that you’ll get better and a chance that things will get worse. Still, getting one is a smart option for the most severe knee injury cases.
If you’re an injured worker with chronic knee issues, you should know that there are many options out there that can help you get better. Some of the best ones are on this list, but your doctor may have more ideas that can help you significantly. Additionally, you may be able to have workers compensation cover the cost of your medical expenses. This is best explored with the help of an experienced St. Louis work injury attorney.