Have you had a knee that has been plaguing you for weeks, but you just figured you twisted it in the garden or you have been doing too much on it? While that may be the case, you might haveknee arthritis. What that means is that there has been wear and tear on your knees, throughout your lifetime and it has resulted in less cushion within the joint. The pain you are feeling might be a permanent condition. Even though it is permanent, there are things you can do so that the pain doesn’t slow you down.

Symptoms of Knee Arthritis

The symptoms of knee arthritis include a very stiff and very sore knee, especially in the morning. After activity, where the knee is used frequently, such as jogging or walking, it will also be more sore. The knee might require ice or elevation in order to feel better. Knee arthritis symptoms also include a grinding, cracking or popping sound when you stand, walk or move around. This is the actual bones on either side of the joint rubbing together, since the cushion from the joint has eroded.

Ways to Ease Arthritis Pain

There are knee pain exercises your doctor might be able to give you so that you can work with your joint to lessen the severity of the pain. They might work alone or you might have to combine the exercises with pain medication or a change in your diet. Knee arthritis doesn’t mean you have to suffer for the rest of your life and give up the activities you enjoy. You just might need to do other activities which will help your knees out.

Taking over the counter pain medication and doing exercises will help, but also changing your diet will help. There are foods high in purines that can affect your joints in a negative way. Purines are processed in to the body as uric acid. Uric acid gets in the joints and is what also causes pain, as well as the swelling and discomfort of the joints. Eliminating foods such as animal organs like liver and the heart, avoiding sardines and mussels, eating cauliflower and peas in small amounts will help to keep your uric acid levels down. Drink plenty of fluids and make sure to rest the knee once it becomes sore will also help with your pain.