How to Treat Cracking Knees

The knee is made up of three bones – the femur, the shin bone, and the patella. Between the bones is a structure with softer material called cartilage and acts as a cushion. ^{[1] X Source of Research} In the case of diseases like arthritis, the protective cartilage layer degenerates and causes the bones to rub against each other creating a crackling or crunching sound, which is accompanied by pain. Here are some methods to prevent and treat this knee pain.

Table of Contents

Treatment of Knees That Cause Osteoarthritis

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Recognize the symptoms of osteoarthritis. ^{[2] X Source of Study} Unlike a “normal” and painless pop when you straighten your leg, the crackling sound of an osteoarthritis knee is often accompanied by quite a bit of pain. Fortunately, we have many ways to detect osteoarthritis: ^{[3] X Research Source}

Look for signs of pain, redness, swelling, and tightness while walking. When you have arthritis, the most common location for the crackling is in the inner part of the knee.
Try to feel where the sound is coming from by touching the top of the knee while flexing and stretching the joint. Usually when you have this crackle, you also have a soft and crunchy feeling in your knee. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Reduces local swelling. If the crackling is accompanied by pain and swelling, you should apply ice to the knee (wrap it in a towel). Cold packs help reduce inflammation and soothe pain.

You can also take small doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Alaxan (ibuprofen) or Ameproxen (naproxen) for temporary pain relief. However, you must not depend on these drugs for a long time because they adversely affect the kidneys and digestive tract.
The benefit of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is that they not only relieve pain but also reduce inflammation.
You can combine an NSAID with an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Panadp (acetaminophen). Pain relievers can’t treat inflammation but can certainly relieve a lot of pain, and the combination of the two (an NSAID and Panadp) is particularly effective and helps you perform daily activities without pain. .

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Buy anti-inflammatory drugs as prescribed by your doctor. Prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include brand names such as Indocin, Daypro, Relafen and many more. ^{[5] X Sources of Research} These drugs are more potent than over-the-counter medications, so they are more effective at treating pain and inflammation associated with squeaks in the knee. However, you need a prescription from your doctor to get these, which means they have to examine your knee first.

Prescription NSAIDs can cause side effects – most commonly an upset stomach, but in severe cases (like an overdose) can lead to stomach ulcers and kidney damage. ^{[6] X Research Source} Always take your medicine as prescribed by your doctor and do not exceed the recommended dose.

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Inject cortisone. Cortisone is a steroid hormone produced by the body when you are stressed. (Note: this is not a steroid that athletes often use or sometimes abuse.) Cortisone suppresses the immune system and significantly reduces inflammation. For painful and cracking knees, your doctor may choose to inject cortisone directly into the knee joint to reduce pain and inflammation.

A cortisone injection has been shown to be an effective treatment for “episodic” knee pain. However, regular injections of cortisone into the knee joint actually cause the cartilage to degenerate and make the knee even more painful. For this reason cortisone injections are not a long-term cure. ^{[7] X Research Sources}
No more than once in three months is recommended, but you can continue to give it as long as it works, which in some cases can last up to years.

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Treatment with the method of “supplementation”. The “synovial fluid” inside the knee joint is the substance that lubricates and stabilizes the joint’s movement. In people with arthritis, the synovial layer becomes “thinner,” or, in other words, less oily. This increases the force of friction and causes the joint’s motion to become abnormal. In that case, the doctor will recommend the method of “lubricant supplement” – the procedure of injecting new lubricant into the knee joint to increase the lubrication of this joint.

Usually you need three to five injections over a period of several weeks to complete the slime replenishment.
It should be noted that with patients receiving “mucus supplements”, about half of them successfully treated their symptoms. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Wear a knee brace. Patients with knee arthritis sometimes have to wear a knee brace. This type of brace helps to shift the center of gravity of the body weight away from the inner part of the knee joint, where the sound is generated. ^{[9] X Research Source} Knee braces also help stabilize and support the knee joint, ensuring proper flexion of the joint and preventing further damage.

Currently on the market there are cheap knee braces, but medical quality braces must be made according to each person’s knee joint and therefore will be more expensive. Ask your doctor about the cost if you want to use a knee brace.

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Discuss the possibility of surgery. For severe knee pain, and the disease is caused by arthritis, surgery may be a solution. When knee pain severely affects your quality of life and you have tried non-surgical treatments without success, then you should consider surgery.

Your doctor will provide information on many different types of knee surgery: Total or partial knee replacement, meniscus repair, knee arthroscopy and knee osteotomy are common solutions. ^{[10] X Research Source}
Note that surgery may work for one patient but may not work for another. Arthritis is notoriously difficult to choose a treatment for, so it’s important to explore all the options before making a decision.

Don’t Let Your Knees Get Worse

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Make sure you have the correct diagnosis. Knee pain is a symptom that leads to a number of different diagnoses, for example osteoarthritis (caused by mechanical “wear and tear” over time in the knee joint – the most common cause) , rheumatoid arthritis (caused by an autoimmune problem), septic arthritis, an old injury to the knee or kneecap dysfunction. ^{[11] X Research Source} It’s important to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis, because the best treatment and plan to protect your knee joint depend on what’s going on inside.

Similarly, assuming you have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis but your condition does not improve with treatment, you should ask your doctor to consider other more plausible diagnoses. ^{[12] X Research Source}

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Maintain a healthy weight. Every extra kilogram of weight increases by six kilograms of pressure on the knee joint. So people who are overweight are more likely to develop arthritis than people of a healthy weight. ^{[13] X Trusted Source Arthritis Foundation Go to the source} To prevent future knee pain (and alleviate existing symptoms), you try to maintain a healthy weight by eating a balanced diet (because it is not possible to exercise much when the knee hurts).

Arthritis sufferers are advised to avoid processed or fried foods, sugar, refined carbohydrates, salt, preservatives, and corn oil, all of which can make knee inflammation worse. directly or through weight gain.

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Do exercise. The muscles around the joints act as shock absorbers, supporting and stabilizing the joints in demanding situations (such as playing sports or exercising) as well as during everyday activities. The stronger the muscles, the better they absorb force. To prevent creaking knees (or reduce if you already have them), try to build muscle slowly through muscle-strengthening exercises.

For this condition, calves are the best way to develop the muscles around the knee joint. Place a rolled up towel under your knees and squeeze your thigh muscles. Hold for five seconds, then release, and repeat 10 times.
Exercises that don’t involve the joints, such as straight leg raises (fixed knee joints), thigh exercises, or sitting against the wall can strengthen the joint while limiting movement there. This exercise avoids making pain or inflammation worse for the joints.
Low-impact cardio exercises like cycling and swimming are also suitable for strengthening the muscles of the thighs and calves (recommended at least three times a week). They also help you lose weight and relieve knee pain.

Steps

Treatment of Knees That Cause Osteoarthritis

Don’t Let Your Knees Get Worse

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