Home remedies like oil massage for knee pain can damage your knee and spine, warn doctors
treatment of knee pain, combined with self-medication and traditional home remedies, can have negative effects on both the knee joints and the spine, warn doctors.
According to medical experts, nearly 50 per cent of patients with knee osteoarthritis seek medical help only when their knees have already suffered extensive damage. Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative or age-related arthritis, is the most common form of knee arthritis, accounting for over 70 per cent of cases.
Dr L Tomar, director of orthopaedics and joint replacement at Max Super Specialty Hospital, told TOI that a lack of awareness about proper knee treatment options is exacerbating the situation.
Instead of addressing knee and joint issues, many individuals resort to quick fixes such as painkillers or topical balms for temporary relief. However, these temporary solutions not only worsen the bone and joint conditions but can also harm the liver and kidneys.
Timely detection and treatment can significantly improve quality of life.
Dr Tomar further noted that it is common for people to delay knee treatment until the condition has reached an advanced stage, unknowingly causing damage to the spine. «Walking with deformed and painful knee joints can irreparably harm the spine,» he cautioned.
He emphasized that when knee joint pain persists despite conservative treatment and severely impacts daily life, surgery may be necessary. The initial sign of knee arthritis is regular pain or discomfort when getting up from a seated position or climbing stairs.
In the advanced stage, the pain becomes constant, particularly at night. Additionally, the knee joint may experience intermittent locking and obvious deformity, according to doctors.
Dr Subhash Jangid,
