Topical pain relievers come in many different formulations, and they are a great way to get some relief from your knee pain. They are easy to apply and help you avoid, or limit the amount of, medication you may be consuming to help with your pain. Some people dislike taking copious amounts of pain relievers because of the adverse health effects that accompany them. If you are forced to take them for long periods of time, they can cause serious damage to your liver, kidneys, and stomach lining. By finding a topical pain reliever that works on your pain, you add yet another, safe alternative to finding relief. When you look around at pain relief lotions, you will find that many have a wide array of natural ingredients. Most will contain a certain percentage of menthol, but you need to watch out for topical analgesics that contain too much Menthol. The FDA has issued a warning that topical pain relievers containing more than 3% menthol or 10% methyl salicylate can cause serious topical skin burns. Your topical reliever should not cause you pain; it should only provide sweet relief from your nagging pain. Just make sure to check the labels for the ingredients before purchasing. You will find lotions, like Real Time Pain Relief, that heed this FDA warning and keep their menthol percentages at the right level. Other ingredients to look for when looking for an analgesic include Aloe Vera, Capsicum, Willow Bark, Arnica, Emu Oil, MSM, Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Witch Hazel, and more. You will be surprised at how many of Nature’s Ingredients might provide relief from your pain and inflammation.

References

• Pedowitz, R. A.; O’Connor, J. J.; Akeson, W. H., Daniel’s Knee Injuries: Ligament and Cartilage Structure, Function, Injury, and Repair (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

• Hsu, JD., Michael, J., Fisk, J. Atlas of Orthoses and Assistive Devices.  Philadelphia: Mosby. 3rd ed. pp. 420–421.

• AAOS Position Statement: The use of knee braces. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Accs:2014

• Osteoarthritis Treatment, Arthritis Foundation. National, 2012

• Noonan, T. Garrett, W. Muscle strain injury: diagnosis and treatment, Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 7 (4), Jul-Aug 1999, pp. 262-9

• Prentice, William E. Arnheim’s Principles of Athletic Training: a Competency Based Approach. New York. McGraw-Hill. 2008