JointHealing.com: Patient preferred. Physician approved.

• Cryotherapy (ice, cold therapy) is an excellent way to control your pain. Do not apply ice directly to your skin for more than 5 minutes as it can cause burns. A device specially designed to cool your joint (see our PolarCare Cub) can be used for longer periods, as long as you carefully follow the directions and discontinue its use if you have pain or a burning sensation.

• Over-the-counter pain medications can be of use. These include anti-inflammatories such as Motrin^TM (ibuprofen) and Aleve^TM (naproxen), and pain medications, such as Tylenol^TM (acetaminophen).

• The use of glucosamine sulfate may have some benefit in treating the pain associated with the softening of your cartilage. However, you must use glucosamine sulfate for approximatley two months before it can have its full effect. Joint Healing.com has an excellent glucosamine sulfate formula which we have found to be useful in releiving the pain associated with chondromalacia.

• Occassionally heat can be of benefit after the initial pain has resolved. Heat is sometimes useful to combat stiffness. You can apply a heating pad on a low setting for approximately 10-20 minutes at a time. If you do not have a heating pad, you can use a soft terry cloth hand towel placed under warm (not hot) tap water.

• Bracing. In addition to providing stability, braces provides pain relief by stimulating some of your nerve fibers which make you feel that your joint is more stable and secure. These are the same nerve fibers you compress when you grab your finger after you hit it with a hammer. Even though your finger was just smashed, you squeeze it with your other hand as hard as you can and it makes it feel better. If support helps, sometimes a simple elastic bandage is all you need; however, some people will feel better with a knee brace. Our DonJoy Comfort Knee Brace will give you the gentle support that you need.

  In addition, with chondromalacia, bracing may help to better centralize your patella in its groove so that it "tracks" more centrally, thereby decreasing your pain. The DonJoy Lateral "J" Brace and the DonJoy Tru-Pull Advanced Patellar Knee Brace are specifically designed to help your patella tracking. Both are far superior to the simple "neoprene sleeves" one can obtain in the supermarket or drugstore. Both are exceptionally useful for people with excessive lateral pressure syndrome that causes pain on the outer (lateral) undersurface of the kneecap. The DonJoy Lateral "J" Brace is perhaps one of the most popular patella stabilizing braces in the world. We also really like both the DonJoy Tru-Pull Advanced Patellar Knee Brace, and its more supportive cousin, the DonJoy Tru-Pull Advanced Hinged Patellar Knee Brace

Just like the old bad joke about the patient that told the doctor: "Doc, everytime I do this, my knee hurts" and the doctor replies: "Well, don't do that!" Although this may seem humorous, there is some truth to the joke. Your body has developed a very complex mechanism to inform you that something is wrong. Humans that ignored these warning signs are no longer living with us today. When our great, great ancestors did not listen to this mechanism, they were killed off by disease or by predators. Thus, pain acts as a warning signal to stop, rest and do something else. Avoid such activities as squatting, kneeling, heavy lifting, climbing, and even running. Listen to your body and make a list of activities or movements that increase your pain and DON'T DO THESE THINGS. Also, make a list of activities and movements that reduce your pain and DO THESE THINGS. For example, many doctors recommend the following (be sure to check with yours to make sure he/she agrees).

DON'T DO these if you have chondromalacia:

• Keep your knee bent for long durations.
• Kneel on your knees
• Walk up and down stairs/hills unnecessarily

DO these:

• Try to sleep with your legs out straight at night instead of curling up into a ball.

The key to this step is to remember controlled motions. This means you have complete control of these motions through a structured rehabilitation program. Most rehabilitation programs can be done in the convenience and privacy of your own home. The basic philosophy of rehabilitation for your knee with chondromalacia is to strengthen the large muscle on the front of your knee called the quadriceps as well as stretching the tendons in the back of your knee called the hamstrings. In specific cases, your doctor may prescribe formalized physical therapy, with a therapist or trainer.

The keys to rehabilitation include

• Motivation to actually do the exercises. See our page on motivational strategies to improve your success.

• 

  Deluxe Knee
  Therapy Kit

  Correct exercises for your problem. See your doctor or physical therapist if you need advice in this regard.
• Proper equipment. This equipment can either be at your therapists office, at your health club, or items that you purchase for use at home. We have found that people who do their exercises at home are much more likely to benefit from the program as they more frequently perform the exercises. Our Deluxe Knee Rehabilitation Kit is just the answer for someone who wishes to do knee exercises at home safely and economically.