Home Remedies for Calf & Knee Pain

There are a variety of causes for leg pain. Underactivity and overactivity can both cause muscle cramps and joint strain, and old injuries can sometimes flare up again for little or no apparent reason. If you are hesitant to go to the doctor about calf and knee pain, try a few home remedies first.

Rest

• When you suffer any type of muscle or joint injury, your immediate reaction may be to “walk it off” or to stretch until the pain fades. While this may work for some injuries, others require rest to heal.

  The National Institutes of Health Medline Plus database advises that you should avoid any activities that aggravate the pain in your knee or calf, especially those that require the joint or muscle to bear your weight. In extreme circumstances, this can even include standing or walking.

  While you rest, take over-the-counter pain medicines such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to ease your pain. If you experience swelling, use ibuprofen only, since ibuprofen also serves as an anti-inflammatory medicine.

  The time needed to rest your injury will vary by the severity of the injury. A sore muscle may only need an hour or two to recover, while a torn ligament or other severe injury can take weeks to heal. Refrain from as much strenuous activity as possible until the pain fades.

Ice

• “The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies” states that ice is your first line of defense when it comes to treating a muscle injury. Ice can relieve pain and decrease swelling, ultimately leading to a faster recovery time.

  Apply ice to the knee or calf as soon after injury as possible. If necessary, wrap the ice in a towel or rag to prevent discomfort on your skin.

  To treat swelling and pain, the doctors at the National Institutes of Health recommend that you apply ice for up to 15 minutes every hour on the first day of injury. After the first day, apply ice for 15 minutes at least four times per day. In conjunction with pain medicine and rest, ice can help to heal your injury and relieve your pain.

Compression and Elevation

• Compression involves applying light pressure to the injured area to discourage swelling. Gently compressing the area with a bandage or elastic sleeve reduces and prevents swelling, and the extra support from the bandage helps take some of the burden off your muscle or joint if you have to stand or walk.

  Be careful not to wrap the area too tightly, or you could cause swelling around the injured area and increase the pain in your muscle or joint.

  Elevation also reduces pain and swelling. If possible, elevate your knee or calf higher than your heart to prevent blood from pooling there and causing swelling. If you can't get it up that high, elevate as high as possible. Placing a pillow underneath or between your legs can alleviate pressure and provide slight elevation while you sleep.

  No matter what home remedy you try, there is no substitute for professional medical advice. If the pain in your calf or knee continues after three days of treatment, or worsens at any time, consult a doctor.