“If I had a muscle spasm at home, I would not do anything and would book an appointment with my doctor” (3)
The participants described a number of strategies to manage their symptoms including creams and medications (n=12), losing weight (n=7), ice (n=4), simple knee range of motion exercises (n=3), elevation of the legs (n=2), walking (n=2), rest and pacing activities (n=2), pillows under the knees (n=1), knee brace (n = 1), physiotherapy (n=1), massaging (n=1), or stretching (n=1) a tight muscle.
Personal factors influenced the use of medication. Two participants did not use NSAIDs; one because of kidney problems and the other for fear of damaging the kidneys by medication. One participant refused to take medications because she did want to expose her body to chemical substances. Another did not use medical creams because she hated their texture.
”I would sit down and rub cream on my knees. I was given pills for the pain but I do not take them as I was told they would affect the kidneys” (10)
In addition, the possibility of gaining weight limited the use of some medications: