“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: