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Acetaminophen doesn’t do much for knee pain. Many people have probably taken acetaminophen for a variety of aches, pains, and fevers. While it definitely helps for some complaints, arthritis pain in your knees isn’t one of them. The research team “looked at thousands of studies on various treatments for knee pain, from acetaminophen–the active ingredient in Tylenol–to ibuprofen to steroid injections and found 137 studies covering 33,000 people.” They found that injections, regardless of what they contained, trumped pills. Even the placebo injection of saline worked better than any pill for pain. Everything helped the pain somewhat except for acetaminophen. While injections were effective, the authors also point out they’re often very expensive. “Instead, the team recommends taking things slowly and going with the cheapest and least invasive treatment first. That may mean weight loss and ice. Exercise can help, too, if it’s the right kind that doesn’t strain the knee. Swimming and cycling fit that bill. Physical therapy may also help.
