A knee may appear swollen following an injury to the tendons, ligaments, or meniscus. The knee may also swell due to other health problems, such as arthritis, or when it is put under too much stress. Swelling can form inside the knee or in surrounding tissue. This discomfort is commonly referred to as "fluid in the knee". Once you are diagnosed with a swollen knee, you can try some home remedies. However, if the injured area remains swollen or painful, you should see a doctor to get the proper advice and treatment.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Diagnosing a Swollen Knee
Step 1. Compare the affected knee to the other
Check for swelling around the kneecap or sides of the knee.
- The swelling could also be in the back of the joint. In this circumstance, it could be Baker's cyst, which forms when excess fluid is pushed into the tissue behind the knee. In this case, you have posterior edema which can get worse when you are standing.
- If the injured knee is redder and warmer to the touch than the other, you should see your doctor.
Step 2. Band and straighten the leg
If you feel discomfort when moving your leg, you may have some type of injury that needs to be treated. The discomfort could manifest itself in the form of pain or stiffness; if you feel some resistance to movement within the joint, it is most likely due to the presence of fluid in the knee.
Step 3. Try walking on the leg
It can be very painful to be able to place body weight on an injured leg; try to lean on your leg and walk.
Step 4. See your doctor
Although you can diagnose knee swelling yourself, you cannot know the exact cause that caused it. Therefore it is a good idea to see your doctor if the edema is persistent, painful, or does not go away within a couple of days.
Some problems that can cause knee swelling include: an injury, such as a tear in a ligament or cartilage, irritation from overtraining, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, infection, or other medical conditions
Part 2 of 4: Professional Treatments
Step 1. Make an appointment with your doctor
See your doctor if your knee is very swollen or is unable to bear your weight. You should see your doctor even if there is any obvious deformity, if you have a fever and the area is red, as it could mean there is an infection. See your doctor even if you don't see any improvement after about four days, as the ligaments may be damaged.
- The doctor will evaluate the knee to determine the cause of the swelling. You may be undergoing an imaging test, such as an X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI. These tests can detect injuries to the bones, tendons or ligaments.
- Another procedure available to the doctor is to take a sample of fluid from the knee and have it analyzed to check for blood, bacteria, or crystals (which indicate gout).
- Your doctor might inject a steroid into your knee to try to reduce swelling.
- Finally, he will check the temperature to make sure there is no ongoing infection.
Step 2. Find out about the possibility of surgery
Based on the problem that caused the swelling, your doctor may recommend that you undergo surgery. Some of the most common surgeries for knee injuries are as follows.
- Arthrocentesis: consists of removing the fluid present in the knee to relieve pressure in the joint.
- Arthroscopy: Loose or damaged tissue is removed from the knee area.
- Joint replacement: A prosthesis is implanted to replace the injured joint if it is clear that the knee will not heal and the pain is intolerable.
Step 3. Get examined by a physiotherapist
The specialist will examine your leg and point out some specific exercises to perform, based on your situation, to strengthen the muscles around the knee.
Step 4. Get examined by an orthopedist
Some foot problems, such as flat feet and other ailments, can contribute to knee pain and swelling. Get a visit from a podiatrist and ask for your feet to be evaluated. The specialist may advise you to wear orthotics, which are inserts that you place in your shoes.
The orthopedist may need to diagnose the back and hips as well. Pain that comes from the back, hips or feet is called "reflected pain"
Part 3 of 4: Preventing Knee Swelling
Step 1. Put on the knee pads
If you spend a lot of time on your lap, such as doing garden work or special housework, you should wear padded knee pads.
If you can, take frequent "micro breaks" of 10-20 seconds. During these breaks, stand up and stretch your legs to allow them to return to their normal sleeping position, even if for a few seconds
Step 2. Avoid doing knee pushups and squats
You need to avoid repetitive movements that strain your knees if you don't want them to swell.
Step 3. Do not engage in high impact exercises or sports
Many sports, especially those that require a lot of jumping and running, can be harmful to the knees. Avoid skiing, snowboarding, running, and basketball until your knees have healed completely.
Step 4. Eat foods with anti-inflammatory properties
Diet can also help increase the risk of swelling in the knees or other areas of the body. Try to exclude industrially processed foods, fried foods, and foods high in sugar from your diet. Instead, increase your intake of fruits, vegetables, proteins, and whole grains.
- Omega-3 fatty acids have many anti-inflammatory properties. Eat more salmon and tuna to increase your intake of these valuable elements.
- Follow the Mediterranean diet, as it is high in lean proteins, such as fish and chicken. It also involves the intake of many vegetables, olive oil and beans.
Step 5. Avoid smoking
Smoking reduces the flow of oxygen and blood into the body which, in turn, decreases the ability of tissues to repair themselves.
Part 4 of 4: Home Remedies
Step 1. Keep the knee at rest
Do not put weight on the injured leg and try to walk as little as possible.
- Keep the knee elevated above heart level when lying down. Support your knee and foot with pillows or the armrest of the sofa.
- Use crutches if you feel pain straightening your leg or putting weight on it.
- If you need crutches for more than a few days, you should see a doctor. This could be a serious enough problem to require more than more professional treatment.
Step 2. Apply ice
Place it directly on the swollen part of the joint for 10-20 minutes. Repeat the cold pack 3 times a day to reduce swelling.
Instead of ice you can put a special gel bag for cold packs
Step 3. Avoid heat for the first 48 hours after injury
If you have suffered an injury that has caused your knee to swell, you should initially avoid exposing it to heat. This includes hot packs, hot showers, and whirlpools.
Step 4. Use a compression bandage
Wrap the knee in an elastic bandage to create some pressure; this way you help reduce swelling. Try an elastic bandage with an adhesive closure so that no hooks are needed.
- You can buy a compression bandage at a drugstore.
- Be careful not to wrap your knee too tightly. If you experience any form of numbness or tingling, you notice that the area takes on a strange color or increases the pain, it means that the bandage is wrapped too tightly.
Step 5. Gently massage the knee
Very gentle massages can stimulate increased blood flow to the knee. However, if you feel pain, avoid massaging this area.
Step 6. Relieve pain with an over-the-counter pain reliever
Take an anti-inflammatory drug such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Among the latter are ibuprofen and naproxen.
- When taking this type of pain reliever, be sure to carefully follow the dosage and dosage instructions on the package.
- Alternatively, you can try a topical pain reliever. Talk to your pharmacist to know the correct application. You can find patches on the market that contain an analgesic (lidocaine) that can relieve pain.
