There are a number of factors that can cause swollen knees. This could be anything from a fall or injury through pulled muscles, conditions such as arthritis, water on the knee, and more. Whatever the cause, having a noticeably swollen knee can be very debilitating and painful, which is why you need to familiarize yourself with the steps to take in order to treat it.

Of course, ultimately you may need to seek medical assistance depending on the cause of the swelling and how long it lasts. However, there are some ways in which you can obtain some relief from the pain and discomfort of your swollen knee at home. These methods can also help to reduce the swelling.

Some of the steps you can take

If you are unfortunate enough to be suffering from a swollen knee for whatever reason, here are some simple yet effective tips that can help to reduce the swelling and discomfort:

• Make sure you rest the affected leg: It is important to rest the affected leg and stop any activity that is causing discomfort, as this could make the swelling worse. Keep your leg elevated and if possible place a small cushion or padding under the knee area for additional support.
• Use an ice pack: In order to help reduce the swelling and alleviate discomfort, make sure you apply an ice pack to the affected knee. This can help to minimize the swelling and helps to reduce the pain. You should aim to apply an ice pack around three times daily for about 10-15 minutes per session.
• Things to avoid: If your knee has swollen due to injury, you should avoid things that can exacerbate it. For the first 48 hours following the injury try to avoid hot showers or baths, heat compression, and alcohol, as all of these things can make the swelling and pain worse.
• Use compression: Another thing that can help to reduce swelling and pain is to use an elastic bandage to wrap around the knee. Make sure you do not wrap it too tightly as otherwise, it can result in the area below the knee becoming swollen.
• Stop smoking: When you have a swollen knee or any other injury, you should stop smoking. This is because smoking will delay the healing process, so you will be facing discomfort and swelling for a longer period of time if you continue to smoke.

Seeking medical attention

The above methods can be effective in helping you treat the swelling and pain in your knee on a short-term basis. However, if the swelling continues to get worse and persists for longer than 48 hours, it is advisable to seek advice from a medical professional. You may need to put on a course of medication or even referred to physiotherapy to get the issue sorted depending on the cause of the problem. Therefore, make sure you keep an eye on the pain and swelling even while you are administering treatment yourself at home.