Therapy
The treatment of a joint effusion in the knee is initially determined by the underlying disease. If the cause is eliminated, the effusion often disappears. In principle, the affected joint should be protected, for example by means of a splint, and placed high up.
Cooling compresses have a slightly decongestant and pain-relieving effect. If the pain is severe, anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or diclofenac can be taken as a support. If the effusion is very large, fluid can be removed by a knee puncture, which relieves the joint.
In homeopathy, potentiated animal, plant and mineral substances are used to treat diseases. Homeopathic medicines can also be used for knee joint effusion. If it is a joint effusion caused by trauma (accident, fall), low potentiated drugs are chosen and taken at shorter intervals (e.g. three times a day, in some acute cases every 30-60 minutes).
Thus, in acute joint effusion, Bryonia alba (white fence turnip) is taken three times a day until the swelling has subsided. It is recommended to take Rhus toxicodendron (oak-leaved poison ivy) at the same time. This is the recommendation for knee joint effusions caused by accidents, falls and minor sports injuries.
For chronic diseases, higher potency drugs are usually chosen, but these do not have to be taken as frequently. If, for example, a joint effusion as a result of a chronic disease such as inflammatory arthrosis is to be treated, it is recommended to take Bryonia alba again. In addition, it is recommended to administer Apis mellifica (Western honey bee).
This should be done for about 10 days. If there is no improvement, it is in any case advisable to consult a doctor who will identify and treat any injured knee structures. The puncture of the knee joint can be a therapeutic and/or differential diagnostic tool.
During the puncture, the fluid is extracted from the joint with a hollow needle (cannula), which firstly provides pressure relief (therapy) and secondly serves to examine the fluid from the knee (differential diagnosis). This fluid is then used to find the cause, since the effusion can be of different consistency and color. In addition, bacteria may be present in the fluid, which can be identified by examining the fluid.
Effusion fluid can be bloody if it is caused by trauma (often sports injuries). It can also be purulent (fibrinous) if the disease in the joint is an infection. It can also be serous if the cause is a mechanical overload. A puncture should only be performed if there is severe joint swelling or if there is evidence of articular effusion. If the effusion is caused by a chronic disease such as osteoarthritis, the underlying disease should also be treated, as it is very likely that the effusion will reoccur.
