Therapy
Joint swelling in the knee is often treated primarily symptomatically. This means that the first priority is to relieve the symptoms such as pain. The patient is often prescribed pain-relieving tablets such as ibuprofen for this purpose.
In addition, the patient can regularly apply a cooling but also locally acting ointment such as Voltaren pain gel. This also has an anti-inflammatory and decongestant effect. Of course, the cause should also be fought.
If a rheumatic illness is present, certain medicines are prescribed. In the case of inflammatory diseases or processes, cortisone, which has a strong anti-inflammatory effect, can also be applied. In the case of very severe pain, patients sometimes receive local anaesthetics which can be injected directly into the affected joint.
In the case of a joint effusion, the accumulated fluid can be drained off during a puncture. This relieves the pain and at the same time promotes healing. In general, in the case of swelling, the affected joint should be immobilized.
This can also be done with the help of orthopedic aids such as bandages or supports. The joint should be protected and cooled. Regular elevation of the entire leg also helps to reduce the swelling.
It may be necessary to avoid excessive strain at first. Patients with osteoarthritis are recommended to do sports such as swimming or cycling, as they are gentler on the knee.You should also do regular physiotherapy and heat treatment in order to strengthen the muscles and thus relieve but also stabilize the knee.