What can you do? – therapy
In order to counteract the “water” in the knee in the long term, the cause of the knee joint effusion should generally be investigated. In most cases, the effusion can only be eliminated if the underlying trigger is removed (e.g. cruciate ligament or meniscus lesions). Generally accepted therapy methods include elevating the affected leg or knee or even temporarily immobilizing the joint, which helps the body to break down and reduce the fluid in the joint capsule on its own.
Cooling the knee with a cool pack or cold compresses/changing can also have a supportive effect.However, if the accumulation of fluid is persistent or leads to severely impaired function in the knee joint, in some cases a joint puncture can also provide relief. This involves the removal of fluid from the joint capsule by a physician using a puncture needle. However, if the fluid accumulation recurs (recurrence) after a puncture, the cause should be investigated more closely.
If there are signs of inflammation, so that an infection is suspected as the cause of the fluid accumulation, anti-inflammatory drugs can also be used, which can sometimes also cause a reduction in fluid (e.g. ibuprofen, diclofenac). A purulent knee joint effusion (empyema), on the other hand, must always be relieved, i.e. the joint must be surgically opened and pus must be removed, otherwise it would lead to destruction of the joint. As a supportive home remedy, the use of cold curd compresses can alleviate the symptoms of a knee joint effusion and sometimes even lead to a reduction of the effusion.
Various ingredients in curd cheese, especially the lactic acid bacteria, can inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory substances. In addition, the damp cold has a pleasantly cooling, decongesting and pain-relieving effect. If the quark dries out during treatment, it stimulates blood circulation, which supports and accelerates the regeneration and fluid loss process in the knee joint.
A cool quark topping is prepared by applying normal food quark to a cloth or compress. The quark cloth is then placed on the affected area, although there should be at least one layer of fabric between the skin and the quark. Finally, the quark layer can be fixed with a light bandage.
The compress can/should be removed again when the quark has dried up. The procedure can be repeated several times a day. The use of ointments for an existing knee joint effusion can only be useful if, in addition to the knee swelling, signs of inflammation become apparent, so that an infection of the effusion fluid can be assumed.
As a rule, ointments with anti-inflammatory content are then used (e.g. Voltaren ointments with the anti-inflammatory active ingredient Diclofenac), which is applied to the knee using a wrapping bandage. This local application of anti-inflammatory ointments is, however, always inferior to the oral intake of anti-inflammatory drugs in terms of effectiveness, as the systemic distribution of the active ingredient via the blood reaches the site of action better and more effectively than local application via the skin barrier.