If the knee is swollen, what should I do? This is a common question. Let's look into it in more detail.
A swollen knee is a signal of the body about the presence of a pathology of the knee joint of various etiologies. Diagnosing this disease is quite easy, since there is always a swollen condition, and the person is not able to move normally. Doctors name several reasons contributing to the development of such a pathology. To choose the right treatment regimen, you need to understand what factors caused the pathological process. Next, we will consider this topic in more detail and find out why the knee is swollen and how to remove such a clinical manifestation.
Main causes of edema
The cause of swollen knees may be the development of pathogenic microorganisms. The swelling can be very strong. What to do and how to cure it should tell the doctor. Women and men should know the basic rules for helping knees. Doctors identify the following several reasons that may cause swelling in the knee area:
- Injury can cause a situation where the knee is swollen and sore. It is usually about fractures and pathologies of the ligaments. A swollen joint and area around the knee can cause some discomfort. It will be uncomfortable for the patient to walk.
- The presence of an infectious pathology of various etiologies. In the event that pathogenic microorganisms have entered the tissue of the knee joint, they can cause a pathological change, due to which the joint will become swollen.
- Knees swell as a result of allergic reactions. Such a symptom can, for example, be noticed after a bite of a mosquito, midge and other insects, as well as against the background of the use of pharmacological preparations.
- Swollen knees without pain indicate the presence of a neoplasm of various etiologies.
- Providing a strong load on the muscles, because of this, the knee can crackle, and then swell a lot. Thus, after exertion, the knee may swell or non-specific inflammation may form in its area.
- Violation of metabolic processes. Swollen knees are promoted by various diseases, such as gout or diabetes.
- Being overweight. The more extra pounds a person has, the greater the load on the knee joints and, as a result, they can swell.
In the event that the legs swell from the knees to the feet, the swelling may be due to such reasons as increased load on the leg or drinking excessive amounts of fluid.
What other reasons are there?
Why else canswollen knee without bruising? It is worth noting that swelling of the knees can also occur in a number of other cases:
- The knee may swell due to pathologies of the kidneys and other organs.
- Hypocooling of the body.
- The presence of autoimmune pathologies, for example, the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
When the knee is swollen, which doctor should I contact?
This question worries many. In the event that a person has a swollen knee for one reason or another, he should first contact a therapist. After the examination, the doctor will most likely refer the patient to a traumatologist and orthopedist. Professionals of this profile are engaged in the treatment of diseases of ligaments, muscles and bones. Thus, if the knee is swollen and sore, this is just their profile.
Diagnostics
Swelling of the knee serves as a signal of the body, against which you need to immediately go to your doctor. Physicians first of all determine the cause that caused such a pathology. It is very important to exclude the development of infectious processes.
Research methods
To establish the correct diagnosis when the knees swell, the following research methods are used in medicine:
- Ultrasound examination to help detect any pathological changes in the area of the joints.
- Performing magnetic resonance or computed tomography allows you to give accurate information regarding the general condition of the knee joints. These methods determine the presencevarious complications.
- X-ray is used in projection, while the physician clearly sees any pathological changes.
- Implementation of the puncture of the synovial plate. Through this procedure, the doctor can see the presence of pathogens.
- Arthroscopy or surgery makes it possible to establish certain pathological changes.
If the knee is swollen without injury, what help is needed?
First Aid
After the knee is swollen, before contacting a medical facility, the patient must be given first aid. In this case, it is important to be guided by the following rules:
- The limited mobility of the knee joint must be observed. A tight bandage should be applied to the affected area.
- Applying a warm compress will completely relax the muscles and improve blood circulation. Thanks to this technique, the state of the joint can be normalized. For a warm compress, use a warming ointment, warm water, or a heating pad.
- The use of a cold compress is also advisable. Such a compress will help to remove the shade. You can apply ice packs along with special ointments.
It should be emphasized that when this is not the result of an injury, then it is especially important to see a specialist to find out the reasons why the knee is swollen and red and get the necessary treatment.
Treatment
In the event that the knee is swollen, what should be done is decideddoctor, based on the symptoms and diagnostic results. Therapy for a tumor of this joint directly depends on the cause. The simplest method of removing the tumor is the use of a tight bandage moistened with alcohol. In this case, alcohol must be mixed with water one to one. Instead of alcohol, a solution of furacilin is suitable.
Exposure to cold
After the diagnosis, it is recommended that specialists remove the swelling by exposure to cold. In this case, ice in gauze is very suitable. But cold bandages are effective only on the first day after the onset of edema. Then it is necessary to improve blood circulation, for this ointments are used. The following medicines can be used:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Voltaren, Diclofenac and others. These ointments have anti-inflammatory properties.
- The use of steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of "Prednisolone" and "Hydrocortisone". They help to relieve pathological inflammation and strengthen capillaries. This reduces swelling.
- Treatment with locally irritating drugs in the form of "Apizartron" and "Finalgon". They improve blood circulation, restoring metabolic processes.
After using ointments, the knee area is fixed with a bandage.
For an allergic reaction
In the event that swelling of the knee is caused by an allergic reaction to insect bites, then doctors take standard methods of treatment:
- The stinger is removed first.
- Bite areawashed using "Furacilin" or through a solution of baking soda.
- Antihistamines are also used.
The main thing is to correctly identify the cause, because the knee is swollen for a reason.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy along with physiotherapy exercises are carried out already at the stage of recovery in order to support an effective treatment outcome. In some situations, specialists prescribe electrophoresis, which allows you to remove the swelling. You can use along with the general treatment and a variety of baths. In addition, such patients are shown therapeutic exercises, which include an elementary complex of the following exercises:
- You need to lie on your back and alternately raise your legs, while bending the limbs at the knee, pulling them to the stomach.
- Squats should be done. It is recommended to hold on to something during this exercise.
- Sitting on a chair, you need to spread your knees to the sides.
Surgical intervention
In the event that a person has a serious injury or an inflammatory pathology is present, which is accompanied by a swelling of the knee, then a swollen joint can sometimes be cured only through surgical intervention. This is indispensable if the patient has the following symptoms:
- No effect on medications.
- Presence of cartilage growth.
Surgery
In surgery, the following manipulations are used:
- Bypass is performed to normalize blood circulation. For this, a special device is used. Such treatment is particularly suitable in the presence of atherosclerosis. The operation is performed under general anesthesia. Thanks to shunting, the affected area of the vessel, which leads to a tumor, is removed.
- Performing implantation. As part of this method, the deformed knee joint is replaced with a prosthesis. The implant can restore limb function.
When the knee is swollen, folk remedies can be very effective.
Application of folk methods
In the event that the knee is swollen and it is inconvenient to bend it, treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. In the presence of edema, first aid at home should be aimed at removing the tumor. The knee joint can swell and swell quite a lot. How to remove swelling through folk methods, we will consider further.
Along with drug treatment, recipes from traditional medicine are widely used. But in any case, treatment with plants should be carried out under the strict supervision of a physician in order to obtain the desired effect, and not harm yourself.
The most common methods in this case are the following recipes:
- Chestnut treatment. To prepare the infusion, you will need 600 g of fresh fruits, which will need to be crushed. The finished mixture is placed in a glass jar and poured with a liter of vodka. The product must be closed with a lid and stored for two weeks in a dark place. The finished tincture is used for rubbing the joints, the treatment course lasts at least a month.
- The use of burdock. To do this, take several leaves of the plant, which are placed on top of each other. Place a bowl of hot water on top. The grass must be warm. The plant is then fixed to the swollen knee with cellophane and a bandage. Such a compress should be done in the evening. He is kept during sleep. The remedy is used in a course for 4 months.
- Treatment with calamus root. For the solution, use 200 g of the plant and put it in a glass jar, pouring a liter of vodka. The infusion will be ready for use after two days. Then it should be filtered. A remedy is used in the form of a compress, which is performed at night. Before use, the skin is rubbed with vegetable oil.
If the knee is swollen, treatment should be comprehensive.
Besides this, there are other methods of alternative medicine:
- Treatment with animal fat. The tumor is rubbed with a composition of animal fats. The skin is rubbed at night and kept like this for about 12 hours. The best for this is visceral or mutton fat.
- Use of clay. Clay is diluted in warm water and applied for a couple of hours on the swollen knee. But only green or blue clay is suitable for such a compress.
- Treatment with lemon juice. You should moisten a piece of cloth or gauze in lemon juice, and then apply a compress just below the swelling. Keep the product should be about an hour.
The use of folk methods shouldcarried out in combination with the main methods of treatment. In case of swelling of the knee, it is imperative to consult a doctor. Only after a diagnosis is made by a doctor, you can proceed to treatment. In order to consolidate the result, doctors can refer the patient to physiotherapy or exercise therapy.
