A swollen knee is a common complaint and therefore a number of treatments have evolved over the years for the same. The problem arises in diagnosing the cause of the inflammation as swollen knee joints could develop over time as a symptom of an underlying medical condition or occur suddenly due to muscle strain or injury. Symptoms vary from knee swelling, stiffness of the joint, limited mobility, pain, redness, and fluid accumulation around the knee. Once the diagnosis is made, the proper treatment can begin.

Swollen Knee

Medical Treatment for a Swollen Knee
If the cause of the knee swelling is a fracture, your doctor may recommend a cast or splint to keep it immobilized until the bone is healed.
-- Sprained knee ligaments are treated with cold or ice packs to reduce inflammation and pain as well as with medication such as painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs
-- In case of torn ligaments and tendon ruptures, surgical repair is often necessary.
-- Procedures to reduce dislocation such as popping the patella back in place may be required.
-- Chronic swelling of the knee caused by arthritis is treated with over-the-counter painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications.
-- There is a new brand of anti-inflammatory medication known as biologics. These drugs specifically target the substance that causes the inflammation in cases of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Home Remedies for a Swollen Knee
PRICE is what you should remember when it comes to treating a swollen knee. PRICE stands for protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

Protect – Wear a kneepad to prevent repetitive stress injury.

Rest - Keep the weight off your knees. If you need to move around invest in a pair of crutches to keep the weight off the joint.

Ice - Apply a cold or ice pack to your knee twice or thrice a day to reduce inflammation and pain. Always place a cloth or towel between your skin and the ice pack to protect the skin. Never use heat or a warm compress on a swollen knee as it will increase the inflammation.

Compression – Use an elastic bandage or knee brace to support the knee joint and provide compression. This will help decrease swelling and fluid buildup.

Elevate - Keep the knee elevated as often as you can. Prop a pillow under you leg so that the knee is higher than the heart. This encourages any excess fluid collected around the knee joint to drain faster.