The first approach to relieving pain and swelling on the knees is identifying other accompanying symptoms. These may include stiffness, redness, numbness on the leg and difficulty walking or standing, usually due to the pain. The symptoms in most cases are indicative of knee effusion. Effusion is the buildup of fluid in the knee joint, after an injury or the other causes of knee pain. The fluid produced by the affected tissues causes the swelling. The remedies should be administered according to the cause of pain.
The Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation remedy
Injury can be the result of a strain or sprain, the impact from a fall or a twisted knee from bad posture and overuse. You can relieve knee pain using the following ways. The first is always to rest the knee to release any pressure build up from using the knee.
The second thing to do as you rest the knee is to ice it using cold compresses for about 10 to 20 minutes. These could be ice cubes in a bag or other frozen products such as veggies and peas in your freezer. The cold reduces swelling and in turn pain, by constricting blood vessels to reduce blood flow to the affected part. Inflammation is in most cases a symptom of painful knees. The third remedy to reduce the swelling is applying compression bandages. They should not be so tight to cut off blood circulation. Always keep your knee elevated as you rest and use all the other remedies.
Egg yolk and table salt
You can make a paste from fresh egg yolk and one tablespoon of salt as a knee pain treatment. Mix the two and apply on the painful swollen knee. Cover with a cling paper loosely, and then apply an elastic bandage. Keep changing the paste after two hours. Make sure to use a minimum of 5 applications in a day. The table salt contains minerals such as magnesium which is a natural muscle relaxant and reduces fluid in the tissues to reduce swelling. Oils in the egg yolk can easily pass through the skin to carry the minerals to the affected parts.
Mustard oil
Mustard oil is another pain relief remedy. It can be used to massage the swollen knee gently. It will reduce swelling and ease the pain by improving blood circulation to the affected parts. Heat up about two tablespoons of mustard oil. Leave it to cool and only use it when warm. After, place a warm towel on top of the knee.
Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is acidic which means it has an alkalizing effect. It helps to neutralize some of the mineral harmful toxins that build up in the knee, in cases of arthritis and other diseases. First, it can be consumed. Mix two teaspoons of the vinegar with a cup of water and drink the mixture every day till the pain subsides. You can also put two tablespoons of the vinegar in a bath and soak the affected knee for about 10 minutes. Lastly, you can mix the vinegar with olive oil and massage the affected knee twice a day.
The remedies should begin to reduce the swelling immediately and gradually lessen the pain. If the pain persists after the treatments, it is important to see a doctor, to make a diagnosis.