The knee is definitely one of the prior bone joints of your body. You will not be able to walk or move your legs without the help of the knee. This joint is made of various elements like bones, cartilage, muscles, tissues, fat, fluid and tendons. There has to be a fine balance between all the constructive elements of your knee without which your knee will become weak or damaged. The fluid between your knees bones keep them from getting damaged from friction. Problem starts when water gets retained in your knees. This is termed as knee effusion. Such a condition can occur due to many different reasons like joint pain, tissue inflammation, arthritis or gout. Knee injuries of severe sort can also lead to water retention at your knees. In case of infection from injury the pus will get stuck between the bones and tissues. This can lead to further damage and cause lots of pain. You have to tack some steps for sorting this problem out.
Allow your knees some rest
Do not walk or stress your knees. When you spot signs of water retention or knee effusion like swelling and pain, you have to take rest. Moving the legs too much will cause stress to your knee and this can lead to further swelling. Take a day off and stay on bed. Ask your family members for help. It is advisable to lie down for a day and not pressurize your leg joints at all.
Visit your physician
Do not ignore or neglect a swelling knee. The retention of fluid should be immediately checked by a learned doctor. As there can be many different reasons behind such swelling, only a doctor will be able to deduce the exact reason and start the proper treatment or medication. The fluid retention can be the effect of a knee tumor or deep injury. Osteoarthritis and gout can also weaken the knee and form pus. If the fluid is not removed from your knee it can infect the tissue. Proper diagnosis will save you from greater harms.
Cold therapy
You can give the cold therapy a try. It might work on reducing the swelling. If it has been caused by some infection then just cold therapy will not work and you will need to take doctor prescribed antibiotics. For cold therapy you will need ice cubes. Put ice bags on your knees. Keep it pressed to the knees for at least 15 minutes each time you use this therapy. Along with the ice therapy use some elastic bands for compressing your knees.
