If you have a swollen knee, you very often ask yourself, should I see a doctor, or can I take care of this myself? Swelling is a  sign of inflammation that is not always painful but usually causes the area to be larger, puffier, hot and/or red. Knee swelling often refers to water on the knee, and doctors call it knee effusion due to fluid buildup. Edema is the swelling of tissues around the joint. Swelling can be short-term (it is gone after one day or 2) due to an injury or overuse or chronic caused by an underlying medical condition. Associated signs and symptoms of swelling are stiffness and pain. This could result in an inability to bend or straighten your leg and to bear any weight on it. You are more likely to experience pain if the swelling is due to knee overuse or arthritic joints. Osteoarthritis of the knee is a common and chronic inflammatory disease that stems mainly from worn cartilage. Apart from medication, you can manage inflammation (swollen knee) and pain through diet, lifestyle changes and by taking joint health supplements.

What Causes Swollen Knee?

Swelling of the knee can result from overuse, trauma, or injuries such as strains, sprains, torn ligament, cartilage (meniscus) tear, or broken bones. Other causes include an underlying condition such as:

• Chronic inflammation

• Infection such as an abscess or cyst

• Osteoarthritis

• Rheumatoid arthritis (juvenile due to genes or acquired due to aging)

• Bursitis

• Gout or pseudogout
• Tumour
• Osgood-Schlatter disease

• Excess fluid in the knee (effusion)

Aging, playing competitive sports, and obesity are factors that increase the risk of a swollen knee.

Common Symptoms

Symptoms usually depend on the root cause of swelling but can include:

• Stiffness

• Swelling around the knee cap

• Knee warm or tender to touch

• Pus or discharge

• Muscle weakness or spasms

• Difficulty fully bending or straightening the affected knee

• Trouble standing on the affected foot or bearing weight

How to Reduce Knee Joint Swelling

The main problems with swelling or arthritic joints are it limits flexibility and function. But there are ways to manage chronic symptoms, enhance knee joint health, and prevent further pain and complications.

• Self-care: R.I.C.E. therapy (rest, ice, compression, and elevation)

• Medication: You may require medical treatment depending on the underlying cause. Doctors generally prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to manage pain and inflammation. Your doctor may need to remove the excess fluid from your knee if necessary.

• Joint health supplements: You can reduce joint swelling and promote long-term joint health through consuming anti-inflammatory foods or supplements such as calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, chondroitin, and vitamin D3.

• Herbal remedies: Some people turn to herbal remedies such as green tea, turmeric and ginger mainly for their anti-inflammatory effects. Scientific evidence shows that herbs, such as Boswellia serrata, may improve swollen knee and movement while reducing stiffness and pain linked to knee osteoarthritis. Genuwell™ Joint Health is a known supplement formulated with Boswellia serrata (Indian Frankincense). The Indian herb has proven anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, and analgesic abilities to give people with arthritis and joint issues a natural and effective pain and swelling relief solution.

• Exercise: Consider low-impact exercises to strengthen the muscles, tendons, and cartilage around the knee.

• Maintain a healthy weight: Eating well may help with weight management to avoid excessive stress on the knee joint.

It’s important to take a swollen knee seriously as it may be due to a serious injury or underlying condition. Furthermore, untreated swelling may damage the joint tissue, cartilage, or knee bone.
It is recommended to discuss with your doctor or health care practitioner the best care approach for your swollen knee and joint issues. Your health needs could be a combination of lifestyle and diet changes along with herbal joint supplements.

Stay Active with Genuwell Joint Health by Kondor Pharma

Genuwell Joint Health contains anti-inflammatory agents clinically proven to relieve symptoms of arthritic joints such as swelling, pain, stiffness, and limited range of knee motion. Please feel free to reach out to  Kondor Pharma at info@kondorpharma.com or at +1-800-892-6981 to find out how Genuwell™ can help you.