Hi all,
Basic question here - but besides medication which I take and removal of fluid, what else helps reduce the swelling of a swollen knee?
Has anyone had success from icing? Or certain exercises? It would be good to hear back some things people do outside of the obvious medication that can help our knees actually look normal!
Frozen peas and a good Oestopath work for me. lol x
Elevate your leg, for example, keep it horizontal as much as possible when swollen, wear Tubigrip long enough to cover most of your leg (not just the knee, and do exercises to strengthen your quads. Good luck.
Hi gr95. I have two medium sized bags of the cheapest frozen peas emptied out into a large plastic freezer bag. That gives me enough to mould around most of my knee when I need it. I can then take it out the freezer whenever the need arises. I also elevate my leg making sure my knee is supported with a pillow underneath.
You're organised I just have a marker pen and wrote on the bags "don't eat" ! lol but I agree a waste of Birds Eye, as Tesco Value range work as well. lol xx
Absolutely. I don't have to write "don't eat" on the bag as it's in a clear freezer bag and not a frozen peas bag, there's only the two of us here so no need to worry! 🤔 xx
I always have my feet up when sitting - every chair has it’s stool close by. A slight raise at the base of your bed can also help.
Hydrotherapy has kept my knee moving really well when it has seized up. You could ask your rheumy to refer you if your hospital physio arranges such sessions. If your RA is not under control you may be able to have a steroid injection in the knee.
Hi Neon,
Yep I’ve had a couple of exasperations and injections which do help considerably but not for nearly FOUR years. It’ll be beneficial.
It’s a tough one in terms of under control because it is and it isn’t - for instance my RA is active in the sense I have two swollen and tender joints but on DAS and physical ability I score low disease activity - but I obviously don’t want a swollen knee as that isn’t normal haha - I’ve reached out to them about having another round of exasperation as would be useful alongside letting the meds attempt to work with less fluid that with fluid that is basically unmoved.
Ice, Ice baby!
Yes I agree Ice and elevation is good. It needs to be done regularly and often. Elevation should place the knee above the heart so laying with a pillow or two under the knee. I had an ultra swollen knee after awaiting a knee replacement and then after having the op. At that time my knee was twice as big as it should have been. Absolutely huge! I iced 8 times daily, 20mns a time initially[ 10mns above and 10mns below the knee] and gradually reduced to 7 then 6 etc. it took me 3 months in total but it went back to normal size in the end! Hopefully yours is not as big. Once its going down exercises are also good to strengthen the knee muscles.
Note my diagnosis is Still’s Disease which has rheumatoid symptoms. My knees swell with fluid often and it’s the first area to give pain when I wake up. We’re all different but I swear by tubigrip and use it all the time and on my wrists and elbows for support too, it’s brilliant stuff.
Hi, my Physio suggested a static exercise bike, no resistance, use it daily. Once I’ve walked my dog at the pace of a sloth, I then do a 15min pedal while looking things up on my phone. Didn’t think it would work, even laughed at her suggestion but oh my goodness the relief is amazing.
I have had such trouble with both my knees, for so long, the swelling and pain has been almost unbearable but since starting this easy, simple exercise I can honestly say there’s a marked improvement, less pain and more movement. It might be worth a try? 😊
I echo the feet up whenever you sit down. I've had issues with my left ankle for years and now wear compression socks (which can increase the swelling in my knees, ho hum) so always sit with my feet up. RA has just exacerbated the situation and knees have joined in too. I finally gave in and bought this height adjustable footrest:
amazon.co.uk/Homecraft-Adju...
I then put a pillow on top for comfort.
Ice - good old peas, dropped from a height to separate them, wrapped in an old tea towel.
I'm also using the Versus Arthritis (sorry NRAS!) knee exercises. My GP gave me a print out when I saw him a few weeks ago and I've since found them on YouTube, they are nice and achievable, and it's good to have someone talk you through them:
Link wouldn't work but if you Google ' Verses Arthritis exercises YouTube' you will find 'Tailored stretching knee exercises' there with a physio.
I have had fluid removed from both knees quite a number of times, on each occasion they have injected steroids, unfortunately I have to tell you it made no difference whatsoever, I have though just had my second knee replacement revision, as the initial replacements came loose within a year. Touch wood it seems to have sorted any fluid within the knees, I know it is a flippant answer, but I am not sure there is much you can do about it, particularly when RA is involved.
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