“What can I do to get rid of water in my knee?”
After I noticed some swelling from an injury, I went to the doctor and he said that there's fluid in my knee (he called it knee effusion). He said that it'll go away eventually at home with pain relievers and ice. Is there anything else that I can do?
2 Answers
If you have fluid in your knee after an injury, then you likely have an injury. You should see an orthopedic surgeon to help you diagnose what happened and what is needed to resolve the issue. In addition, the surgeon can drain the knee to remove the effusion. Otherwise, rest, ice, a compression wrap, and anti-inflammatories will help.
Icing properly is good. There are compressive machines and compressive ice machines available that can make the process quicker if needed. If you can take an anti-inflammatory medication rather than a pain blocking medication (meaning if you have no allergies or medical contra-indications to taking it), that may be more helpful. Sometimes the doctor may describe an anti-inflammatory medication as pain medication, so check what you are taking before buying something else. Elevating the knee and using a compression sleeve appropriately fitted also will help, and the sleeve can be used during the day to help prevent swelling that will occur until you regain full strength. A good physical therapist can help reduce the swelling quicker as well, and help you strengthen your knee. If the swelling persists, further work up should be done to identify the sources of the swelling and adjust the treatment appropriately.
Ron Noy, MD
Ron Noy, MD
