How can I calm down an inflamed, swollen knee without surgery?

Steps you can start now

• Modify load: cut back stairs, deep squats, kneeling and long walks for a couple of weeks, without stopping all activity
• Ice: 15 to 20 minutes, wrapped, two or three times a day and after activity
• Compression and elevation: a light sleeve and raising the leg in the evening
• Keep the muscles switched on: straight-leg raises, quadriceps tightening and gentle cycling
• Anti-inflammatory tablets or gel, if they are safe for you; check first if you have stomach, kidney or heart problems, or diabetes

Treatments your doctor may add

• Aspiration: draining a tense knee relieves pain and allows the fluid to be tested
• Steroid injection: often settles synovitis from osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis quickly, once infection has been excluded
• Physiotherapy: a programme to restore movement and strengthen the thigh and hip so the knee is less irritated
• Weight management: every kilogram lost reduces load on the knee
• Treating the cause: gout medicines, or disease-modifying treatment from a rheumatologist for rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis

When non-surgical care is not enough

If swelling keeps returning despite good treatment, there may be a mechanical cause such as a meniscus tear or loose body, or an unusual lining condition. MRI and sometimes arthroscopy then help. A hot, very painful knee with fever is not a case for home treatment: it needs emergency care the same day.

Life in Qatar while the knee settles

Kneeling for prayer and sitting on the floor often irritate an inflamed knee. Using a chair for a few weeks is a practical choice many patients make, and religious questions can be discussed with a scholar. Stay well hydrated in summer, which also helps reduce gout flares. At Aman Hospital in Doha, Dr. Gelber tailors the plan to the cause he finds.