Lifestyle and home remedies

Taking care of yourself when you have a swollen knee includes:

• Rest. Avoid weight-bearing activities as much as possible.
• Ice and elevation. To control pain and swelling, apply ice to your knee for 15 to 20 minutes every two to four hours. When you ice your knee, raise your knee higher than the level of your heart, using pillows for comfort.
• Pain relievers. Over-the-counter medicines such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) can help reduce your knee pain.