Despite of the condition’s name, just about anyone can suffer from housemaid’s knee. You may end up with it if you kneel or squat repetitively or for a long period of time. In the medical world, it is known as knee bursitis or prepatellar bursitis, which means the inflammation of the bursa (a fluid-filled sac that helps reduce friction) which is located in the knee.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are usually prescribed by doctors to help deal with pain and swelling associated with housemaid’s knees. There are also a handful of effective home remedies for it. Here are the best ones:
Give Your Knees Plenty of Rest
The number one thing you should do when housemaid’s knee strikes is to allow yours knees to rest. Unnecessarily using them will only cause you more pain. The number of days you should rest the affected knees depends on the extent of the injury or swelling of the bursa.
Elevate Your Knees When Lying Down
It is a good idea to prop up the affected area on a pillow each time you are lying down. Doing this helps in reducing the swelling as it prevents blood from pooling in the knee. Reading a book or watching your favorite TV sitcom with your legs elevated helps speed up the healing process.
Apply Ice on the Problem Knees
One way to effectively reduce the swelling of the affected bursa is by applying an ice pack over it because this home remedy helps constrict the blood vessels. It also helps provide effective relief from pain. However, refrain from placing ice directly on the skin. Wrap some ice cubes in a small towel and place on the knee.
Heat Helps Speed Up the Healing Process
When much of the pain is alleviated by icing the affected knees, apply heat to accelerate the healing of housemaid’s knee. Heat draws blood to the area, thus increasing the supply of nutrients and oxygen necessary for recovery. Place a small towel in hot water, wring out the excess, fold and place on the swollen area.
Drink Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey
In a cup of hot water, add 2 teaspoons each of apple cider vinegar and pure honey. Stir very well and slowly sip it. Both apple cider vinegar and honey have anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce the swelling of the affected knee.
Apply Ginger Poultice or Drink Ginger Tea
You may use the superb anti-inflammatory properties of ginger to help reduce the swelling of housemaid’s knee. Peel and grate a medium-sized ginger, wrap everything in a piece of cloth, tie and place on the problem knee. You may allow some of the grated ginger to steep in hot water and drink it.
Massage Warm Olive Oil or Sesame Oil
Using a microwave, slightly warm some olive oil or sesame oil for a few seconds. Gently massage on the swollen knee with your hands. This will help improve blood circulation in the area, thus speeding up the healing process. Massaging warm olive oil or sesame oil on your knees also helps deal with the pain and muscle tightness.