Knee injuries are among the most common health complaint of active people who sometimes overdo it and wind up with a painful, throbbing knee. Individuals whose knee injury is the cause of extreme pain, is accompanied by uncontrolled bleeding or a bone protruding out of the skin or the inability to place any weight on the leg should seek immediate medical assistance at their local hospital emergency room. But for most injuries that occur to the knee, the best course of action is to implement the RICE method of treatment (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) right in the comfort and privacy of home.

The first action to take is actually doing nothing at all, which means complete rest of the knee. The patient should take a load off his feet and the injured knee by sitting or laying down. The next step is to place a bag of ice on the affected area for some 10 to 20 minutes and continue to do that once an hour for the first few hours until the swelling subsides. The next step in the RICE home treatment method for a knee injury is to compress the knee using an elastic wrap to keep a steady yet comforable pressure on the knee cap. During the day, keep the leg elevated by resting it on a chair or ottoman. During sleep, the knee should also be kept in an elevated position by placing an oversized pillow under the leg.

Over the counter pain medication from the local drugstore usually works very well toward eliminating the pain and discomfort that comes with an injured knee. Within 48 hours of starting the RICE treatment, the pain and swelling should be under control and the knee well on it's way to a nice recovery. But if the patient develops a fever, the knee is warm or hot to the touch or the swelling will not subside, it is time to contact a physician for a medical evaluation of just what is going on.

A knee injury that is severe and doesn't respond to home treatment may need a round of anti-biotics, surgery or some type of physical therapy to aid its recovery. When in doubt, the patient should touch base with his regular physician and describe the symptoms of the injury rather than suffer in silence. Most injuries to the knee given time and rest heal nicely by themselves, but seeking professional medical help when the pain or injury is severe is just good common sense to prevent an escalation of the problem.