I used to read about apitherapy but didn't really practice it until I met a female beekeeper at a conference who showed me pictures of her face before ( that's when she had the swelling from an injury) and during apitherapy. She asked me to look at face again. I was amazed at what bees could do.
Today, I apply bee stings deliberately on any painful or swollen joint on my body. It is very effective.
I suggest you take some bees home if you keep aggressive ones, try to grab one by the wings and place the abdomen on the spot in question. If the bee isn't very weak, it will sting. Of course there will be pain but just for a minute or two and itching will follow after a couple of days. However, its effect is long lasting. The number of bee stings depends on one's allergy and pain threshold.
Wish you a good experience.