Swollen knee

Description

A swelling of the knee occurs when excess fluid accumulates in or around the knee joint. Health professionals might refer to this condition as an effusion (uh-FU-zhun) in the knee joint.

Inflammation in the knee can be the result of trauma, overuse injuries, or an underlying disease or condition. To find the cause of the inflammation, your care team may need to test a sample of the fluid to the infection, the disease or the blood of a wound.

The removal of some of the fluids can help reduce the pain and stiffness associated with the swelling. Once the underlying cause is known, treatment can begin.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms usually include:

  • The swelling. The skin around the kneecap can be inflated significantly, especially when compared to the affected the knee with the other.
  • Stiffness. When the knee joint contains excess fluid, you may not be able to bend or straighten the leg completely.
  • Pain. Depending on the cause of the fluid accumulation, the knee can be very painful, to the point that it is impossible to bear weight on it.

When to see a doctor

Consult your health care professional if self-care measures, such as ice and rest, do not improve the symptoms. Seek medical attention immediately if a knee is a change in the color of the skin and it feels hot to the touch in comparison with your other knee. This can be a sign of an infection within the joint.

Causes

Many things can cause swelling in the knee. They include traumatic injuries to the diseases and other conditions.

Injuries

Damage to any part of the knee can cause excessive joint fluid to accumulate. The injuries that can cause accumulation of fluid in and around the knee joint are:

  • Rupture of ligaments, especially the anterior cruciate ligament, also called the ACL.
  • The tear in the meniscus cartilage.
  • The irritation from overuse.
  • Broken bones.

Diseases and conditions

Underlying diseases and conditions that can cause a buildup of fluid in and around the knee joint are:

  • Osteoarthritis.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Infection.
  • Gout.
  • Pseudogout.
  • Bursitis.
  • Cysts.
  • Tumors.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase your risk of inflammation of the knee include:

  • Age. Your chance of developing a swollen knee arthritis-related increases with age.
  • Sports. The people who participate in sports that involve twisting of the knee, such as basketball, are more likely to experience the typeof knee injuries that cause inflammation.
  • Obesity. Excess weight puts added stress on the joint of the knee, contributing to the tissue and joint overload and knee degeneration that can lead to an inflammation in the knee.

Complications

The complications of inflammation of the knee may be inclusiveof:

  • The loss of muscle mass. Fluid in the knee can do damage as well your muscles to work and because of the thigh muscles to weaken.
  • A fluid-filled sac (Baker's cyst). The accumulation of fluid in the knee can lead to the formation of a Baker's cyst on the back of your knee. A swollen Baker cyst can be painful, but usually improves with the formation of ice and compression. If the inflammation is severe, it may be necessary to the fluid removed with a needle.

Prevention

A swelling in the knee is usually the result of an injury or chronic health condition. To manage your overall health and injury prevention:

  • Strengthen the muscles around the knee. The strong muscles around a joint, you can help ease the pressure on the joint itself.
  • Choose low-impact exercise. Certain activities, such as aqua aerobics and swimming, not instead of continuingus support the weight of the stress on the knee joints.
  • Maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight contributes to wear and tear, damage that can lead to swelling in the knee.

Swollen knee

Diagnosis

Your health care team is likely to begin with a detailed clinical history and physical examination. After that it is likely that you will need tests to find out what is the cause of your swollen knee.

Imaging tests

Imaging tests can help to show where the problem is located. The options include:

  • X-ray. In the x-ray can rule out fracture or dislocation of the bones and determine if you have arthritis.
  • Ultrasound. This test uses sound waves to check the disorders that affect the tendons or ligaments.
  • The magnetic resonance imaging. The use of radio waves and a strong magnetic field, the magnetic resonance imaging can detect tendons, ligaments and other soft tissue injuries that are not visible on x-rays.

Joint aspiration (arthrocentesis)

A needle is used to remove fluid from the inside of your knee. This fluid is checked for the presence of:

  • The blood, which can come from injuries or disorders of coagulation.
  • The bacteria that can cause an infection.
  • Common glass for the gout or pseudogout.

Treatment

The treatment varies depending on the cause of the swelling of the knee, its severity, and your medical history.

Therapy

Physical therapy exercises can improve your knee joint function and strength. In some situations, a knee brace may be helpful.

Surgical and other procedures

The treatment of the underlying cause of the inflammation of the knee may require:

  • Arthrocentesis. The extraction of fluid from the knee joint can help relieve the pressure on the joint. After the removal of some of the joint fluid, your health care professional may inject corticosteroids into the joint to treat inflammation.
  • Arthroscopy. A lighted tube called an arthroscope is inserted through a small incision in the knee joint. Tools attached to the arthroscope can be remove the loose tissue or to repair damage in the knee.

Self-care

Take care of yourself when you have an inflammation of the knee include:

  • Rest. Avoid weight-bearing activities as much as possible.
  • The ice and the elevation. To control pain and swelling, apply ice packs on the knee of 15 to 20 minutes every 2 to 4 hours. When the ice on your knee, be sure to lift the knee higher than the level of your heart. Place pillows under the knee for comfort.
  • Compression. Wrapping the knee with an elastic bandage can help to control the swelling.
  • Pasoothing. Medications available without a prescription, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) may help to reduce the knee pain.

Preparing for your appointment

You may be referred to a health care professional that specializes in musculoskeletal and joint problems.

What you can do

  • Write down your symptoms, and when they began.
  • Write down your key medical information, including other conditions.
  • Write down key personal information, including any major changes or stress factorin your life.
  • Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements.
  • Find out if someone in your family has had an autoimmune disease.
  • Ask a relative or friend to come with you to help you remember what the care team, says.
  • Write questions for the health care professional.

Questions to ask your doctor

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • What kinds of tests do I need?
  • What treatments are available?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care team is likely to ask a series of questions. Be prepared to answer them you can let go the more points you want to discuss it in depth. You may ask:

  • You've injured your knee recently? If so, describe the injury in detail.
  • Does your knee "locking" or feel unstable?
  • His knee felt hot or changed color? Do you have a fever?
  • Do you practice any sport? If so, what sports?
  • Do you have any type of arthritis?
  • Do you have a family history of autoimmune disease?
Symptoms and treatment of Swollen knee