Have You Swollen Knee Pain?

Knee swelling

Swelling in the knee joint can be an indication of a plethora of problems. Knee swelling occurs when there is an accumulation of fluid around the knee joint; this may be as a result of trauma, disease or infection.

Injuries that occur as a result of physical activity may cause damage to ligaments and meniscus both of which if damage can result in swelling. Determining where the damage occurs depends on how rapid the knee becomes swollen. Often if the knee becomes swollen immediately after physical injury then it is an indication of ligament damage, if swelling occurs gradually over several hours then this indicates damage to the meniscus. In cases where knee becomes swollen without any sign of physical injury, it is an indication of an underlying disease, often arthritis.

Apart from injury the most common cause of knee swelling is disease, especially in older individuals. The more common diseases that result in swelling are osteoarthritis, gout and bursitis. Both gout and osteoarthritis causes degradation of the cartilage around the knee joint causing severe pain and inflammation. A bursa is a fluid filled sac around the knee joint that serves as a gliding surface that reduces friction between the cartilage and joints. When this sac is damaged one experience intense pain followed by swelling, this is known as bursitis.

Some more common causes of knee swelling are the presence of tumours and cysts, pseudogout, nutrients deficiency and pigmented villonodular synovitis.

Whilst most knee swelling can be treated with anti-inflammatory medication, it is important to get a proper diagnosis of the problem first before any treatment is applied. Methods of diagnosing knee swelling are but not limited to:

• MRI- this is able to detect any abnormality in bone or knee joint

• X-ray - this is to ensure that the patient has not broken or dislocated any bone in the knee joint, it can also use to detect arthritis

• Joint aspiration- this involves withdrawal of fluid from the swollen area to undergo further laboratory testing, it is a quite useful diagnostic tool when checking for pathogens or diseases.

Upon determining the cause of the swelling treatment may range from something as simple as bed rest to the more extreme case of orthopaedic surgery. In mild to moderate cases taking a break from physical activity to relieve tension and the knee joint in conjunction with the application of anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics (if swollen is caused by infection) can be used to reduce swelling. Another useful treatment process is the periodic application of ice to the affected area, which should be done while the foot is elevated as this helps with circulation.

Surgical methods can be used to remove fluids that build up around the joint or to repair damaged tissue, however in extreme cases where the knee is unable perform its duties; the knee joint itself might need to be replaced.

The restriction caused by knee swelling can greatly affect an individual's life, so if you find yourself suffering from this problem now is the time to do something about it. Make an appointment with your physician to get a proper diagnosis of the problem, then adapt a treatment regiment and take your life back one kick at a time.