Swollen knees: symptoms, causes, to treatment

Definition

What are swollen knees?

A swollen knee is a condition known as an effusion. Effusion is swelling of the knee joint. An effusion can be caused by many things, including injury to ligaments, cartilage, bone, or surrounding structures.

Swelling can occur within the knee joint (effusion) or outside the muscle joint (bursitis), and can occur suddenly as a result of injury or from over-injury.

How common is this condition?

Knee swelling is common. This can happen at any age. Swollen knees can be treated by reducing risk factors. Please discuss with your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of a swollen knee?

Symptoms of a swollen knee can be felt depending on the cause and condition of the swelling, whether it is mild or severe. Pain, redness, fever, and chills may also occur. Swollen knees can be seen bruised or feel stiff making it difficult to walk.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, the symptoms of swollen knees are:

Swelling. The skin around the kneecap stands out, especially when you compare it to a normal knee.
Rigid. When your knee joint contains excess fluid, you may not be able to fully bend or straighten your leg.
Sick. Depending on the cause of the buildup of fluid, a swollen knee may cause pain to the point that you may not be able to bear the weight on it.

There may be some signs or symptoms not listed above. If you are concerned about the symptoms, please consult your doctor.

When should you see a doctor?

You should contact your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms of swollen knees:

If you see signs of infection (fever, redness, warmth)
If your knees, calves, or soles turn pale, cold, and turn blue
If you don't get good treatment
If the pain is severe or you can't put weight on your knee
If your leg is numb, weak, or itchy

If you have any of the above signs or symptoms or have any questions, please consult your doctor. Everyone's body reacts differently. It is always better to discuss with your doctor what is best for your situation.

Cause

What causes swollen knees?

Many causes of knee swelling include injuries such as injuries to the anterior cruciate (ACL), posterior cruciate (PCL), and medial and lateral collateral (MCL, LCL) ligaments.

Tears of the meniscus (knee cartilage), fractures of the knee joint, or injury to the cartilage that lines the inside of the bone (articular cartilage) can also cause knee effusions. Here are some other causes of knee swelling:

Bursitis, tendinitis, strains, and sprains are all causes of swelling outside the knee joint.
Severe injury, such as a collision during contact during sports or a fall, can cause fluid or blood to build up in the knee.
Fractures, arthritis, gout, cysts, kneecap sprains, infections, tumors, and aging are other causes.
Sudden turns, stopping, moving from side to side, and stiff landings can cause knee strain.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for this condition?

There are many risk factors for knee swelling, such as:

Age. The chances of developing knee swelling related to arthritis increase as you get older.

Sports. People who play sports that involve twisting the knee, such as basketball, are more likely to have a type of knee injury that causes swelling.
Obesity. Being overweight puts stress on the knee joint, affects tissue and excess joint and degeneration of the knee which can cause knee swelling. Obesity increases your risk of developing osteoarthritis, one of the most common causes of knee swelling.

Drugs & Medicines

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are my treatment options for swollen knees?

The goals of treatment are to check what is causing the swelling, reduce the swelling, and allow activities to return as soon as possible and safely. Self-care often works well, but any underlying conditions (such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout) must be treated.

After an injury, the first 48 hours are critical. It's a good idea to use a protector, rest, and place your feet on a pillow.
Avoid activities that can make your knee pain worse (such as those with high impact, running, skiing, or playing tennis) are critical.
Apply ice to the knee. Using ice packs, elastic bandages around the knees, pillows under the knees, sticks or crutches, special stretches, and strength exercises often help.
Rehabilitation exercises to help restore range of motion and strength are extremely useful once the diagnosis has been made.
Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (ibuprofen, naproxen) and acetaminophen can provide pain relief.
Other treatments depend on the condition at the bottom and include orthotics, wires, other treatments, and surgery if needed. Arthrocentesis is a short-term treatment to relieve pain due to swelling, but swelling can recur, and this procedure can lead to infection in the joints if not done properly.

What is the most common test for this condition?

The doctor makes a diagnosis from the medical history, physical examination, and additional tests if needed. The doctor will ask questions about the nature of the swelling, how quickly it occurs, and if there is an injury, how it happened.

Additionally, answering questions about what types of sports and activities were undertaken, as well as previous injuries, may be important.

X-rays are often useful in evaluating knee swelling, and additional tests such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and arthrocentesis can help determine the cause of knee swelling.

In an arthrocentesis, the doctor inserts a needle into the knee joint using a sterile technique and removes fluid. This fluid is sent to a lab to be studied to check what causes the buildup of fluid.