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A swollen knee can have various causes, including injury, wear and tear, medical conditions, and infections. It is important to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment, as early intervention can prevent future problems. Tumors may also cause knee swelling, and removal can resolve the issue.
It’s not necessarily easy to self-diagnose the causes of a swollen knee. An individual knee can swell or feel like it has “water” for a variety of reasons. There are relatively common reasons why the knee swells, but even knowing them, people should avoid self-diagnosis and go to the doctor for a true diagnosis, particularly if the swelling persists. The reasons for a swollen knee most likely may include a single injury/trauma to the knee, wear and tear on the joint parts of the knee over time, or medical conditions such as gout, infection, benign or cancerous tumors, and arthritic conditions.
Of these conditions, it is probably easiest to determine the cause of the swelling, to some degree, if a traumatic injury has occurred. Sprains, fractures, or tears in the knee cartilage that occur suddenly can produce significant pain and swelling. Knee joint function may be reduced, and many people may have trouble standing on the affected leg.
While it is easy to establish an association between the injury and the swollen knee, it is not necessarily possible to determine the extent of the injury. People who have sustained traumatic knee injuries are advised to see a doctor for diagnosis. Early intervention and treatment can prevent future problems.
Many times, a swollen knee appears to occur for no particular reason. It could be that fluid is building up in the joint space due to injuries that occur gradually or that result from overuse of the joint. People who repeatedly use their knee for something like cycling could develop these injuries. Alternatively, conditions such as bursitis could cause fluid to develop outside the joint.
Another potential cause of knee swelling is recurring or chronic conditions. This is true for things like arthritis, which usually includes significant pain. People with conditions like gout experience menstrual buildup of uric acid, which can crystallize around the joints causing swelling and pain.
One cause of swollen knee that many people don’t think about is a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. A variety of diseases can affect the joints. Such diseases include gonorrhea, HIV, mumps, hepatitis, Lyme disease, tuberculosis and staph infections. When the infection moves to the joint, it is called infectious arthritis and antibiotic treatment is needed right away.
Sometimes swelling can result from the presence of tumors within the knee joint. These tumors may or may not be benign. They often start in the leg and spread to the knee, limiting movement. When benign, removal can resolve the problem, and even when malignant, many times cancer is effectively treated with removal of the tumor and radiation or chemotherapy.
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