Knee bursitis is an inflammation of the fluid-filled bursae around the knee, caused by direct trauma or prolonged kneeling. Symptoms include redness, swelling, and pain. Treatment includes rest, anti-inflammatory medication, and in severe cases, antibiotics or removal of the fluid.
Knee bursitis is an inflammatory condition that can be caused by an immediate injury or can develop slowly over time. There are three fluid-filled bursae around the knee, and when they become inflamed, symptoms begin to develop. At first, the knee will turn red and start to feel warm to the touch. As the condition worsens, the knee will appear swollen and cause pain when moved or touched.
The two common causes of knee bursitis are direct trauma to the knee or prolonged kneeling on a hard surface. The condition is very common in people in occupations that require a lot of kneeling on the job, such as roofing. Knee bursitis symptoms vary depending on the exact cause of the condition. In cases where bursitis is caused by a direct blow to the front of the knee, symptoms will appear almost immediately following the injury. When it’s caused by a repetitive injury, such as routine and prolonged kneeling, symptoms will appear more gradually and over a longer period of time.
Medical professionals recommend treatment as soon as bursitis symptoms begin to appear. The quicker the condition is treated, the sooner the patient will usually recover. As fluid begins to accumulate in the bursae, the knee swells and begins to hurt. When touched, the joint will feel warm and soft. In mild cases, health professionals recommend using cold packs, taking anti-inflammatory medications, resting, and in some cases, taking pain medication.
When the fluid in the bursae becomes infected, the case becomes more serious and the condition is called septic bursitis. In the case of septic bursitis, medical professionals often remove the fluid with a syringe and run tests to determine what exactly is causing the infection. Then they can prescribe antibiotics accordingly and usually intravenously. In really rare cases, and as a last resort, the purse bags are completely removed. Depending on the severity and exact cause of the bursitis, symptoms should go away within one to two weeks, as long as proper care and treatment is given.
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