What is fluid on the knee

When sleeping, place a pillow under the injured leg. When sitting, support the injured leg so it is above heart level. This is very important during the first 48 hours. Apply an ice pack over the injured area for 15 to 20 minutes every 3 to 6 hours. You should do this for the first 24 to 48 hours. You can make an ice pack by filling a plastic bag that seals at the top with ice cubes and then wrapping it with a thin towel.

Continue to use ice packs for relief of pain and swelling as needed. As the ice melts, be careful not to get your wrap, splint, or cast wet. After 48 hours, apply heat warm shower or warm bath for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day, or alternate ice and heat. If you have to wear a hook-and-loop knee brace, you can open it to apply the ice pack, or heat, directly to the knee. Never put ice directly on the skin. Always wrap the ice in a towel or other type of cloth.

You may use over-the-counter pain medicine to control pain, unless another pain medicine was prescribed. If you have chronic liver or kidney disease or have ever had a stomach ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding, talk with your healthcare provider before using these medicines. If crutches or a walker have been recommended, don't put weight on the injured leg until you can do so without pain.

Check with your healthcare provider before returning to sports or full work duties. If you have a hook-and-loop knee brace, you can remove it to bathe and sleep, unless told otherwise. Even after a needle aspiration, it is subject to recur if not treated quickly and properly. The best option for anyone suffering with water on the knee is to visit a doctor to find the origin of the effusion.

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Learn about common orthopedic conditions and treatments in our A to Z library of educational articles. Find out what our doctors are up to and tune into the latest orthopedic news that matters to you. Tagged With: fluid in the knee , knee arthroscopy , knee pain , knee surgery , water on the knee. Patient Reviews We welcome you to share your experience with us and to hear what other patients like most about us. Education Library Learn about common orthopedic conditions and treatments in our A to Z library of educational articles.

Our Orthopedic Blog Find out what our doctors are up to and tune into the latest orthopedic news that matters to you. Glisson, MD Dane A. Glueck, MD R. While an episode of gout usually resolves on its own, medication and medical treatment can help relieve the pain and other symptoms.

Many people can lower their chances of future gout attacks—and the joint damage they can cause—by making dietary changes. Oral medications may also be prescribed. See Gout Treatment. Pseudogout Less common but similar to gout, pseudogout is also caused by an accumulation of microscopic crystals in a joint.

Calcium pyrophosphate crystals can accumulate in a knee joint and cause sudden, severe pain, and swelling. The skin over the affected joint may appear discolored. Pseudogout occurs most frequently in the knee and can also affect the shoulder, elbow, ankle, wrist, large knuckles, hip, or spine.

It may affect more than one joint at a time and may be mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. Old age is the most significant risk factor for pseudogout. An episode of pseudogout usually goes away in a couple of weeks. See Pseudogout Treatment. Rheumatoid arthritis An autoimmune disease that affects the delicate lining of the joints, rheumatoid arthritis can cause knee swelling, stiffness, pain, tenderness, and redness.

Although the knees can exhibit symptoms, the hands, wrists, and feet are more often affected by rheumatoid arthritis. RA tends to affect joints symmetrically, so if the right knee is affected the left knee may also be affected. In addition to joint pain and swelling, rheumatoid arthritis can cause other symptoms, such as fatigue, low-grade fever, and a general feeling of being unwell. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis can help minimize long-term joint damage.

You are here Types General. Dean Cole, MD. Peer Reviewed. How to Care for a Swollen Knee Save. Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms Save. Septic Bursitis Save. Watch Rheumatoid Arthritis Videos. Johnson MW. Acute knee effusions: a systematic approach to diagnosis.