Water-on-the-Knee Treatment

There are several conditions that can cause water on the knee; a painful condition that can lead to immobility in some cases. Luckily, water on the knee is treatable with a variety of methods.

What Is Water on the Knee?

• Water on the knee is a condition in which excess fluid accumulates in or around the knee joint. It can be very painful and has a variety of causes.

  To treat water on the knee, the condition that has caused the excess fluid buildup must be treated.

Osteo and Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis cause damage to joints within the body. By managing these conditions with medication, patients can reduce their risk for developing water on the knee. If arthritis is the cause, a syringe will be inserted into the knee and some of the fluid will be aspirated. In addition, the doctor may inject a corticosterioid to treat possible swelling.

Gout

• Gout is a condition in which uric acid cystallizes within the body and collects in joints. If gout causes water on the knee, managing the gout is critical. Medicines along with a special diet are used to manage gout. By managing gout, water on the knee can also be managed. The fluid may also be aspirated via syringe in some cases.

Infections

• Infections of the knee joint(s) can lead to water on the knee. Antibiotics can be prescribed to control and treat infections. In addition, syringe aspiration may be performed.

Surgery and Knee Replacement

• If water on the knee consistently returns, a surgery on the joint or replacement of the joint may be required. Both of these procedures are usually used only if condition management and syringe aspiration fails multiple times.