Bursitis Knee Treatment

Often known as "housemaid's knee," bursitis of the knee is a painful and frustrating medical condition. Fortunately, mild treatments will help alleviate the pain associated with the condition and help eliminate the inflammation. Speak with your doctor regarding the proper bursitis knee treatment for your specific situation and ensure that you receive plenty of rest and relaxation.

Background

• The knee joint is surrounded by three fluid-filled sacs, known as the bursae. Trauma to the front of the knee may lead to inflammation of the bursa located there. When this area becomes inflamed, it often causes significant pain when kneeling and slight stiffness and pain when walking. This inflammation is known as "bursitis." On rare occasions, the bursa may become infected with bacteria.

Treatment For Uninfected Bursitis

• If the bursitis does not involve any infection, it can be treated with simple medications and treatments. The most common form of treatment includes a cold compress, rest and over- the-counter medications. Apply a cold compress or ice pack to the knee several times a day for 20 minutes at a time. Try to keep your knee elevated as much as possible. This can be done by propping your leg up with pillows, and it should help with swelling in the area. Try to avoid any activities that involve significant knee movements or trauma. Talk to your physician regarding a proper anti-inflammatory medicine to help with swelling. A mild pain medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, will help with any pain or tenderness.

  Occasionally, knee bursitis may require aspiration of the bursa fluid. This procedure is done by a doctor, and involves removal of the fluid inside the knee. Your doctor will insert a needle into the affected bursa and use a syringe to draw out the fluid. Your doctor may also recommend a cortisone injection into the knee, which should help with the swelling and pain.

  Physical therapy is sometimes recommended to help with recovery from knee bursitis. A physical therapist will help you learn exercises to improve the flexibility of the knee joint and strengthen the muscles in the area. Not only will physical therapy help alleviate pain, but also reduce the risk of future bursitis episodes.

Treatment For Infected Bursitis

• If the knee bursitis has become infected, your doctor will need to take further steps to locate the cause of the infection. Once the fluid has been aspirated from the knee, the fluid can be sent to a laboratory for testing. This testing should identify which microbes are causing the infection. Once the microbes are determined, you will begin taking antibiotic therapy, which is often given intravenously. For extremely serious cases, the infected bursa may need to be removed.