Swollen Knee: Causes & Reasons

Possible Causes for Swollen Knee

He missed time on the AAU circuit during his senior season due to swollen knees, which at the time he called “jumper’s knee.” [washingtonpost.com]

Meniscus injuries are among the most common knee injuries in the U.S., often resulting in a painful, swollen knee or the feeling that the knee catches or locks. [activeimplants.com]

The treatment of torn meniscus involves several steps, but it will help provide some relief to your painful and swollen knee. [nydnrehab.com]

Knee Sprain

Seek medical attention, especially if your knee is swollen. [livestrong.com]

If your knee is very tense and swollen with blood, your doctor may use a needle to drain it. [webmd.com]

To determine the stability of your knee and the degree of your injury, a doctor will examine the area for swelling, tenderness and bruising. [livestrong.com]

Pseudogout

Some of the most common signs include: A swollen knee joint that feels warm when touched and extremely tender Episodes of intense and sudden joint pain Chronic arthritic pain [hrosm.com]

Wondering about that suddenly painful and swollen knee, elbow, or wrist? [everydayhealth.com]

Bass III, MD, MPH Wondering about that suddenly painful and swollen knee, elbow, or wrist? [everydayhealth.com]

Popliteal Cyst

A history of a swollen knee followed by a swollen posterior aspect of the knee coming and going would be a good tip-off if this information can be obtained. [journals.lww.com]

A fairly uncommon condition is when the back of the knee joint gets swollen and causes the bursa to swell as well. [sportsinjuryclinic.net]

Pain in the posterior knee or a swollen and painful calf are common presentations to the emergency department. [journals.lww.com]

Injury of Collateral Ligament of the Knee

The swollen knee is also usually sensitive to touch after an MCL injury. If a doctor suspects an MCL injury, he will usually perform a routine test called an "MCL test." [livestrong.com]

Objective evidence Radiographs are indicated in any acutely painful, swollen knee to rule out fractures and bony pathology. [orthopaedicsone.com]

The doctor will check if your knee is swollen. The extent and speed of joint swelling may indicate the seriousness of the injury. [netdoctor.co.uk]

Hemarthrosis

The pain feels to be in the bone, which travels to my foot, resulting in swollen knee and ankle. [justanswer.com]

knee, ankle, or other joint, go to the hospital right away. [healthline.com]

[…] and don't recall any injuy, but knee became painfull and swollen; persisting for more than two weeks now. large swollen area directly beneath kneecap, bruising and swelling [justanswer.com]

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

This will help control rotation and shear forces around the knee. Avoid prolonged practice or walking on a knee that is swollen and has limited range of movement. [hss.edu]

Patients who have a stiff, swollen knee lacking full range of motion at the time of ACL surgery may have significant problems regaining motion after surgery. [orthoinfo.aaos.org]

Avoid a "closed" stance position which may increase rotation stress on the knee of the lead leg. [hss.edu]

Rheumatic Fever

Symptoms of rheumatic fever include sore or swollen joints (knees, elbows, ankles and wrists), a skin rash, a fever, stomach pain and/or jerky movements. [northlanddhb.org.nz]

While each person may experience symptoms differently, the following are the most common symptoms of rheumatic fever: Sore or swollen knees, elbows, ankles and/or wrists - [heartfoundation.org.nz]

A few weeks after the ‘Strep’ throat your child may develop sore or swollen joints (knees, elbows, ankles and wrists), a skin rash, a fever, stomach pain and/or jerky movements [northlanddhb.org.nz]

Enteropathic Arthritis

Children may have 4 or fewer joints that are painful or swollen (typically the knees or ankles), inflammation of a part of the eye ( iritis ), and neck pain and stiffness. [uofmhealth.org]

Bursitis

Do not put any pressure on the sore area while it is swollen. For example, don’t kneel on a swollen knee. [summitmedicalgroup.com]

If someone comes to me with the bony knob of their elbow (or their knee) swollen up like a tennis ball, Tissue Remodeling is not going to help. [doctorschierling.com]

The skin over bursae located near the surface, such as those near the knee and elbow, may appear red and swollen. [merckmanuals.com]

Osteoarthritis

Overview A swollen knee occurs when excess fluid accumulates in or around your knee joint. [mayoclinic.org]

A swollen knee occurs when excess fluid accumulates in or around your knee joint. [web.archive.org]

If you have OA in your knees, they may feel stiff, swollen, and painful—making it difficult to walk, climb, and get in and out of chairs and bathtubs. [arthritis.com]

Reiter Syndrome

The joint pains involved the left wrist (which was swollen), the right knee and ankle joints. The patient was managed conservatively. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The joint pains involved the left wrist, (which was also swollen), the right knee and the ankle joints. There was no urethral discharge, hematuria or genital ulcer. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Moreover the other symptoms of RA, like swollen, painful knee on one side, or sausage digits, are difficult to miss. [chronicprostatitis.com]

Osgood-Schlatter Disease

Seek medical attention if the knee is swollen and red, or if the knee pain is associated with fever, locking or instability of the knee joint. [mayoclinic.org]

If your child's knee is swollen or painful, icing it may help. Do not put ice directly on the skin. Cover it with a towel. [virtualpediatrichospital.org]

When to see a doctor Call your child's doctor if knee pain interferes with your child's ability to perform daily activities. [mayoclinic.org]

Erythema Nodosum

Question After developing a range of symptoms on my lower legs earlier this year (painful and swollen knee joints, swollen lower legs and ankles, reddish brown bruising, lumps [netdoctor.co.uk]

Your joints may become swollen. Ankle, knee and wrist joints are most commonly affected but any joint can be painful. [patient.info]

They come on suddenly and are often accompanied by swollen knees and ankles and fever. They take up to ten days to change to the brown bruise-like colour you mention. [netdoctor.co.uk]

Neuropathic Arthropathy

[…] with peripheral neuropathy, who presents with a red, hot, tender, and swollen knee joint. [7] Syringomyelia is the main cause of upper extremity Charcot arthropathy, most [emedicine.com]

Charcot's joint usually affects the knees, although other weight-bearing joints may be affected also. The affected joint is massively swollen, distorted and unstable. [healthcentral.com]

It is seen in up to 9% of patients with diabetic neuropathy. [1] Similar pathology can also occur in the knee but is much less common and should be considered in a patient [emedicine.com]

Plica Syndrome

People with plica syndrome typically have knee pain. Other common plica syndrome symptoms include: A swollen knee. [my.clevelandclinic.org]

[…] a feeling that your knee is giving out a feeling of instability on stairs and slopes You may even be able to feel your swollen plica when you press on your knee cap. [healthline.com]

The knee may also be tender to touch and swollen. How is plica syndrome diagnosed? [orthopedicspecialistsofseattle.com]

Ligament Sprain

Check if you have a sprain or strain It's likely to be a sprain or strain if: you have pain, tenderness or weakness – often around your ankle, foot, wrist, thumb, knee, leg [nhs.uk]

[…] or back the injured area is swollen or bruised you cannot put weight on the injury or use it normally you have muscle spasms or cramping – where your muscles painfully tighten [nhs.uk]

The joint could become swollen and sore simply from physical activity or minor injury. [healthline.com]

Knee Dislocation

knee typically held in 20 to 30 degrees of flexion with the patella displaced Perform distal neurovascular exam including DP/PT pulses. [coreem.net]

The knee is swollen and neither active nor passive movement is possible. [gpnotebook.co.uk]

His extremity exam revealed a swollen tender right knee with an obvious effusion and very limited range of motion. [acepnow.com]

Psoriatic Arthritis

Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include: Swollen, painful, hot, red joints – frequently in the knees, ankles, and feet Swollen fingers or toes that appear like "sausages" [onhealth.com]

The most common symptoms are: Painful, swollen joints generally affecting ankle, knees, fingers, toes, and lower back Dactylitis, a balloon like swelling along the entire [rheumatologyspecialistcare.com.au]

Seronegative Arthritis

However, her knee pain never improved after surgery, and the knee remained warm, swollen and tender. [hopkinsarthritis.org]

But there are a variety of other symptoms that might point to an illness of this type: Joints like your hips, shoulders, knees, or elbows are painful and swollen. [webmd.com]

Knees left knee was warm, swollen and tender to palpation. There was marked varus deformity of the left knee. Right knee was without swelling or warmth. [hopkinsarthritis.org]

Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

[…] right knee in JIA patient Uveitis - eye irritation related to JIA Subcategories of JIA Pauciarticular JIA (PaJIA, Oligoarthritis) meaning "few joints" Most common type of [physio-pedia.com]

The lymph nodes in your neck might be swollen and tender. Achy and swollen joints. Your joints — especially your knees and wrists — might be stiff, painful and inflamed. [mayoclinic.org]

The initial signs of arthritis, which can be subtle or noticeable, may include walking difficulties, tender wrist, finger, or knee. [dovemed.com]

Bacterial Arthritis

"Children With Swollen, Painful Knees: Is It Lyme Disease or Septic Arthritis?" May 11, 2016. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.. Firestein, Gary S., et al. [medicinenet.com]

The hip and knee are most commonly affected and may become swollen, red, and warm. [joybauer.com]

Non-gonococcal septic arthritis typically presents as a single red, hot and swollen joint. [rheumatologyadvisor.com]

Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis

The patient presented with acute irritable and swollen knee, which clinically was highly suggestive of infective arthritis. [jocr.co.in]

The condition of the patient's right knee gradually deteriorated. Clinically, the knee joint was diffusely swollen and tender but stable. [jmedicalcasereports.com]

Right after the surgery, my leg was swollen just above the knee. I was prescribed pain killers, antibiotics, anti platelets and some vitamin tablets. [pbs01.wordpress.com]

Osteochondritis Dissecans

Physical examination swollen knee inability to straighten stiffness pain on palpation of femoral condyles Investigations plain X-rays (AP, lateral, notch and skyline) consider [rch.org.au]

Moving the knee becomes painful, and it may be swollen and sore to the touch. Eventually, there is too much pain to put full weight on that knee. [jointinstituteofnorthtexas.com]

Does the knee catch, lock or give way? Can the patient bear weight? Can the leg fully straighten? Has there been prodromal knee pain? [rch.org.au]

Gout

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if you have: sudden severe pain in any joint – usually the big toe, or fingers, wrists, elbows or knees red, hot, swollen skin over the affected [nhs.uk]

[…] the toe, ankle or knee More than one attack of acute arthritis Most people who have gout are middle-aged men, but gout can occur at any age. [uofmhealth.org]

Anyone who’s experienced a gout attack knows it can be excruciating, causing red, hot, painful, and swollen joints. [creakyjoints.org]

Henoch-Schönlein Purpura

ankles) - swollen, painful joints; may cause difficulty in weight-bearing Gastrointestinal tract Abdominal pain is common, and is generally intermittent and colicky in nature [pch.health.wa.gov.au]

The joints can become swollen and painful, with a reduced range of movement. Abdominal pain is indicative of gastrointestinal involvement. [zerotofinals.com]

[…] joints can occur due to inflammation, usually affecting the knees and ankles Kidneys Protein and blood may be found in the urine due to inflammation in the kidneys. [gosh.nhs.uk]

Rheumatoid Arthritis

[…] warm and swollen. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

One morning 3 weeks ago, Regina noticed that both of her knees looked swollen and red, and felt achy and stiff. [moveforwardpt.com]

As a result, your joints may get red, warm, swollen, and painful. RA affects joints on both sides of the body, such as both hands, both wrists, or both knees. [webmd.com]

Lyme Disease

Knee Facial Palsy Severe headaches and neck stiffness Additional EM rashes on other areas of the body Facial palsy (loss of muscle tone or droop on one or both sides of the [cdc.gov]

painful knees: Is it Lyme disease or septic arthritis? [sciencedaily.com]

[…] large joints (knee is the most affected join) Carditis – abnormal heart rate Rare: uveitis, hepatitis Progression is gradual over months to years Progression is gradual over [dermnetnz.org]

Ankle Sprain

Check if you have a sprain or strain It's likely to be a sprain or strain if: you have pain, tenderness or weakness – often around your ankle, foot, wrist, thumb, knee, leg [nhs.uk]

[…] or back the injured area is swollen or bruised you can't put weight on the injury or use it normally you have muscle spasms or cramping – where your muscles painfully tighten [nhs.uk]

Bone Necrosis

There may be tenderness in this area, and the joint often becomes swollen with excess fluid. Bending the knee may be painful, and people may have a limp. [merckmanuals.com]

Spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee causes sudden pain along the inner part of the knee. [merckmanuals.com]