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How To Get Rid Of Water On The Knee?

What is water on the knee disease?

Water on the knee can be described as a condition in which an excess amount of fluid accumulates in the knee joint and around it. The medical term used by doctors for the buildup of water in the knee joint is “effusion”. There are several people who suffer from water on the knee problems, which could be the result of overuse, injuries, trauma as well as other underlying diseases and medical conditions. Since this condition can lead to a lot of pain and can interfere with normal movement and functioning, most people seek medical treatment to cure this condition. However, before administering any form of treatment for water on the knee cap, it is necessary to identify what the water on the knee causes could be.

What causes water on the knee?

There are several factors that could lead to water on the knee infection. These reasons could range from traumatic injuries to certain diseases and medical conditions. Some of the most common causes of water on the knee are:

• Bleeding disorders
• Broken bones
• Bursitis
• Cysts
• Gout
• Infections
• Ligament tear
• Meniscus tear
• Osteoarthritis
• Overuse
• Pseudo gout
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Tumors

Symptoms

This condition is usually characterized by severe pain. However, there are several other typical water on the knee symptoms, that can help a person identify what the problem is. Some of the most common water on knee symptoms are:

• Swelling in the knee, where one knee may also appear larger than the other
• Puffiness around certain parts of the knee, especially the bony part
• Stiffness in the knee joint which contains excess fluid
• Difficulty to bend the knee or even straighten it completely

There may be other water in knee symptoms, which only become evident in severe cases. Some of the water on the knee signs that are a cause for concern are:

• Lack of relief, even after taking certain medicines and over the counter pain relievers
• Redness in the knee
• One knee becoming warmer, as compared to the others

How to get rid of fluid on the knee?

Since this condition can be very painful and can lead to a lot of discomfort most people usually seek immediate water on the knee treatment. In most cases, doctors recommend water on the knee medication and cream in the initial stages, getting rid of the pain. Some of the common water on the knee drugs include:

• Over the counter pain relievers
• Antibiotics, especially in case of an infection
• Stronger anti-inflammatory drugs like corticosteroids

However, corticosteroids are not suitable for long term use, as they can lead to adverse side effects on the body. Therefore, in case the condition does not get better with the medicines and creams, doctors may need to recommend a surgical knee draining procedure. One of the most common water on the knee draining medical procedures includes Arthrocentesis or joint aspiration in which the fluid is removed from the joint of the knee to relieve the pressure caused by the buildup. Once the excess water is drained, a corticosteroid injection may be administered to treat the inflammation.

At times, a surgeon may also use a tool known as an Arthoscopy, to look inside the knee joint so that the exact extent of the damaged caused by wear and tear can be determined. This instrument is also very useful for repairing any damage within the knee. In case a person finds it difficult to place their weight on the knee in spite of trying some of the treatment options, doctors may also recommend a joint replacement surgery, as the last resort.

Home remedies

While there are several medical ways and procedures to treat water on the knee, most people prefer to use water on the knee home treatment, as there are fewer side effects associated with them. Some of the important steps that need to be followed to get rid of water on the knee naturally:

• People need to ensure that they do not apply any pressure on the knee, especially when they experience pain and the other water on the knee symptoms. During such times, it is best to lie down and keep the leg alleviated, with the help of a few pillows.
• Cold therapy can help reduce the symptoms of this condition to a great extent. An ice pack should be applied to the knee everyday, for at least 15 to 20 minutes, once every two hours. This controls the swelling, pain and the inflammation
• Being overweight can aggravate the pain, since additional pressure is applied to the knee. It is best to exercise regularly, for weight loss purposes, to that the amount of pressure put on the knee is less.

These steps may not necessarily get rid of the buildup of fluid in the knee, but they may reduce it to some extent. It is also important for people to know how to prevent water on the knee.

Prevention

Since water on the knee is usually caused by an underlying health condition or an injury, it is possible to prevent the condition. Water on the knee management usually requires the patient to work with their doctors, as well as their family members and relatives. Hence, the steps for preventing water on the knee are:

• Getting regular checkups especially for people who suffer from health conditions like gout, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
• Taking medication prescribed by the doctor on a regular basis
• Wearing a knee brace, in case of an injury
• Undergoing therapy or performing exercises to strengthen the thigh muscles

It is best for people to engage in exercises that do not put too much pressure on the knees; these exercises include swimming and water aerobics. People suffering from water on the knee problems should preferably hire a professional fitness expert, who can help them while exercising.

Water on the knee is a colloquial and more common terminology for the medical condition called perpatellar bursitis. This is a condition in which fluid accumulates in the load bearing joints like the knee. It can be painful and aesthetically quite disturbing as the condition can cause one knee to appear bigger than the other. This situation is usually a precursor to arthritis and gout. People who suffer from this disease are usually those with a predisposition to osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

Any swelling on the body is a result of inflammation. Inflammation is the natural immune response that the body initiates to protect itself from cell damage. However, this immune response is triggered wrongly at times and causes the body to attack itself. In the case of the limbs, the inflammation is usually caused by injury. This can be injury caused by an external force that affects the movement of the bones and connecting ligaments or it can be caused, as in the case of gout, by crystallization in the joints. Both these conditions will cause a swelling and eventually arthritis. People with joint inflammation diseases like arthritis and gout should attend regular check ups at the doctor’s clinic, to check for any symptoms of water in the knee. People who regularly jog should also go for a check up, and also possibly take up and exercise that doesn’t involve as much stress to the knees.

Once water on the knee is diagnosed, a doctor usually treats this condition by aspiration. Aspiration, a medical term for draining, is a procedure that is performed after tests of water on the knee confirm its presence. A needle is inserted into the affected area and the knee is then drained of the fluid. This provides immediate relief. Additionally, the injection of corticosteroids is also advocated to deal with the swelling. Corticosteroids imped the natural reaction of the body to inflame thereby facilitating pain relief. If the situation is not that severe, then the doctor might advocate some form of therapeutic procedure at home. For example, the application of a cold press on the joints for twenty minutes, every two hours, while keeping the knee above the level of the heart, resting the affected joint and the use of pain medication like analgesics is advised. Long term measures like weight loss and muscle toning are also advised. Obesity contributes to this condition as it reduces the blood circulation in the area, thus not allowing the fluids to drain.

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