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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Painful Swollen Knee?

My knee is swollen on each side but does not hurt to touch swelling. Pain is in back of knee both above And below the knee. No recent trauma. A ski injury many years ago I never got treated. Cannot bend knee under neath me to sit due to pain. Walking ok but feel unstable like knee will give out. What is likely problem?
posted on Wed, 7 Jan 2015
Twitter Tue, 13 Jan 2015 Answered on
Twitter Wed, 14 Jan 2015 Last reviewed on
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Pathologist and Microbiologist,  's  Response
Hello and welcome to HCM,
Swelling around the knee joint is most commonly due to joint effusion.
Effusion is caused due to trauma, infection, inflammation etc.
Spontaneous effusions can occur in connective tissue disorders or autoimmune disorders.
Associated pain is probably due to muscle spasm around the knee joint.
A couple of investigations are required before treatment can be started.
Firstly, arthroscopic examination of the knee joint is required.
Arthroscopy will detect presence or absence of fluid in the joint space.
Aspiration of fluid from the joint is required for cytology to know the nature of effusion.
MRI of the knee joint and structures above and below the joint will give more information about the structures around the knee joint and the probable abnormality.
Further treatment can be planned accordingly.

Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja Puri

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What Causes Painful Swollen Knee?

Hello and welcome to HCM, Swelling around the knee joint is most commonly due to joint effusion. Effusion is caused due to trauma, infection, inflammation etc. Spontaneous effusions can occur in connective tissue disorders or autoimmune disorders. Associated pain is probably due to muscle spasm around the knee joint. A couple of investigations are required before treatment can be started. Firstly, arthroscopic examination of the knee joint is required. Arthroscopy will detect presence or absence of fluid in the joint space. Aspiration of fluid from the joint is required for cytology to know the nature of effusion. MRI of the knee joint and structures above and below the joint will give more information about the structures around the knee joint and the probable abnormality. Further treatment can be planned accordingly. Thanks and take care Dr Shailja Puri