Knee bursitis (also known as kneecap bursitis, prepatellar bursitis, or bursitis of the knee joint) isn't easy to manage. It has a lot of different causes - ranging from injury, strenuous activity like constant kneeling, to conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or gout. The affected joint doesn't just experience inflammation - you can also experience frequent pain.
Gramercy Pain Center understands that sufficient rest and conservative treatments may not always be enough to treat knee conditions like knee bursitis, which is why we have an expert team of medical staff ready to help you with knee bursitis. If you're experiencing an inflamed bursa or other types of soft tissue swelling in the knee, contact us today for a thorough physical examination.
Knee bursitis is caused by the inflammation of the bursa around the kneecap or patella. A bursa is a small fluid-filled sac that can be found all over the body, but most commonly around areas that experience a lot of friction between different moving bones.
Kneecap bursitis is caused when the bursa sac experiences inflammation, as the bursa gets too filled with fluid. The most common explanation for this kind of swelling is in the soft tissue experiencing constant strain, like constant pressure on the area from kneeling. However, other conditions can cause this, like:
While you may think it's a small area, the flexibility of the knee joint means there's plenty of bursa around the knee which can experience inflammation. The exact type of knee bursitis that you might experience is best left to your doctor to diagnose, but here are three types that you should watch out for:
This occurs when the bursa just below the kneecap starts swelling. Commonly associated with long-distance jumpers (known as "jumper's knee"), this condition also occurs with instances of patella tendonitis.
When the bursa on the inside of the knee experiences inflammation, that results in a condition called pes anserine bursitis. This type of bursitis can often result in sharp pain when pressure is put on the knee joint, like someone going down a flight of stairs.
The inflamed bursa on the outside of the knee causes iliotibial bursitis, usually when the IT band around your knee is tighter than usual. This type of bursitis is often caused by running, cycling, or hiking for long distances without using the proper form.
Fortunately, most cases of knee bursitis can resolve on their own with conservative treatment and enough time and rest. However, some situations call for more involved knee bursitis treatment. Find a specialist if you're starting to experience the following symptoms:
Alternatively, people who are also at risk for knee bursitis can set up appointments to get a thorough physical examination as early as possible:
With a highly experienced staff of board-certified physicians, Gramercy Pain Center follows a comprehensive approach when it comes to taking care of our patients. Whether it's conservative treatment or using the latest anti-inflammatory drugs, we have what you need to drastically improve your quality of life.
If you're looking for a knee bursitis specialist to help you with your own condition, our team will only be too happy to assist you in getting everything you need. This includes our suits of non-invasive services that can manage the pain without putting your body through too much strain, like:
Knee bursitis is a condition that usually doesn't require a lot of intense medical attention, except in rare circumstances. However, this doesn't mean that getting your knee bursitis examined is a waste of time. With proper medical intervention and oversight, you'll be able to recover from your condition quickly.
Because of the different types of knee bursitis that you can go through - not to mention the variety of symptoms - it's important to have a reliable healthcare partner that you can consult about anything you need for your treatment. At Gramercy Pain Center, we believe in getting you the results that you want without any additional strain on your body or interruptions to your lifestyle.
We pride ourselves on being specialists with non-invasive treatments, helping you achieve a better outcome without the need for surgical intervention. That isn't to say that nonsurgical options are all that we're going to use: if your knee bursitis is particularly severe, we're well-prepared to look at other methods aside from conservative therapy.
A: Mild cases of knee bursitis often only require some first aid and some rest, but we strongly suggest that you get examined by a medical professional first to allow for a more comprehensive treatment plan.
A: Your doctor will have the last word on whether surgical intervention is required for your knee bursitis. At Gramercy Pain Center, we only resort to surgical options if conservative therapy hasn't worked.
A: Medical conditions like knee bursitis are almost always covered by providers, though you may need to consult with the appropriate authorities about issues like worker’s compensation.
As an expert in pain management and other non-invasive solutions, Gramercy Pain Center can help you reclaim your quality of life before your injury and condition without putting additional strain on your body. Our capable and highly trained team will always be available to help you with any concerns you may have. Contact us now or schedule an appointment online to know how we can help improve your lifestyle.
