Bursitis and How it Affects the Knees

Millions of people all over the world complain of knee pain, which can be caused by any number of things, from injuries to infections to arthritis and more. Some conditions can be treated and healed in a matter of weeks, while others are chronic and give sufferers trouble for many years. Knee bursitis is a condition that is semi-chronic, because although it can be treated, it can come back easily.

What is Knee Bursitis?

The simplest explanation of bursitis is to begin at the beginning. A bursa is a sac that is closed, and filled with fluid. The bursa is a smooth surface that helps to reduce friction between the body's tissues, and the largest bursae (plural for bursa) are located in the shoulders, hips, elbows and knees. When the bursa becomes inflamed, which often happens following an injury to the joint, it is known as bursitis, and it can be really painful.

Knee bursitis is particularly painful. There are three bursae in the knee, and the most commonly-seen knee bursitis can be found in the prepatellar bursa, which is right over the kneecap. This can easily become inflamed, especially when one is in a kneeling position for long periods of time. The conditions known as "housemaid's knee", "roofer's knee" and "carpet layer's knee" are all actually knee bursitis. Depending on the severity of the bursitis, it can cause pain and swelling, but not nearly as much pain as arthritis. Patients often report that the knees are warm, red and tender, and many say they feel stiffness in the knee joints, as well as pain while moving.

The other two bursae in the knees do not seem to cause as many problems for people, but they should not be overlooked. The second bursa is called the infrapatellar bursa, and it is located just under the kneecap, and below the tendon that attaches the thigh muscle to the kneecap. Most injuries to this bursa involve jumping and are often referred to as "jumper's knee". The third bursa is the anserine bursa, and it is located on the lower inside of the knee. Inflammation to this bursa is often seen in middle-aged women, and symptoms include pain in the back of the knee, especially when climbing stairs. Also called anserine bursitis, this condition is also common in those who are overweight.

Treating Knee Bursitis

Many times, because there is not as much pain associated with knee bursitis as other conditions in the knees, pain relief treatment can be relatively simple. Often, the RICE method of treatment is used (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation), and in some cases, patients may need to have the fluid in the bursa removed with a needle. This is a non-surgical procedure that can be done in a few minutes in the doctor's office, and it may be necessary to have this procedure repeated a few times, because the condition may return. Some patients have cortisone injections to reduce inflammation and pain.

Bursitis is not one of the most painful conditions in the knees, but it does need to be looked after to ensure that it does not get worse and cause problems later in life. If you think you may have knee bursitis, check with your physician to make sure, and then find out which treatment method is best for you.

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