Fluid on the Knee

To enable easy movements of the joints, there is a fluid present in all mobile joints, but the quantity of fluid is very little. This fluid helps in nourishing and protecting the cartilages on the joints. When the quantity of the fluid increases, it causes swelling of that particular joint. The fluid is called synovial fluid. The knee joint capsule has a lining which protects the knee joint and produces the synovial fluid. The medical term for fluid on the knee or water on the knee is joint effusion.

Water on the Knee Causes
Swelling on any joints is a serious issue. There are various reasons for excessive accumulation of fluid on the knee.

• Rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis can lead to accumulation of fluid on the knee. Arthritis causes extra production of synovial fluid in the knee. It has been noted that the most common reason is arthritis.
• Build up of fluid can be due to infection in the joint area. This fluid build up is not of synovial fluid, but pus.
• After an accident, it is noted that there is accumulation of water on the knee. This fluid very often is blood. Usually a fracture caused to the knee leads to blood entering the knee joint. In such cases, the swelling of the knee is very fast, i.e. within minutes of injury, swelling of the knee is seen.
• Fluid on the knee can be caused due to gout and pseudo-gout. Gout causes accumulation of uric acid crystals in the knee. This leads to inflammation and swelling of the knee joint. Pseudo-gout also leads to crystal formation in the knee, but these crystals are calcium crystals.

Water on the Knee Symptoms
The most common symptom of water on the knee is swelling. This swelling may be visible, but sometimes it may not be visible. The swelling causes tension in the knee joint. The swelling often may be accompanied by pain. You may have trouble in straightening the knee due to water on the knee. Standing or walking can also cause pain. Any activity which puts weight on the knee causes pain in the knee.

Water on the Knee Treatment
Treatment for water on the knee depends on the cause of water on the knee. It is important to treat the underlying reasons for the swelling. If the knee pain is unbearable, the fluid has to be drained out from the knee. This is not a permanent solution as fluid re-accumulates. When the fluid on the knee is caused due to severe arthritis, surgery may be recommended.

In some cases, if fluid accumulation is caused due to an infection, anti-inflammatory injection might be prescribed. If bacterial infection is the cause of the fluid infection, the bacteria causing the infection is identified. Then, antibiotics are prescribed to treat the bacterial infection. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory creams are good for short term usage. They relieve both pain and inflammation. Analgesics can be taken, they are useful only for reducing pain, but they do not reduce inflammation.

Now, let's turn to the home remedies, which can be useful. Ice pack can be used on the knee to reduce the pain. You can use the ice pack every few hours. The other home remedy is to lightly wrap an elastic bandage around the knee. This will help in reducing inflammation and pain. You need to be careful with the bandage, take care that your leg does not turn blue-black. It is a sign of insufficient blood supply to the leg. If you notice this condition, remove the bandage immediately. Do not keep your leg bandage through the night. Remove it before you go to bed. While going to bed, keep your knee on an elevation. Keep a pillow or two under the knee. This will help in reducing inflammation.

If you notice fluid on the knee, it is important that you find out the reason for the same, as it will have to be treated differently for each reason. In some cases, knee replacement surgery might also be required.