All of our joints contain small amounts of fluids that aid their proper functioning. This lubricant helps us reduce friction inside the joint. Joint effusion, or fluid on the knee, occurs when too much of this liquid build up around the joint.
Excessive liquid like this can incapacitate us, make daily activities a real burden, and significantly reduce our mobility. If you suspect that extra fluid is pressing on your knee joint, continue on reading the next sections. This condition is commonly known as Water on the Knee.
For quick relief, check out The Trigger Point Therapy for more information about how you can efficiently reduce pain. So let’s find out how to get rid of fluid on the knee.
What is Joint Effusion?
Joint effusion means that one of your knees feels puffy and heavy, compared to the healthy knee. Most likely, excess fluid affects only one of your knees and it’s commonly known as water on the knee condition. Other symptoms that indicate extra fluid buildup include swelling and redness.
Most people suffering from joint effusion also claim difficulties in bending or strengthening the knee. Pain and sensitivity occur if you place weight on the knee joint. Lastly, you might feel the affected knee is warmer than the healthy one.
Causes of Fluid on the Knee or Water on the Knee
Fluids on the knee will make daily activities harder for you. You will have difficulties going up and down the stairs, walking, and other physical activities. This can get worse if left untreated, as your knee joint continues to deteriorate as time passes.
In order to treat this condition, it is necessary to identify the cause. Some common causes include overusing the joint or having repeated injuries to the knee.
Another cause can be a torn ligament. ACL or cartilage, a broken bone, and even bacterial infections. Other life-long conditions such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis can be a common cause in older people. By definition, rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term disorder affecting joints such as the knee resulting in warm, swollen, and painful joints
Risk factors
Some might be more prone to build too much fluid around their knee joints. The likelihood of this condition grows as you age. It can also happen to younger adults who play sports such as basketball, soccer, or wrestling. Such activities increase the chance of a knee injury.
Additionally, people who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of fluid on the knee. The extra weight puts additional pressure on the joint and it degenerates. Lastly, health conditions, such as osteoarthritis and other types of arthritis, present a higher risk.
How do I Know if I Have Fluid on the Knee?
Do you feel you have water on the knee? Anyone can have knee pain for a few days. You can try to apply ice, elevate your legs above heart level, and rest. However, in some cases, you need to consult your healthcare provider. If you would like to reduce tissue pressure and support muscles and joints, studies show that using taping the knee helps you recover faster from pain, swelling, and inflammation.
If you know you had a serious injury, or you cannot bend or extend the knee, seek a doctor’s advice.
What is the Treatment for Fluid on the Knee or Water on the Knee?
If you seek your doctor’s help, after a physical examination, they might go for joint aspiration. This means that the fluid from the knee will be withdrawn through a long, thin needle. The fluid will be then tested for bacteria, checking whether you have gout or something else.
The cause of the fluid on the knee will determine the most appropriate treatment. Based on this, you might have to take anti-inflammatory or pain relievers. If the cause is a bacterial infection, you will likely get a prescription for antibiotics.
Self-Care Measures
If you have repetitive knee problems, there are a few self-care measures to protect you from further damage. You can also follow them to provide you with pain relief in the short term.
Make sure you rest your knee if you believe you have fluid on the knee. Avoid any activities which put extra pressure or weight on your knee joints. If you are overweight, losing the extra pounds will help you avoid this problem in the long-term. One extra pound adds up to seven pounds of extra pressure on your knee joints.
Use ice packs or cold compression therapy: Chill in the freezer or refrigerator for cold therapy treatments. Includes a pump for precision compression adjustments for up to 20 minutes on the painful knee. Repeat this step as necessary every 2-4 hours. When you sit or lie down, elevate your leg higher than your heart. Make sure to be active. Exercising your legs will help improve the muscles around the knees, improving the knee support. However, exercises should have a low impact on the knees, such as swimming.
Some people found that heat and cold therapy is efficient. Apply cold pads on your knee, followed by heat pads. This will reduce the pain and decrease the swelling of the knee. In the first 24 hours, use more cold pads than hot ones.
Some studies of home remedies also praise the effect of herbal concoctions. For instance, mixing sesame oil, cinnamon, ginger, and mastic, people reported improvements. Such improvements were the same as those reported after using over-the-counter topical creams.
Another way to eliminate knee pain is the revolutionary self-massage system, which can bring healing and relief without drugs, surgery, or expensive physical therapy. The Comfort Zone eBook/Video has eleven self-massage techniques and guidelines that will help you find what may be causing your pain, promoting a faster recovery. The key is a series of gentle exercises and carefully constructed stretches designed to provide quick and lasting pain relief.
How to Prevent Knee Effusion
Once you recover from fluid on the knee, you should take measures to avoid this from happening again. Most specialists recommend avoiding running over rough surfaces that send shocks to the knee. Obesity is directly linked to knee effusion, so weight management is a good prevention method.
Strengthen knee and leg muscles for enhanced protection. Recommended exercises include small knee bends and other activities light on the knees, such as walking. Certain medical conditions, such as arthritis, will make you more vulnerable. Develop a good self-care routine to avoid further pains and strains on your joints.
Conclusion
Water on the knee can be painful, and it requires medical intervention most times. However, we can use our own body’s healing mechanism to keep such conditions at bay. Our bodies know exactly what to do to self-heal – when we know how to listen to ourselves. Visit our top monthly products for knee pain relief, including a review of the products.
All it takes is 5 minutes each day to improve your condition and help your body speed up the healing. A good, healthy daily routine can minimize the pain by up to 58% and lead to obvious improvements each day. Check out the Feel Good Knees website for more information on how to maintain knee health and get rid of the pain.