What is bursitis in the knee?
If the doctor diagnoses bursitis in the knee, the bursa in front of the kneecap or the bursa below the kneecap is usually affected. In the first case, it is called bursitis praepatellaris, in the second case bursitis infrapatellaris. However, there are other bursae in the area of the knee joint that occasionally become inflamed (such as the bursa anserina).
Bursitis praepatellaris
In bursitis praepatellaris, the bursa that lies directly in front of the kneecap (bursa praepatellaris) is inflamed. The affected bursa lies directly under the skin and guarantees the displaceability of the kneecap in relation to the skin on the knee.
In English, bursitis praepatellaris is therefore also called “carpet layer knee”. Many professional associations require the wearing of knee pads at work to avoid such bursitis of the knee.
Bursitis praepatellaris also often occurs after gardening or after a fall on the knee.
Bursitis infrapatellaris
Long, knee-straining sports activities sometimes also cause irritation of the bursa under the kneecap. In addition, bursitis infrapatellaris sometimes occurs in the context of another disease (gout, syphilis). However, this is rarely the case.
Pes anserinus bursitis
Three tendons attach just below the knee on the inside of the tibia. This attachment (pes anserinus superficialis) is protected by a bursa (bursa anserina) to reduce friction between the mobile tendons and the hard bone.
Inflammation of the bursa anserina is often difficult to distinguish from inflammation of the tendon insertions (pes anserinus tendinosis). However, this is not important for the treatment.
Which home remedies help?
Measures according to the so-called PECH scheme are recommended as first aid for sports injuries such as muscle strains, but are also useful for bursitis of the knee. The abbreviation PECH includes the following therapeutic measures:
- E for ice: Place cold packs or ice cubes, each wrapped in a cloth, on the joint.
- C for Compression: A compression bandage with an elastic bandage helps reduce swelling
- H for elevation: elevating the affected leg is also helpful to promote swelling reduction
The cold effect can also be achieved with cooling quark compresses. These are said to have a decongestant and pain-relieving effect on inflammations and sports injuries.
However, research on this is still in the basic phase, so this does not mean that increased consumption of curry will stop inflammation. Curcumin is poorly absorbed by the body. Therefore, research is underway to improve its bioavailability in dietary supplements. In addition, the aim is to develop drugs with no or fewer side effects than cortisone in the future.
How long does bursitis of the knee last?
The duration of bursitis of the knee depends, among other things, on the cause of the inflammation and the further strain on the knee joint – for example, due to a correspondingly stressful occupation. If the affected person relieves the knee and has it treated, the symptoms will improve after a few days at best.
If, on the other hand, the bursitis is not treated and the knee continues to be stressed, there is a risk of the bursitis becoming chronic in the worst case. Treatment then becomes much more difficult than in the case of acute bursitis. Complaints sometimes occur for months or even years.
What are the symptoms?
Depending on the location of the inflammation, different symptoms are described. Some commonalities are:
- Swelling at the corresponding site
- Redness of the overlying skin
- Overheating of the affected area
- Pain, especially during movements that put stress on the affected region
- Limited mobility of the knee
In infrapatellar bursitis, a painful, reddened swelling can usually be felt just below the knee, usually on both sides of the patellar tendon. Overextension and severe bending of the knee trigger pain.
With pes anserinus bursitis, patients often report discomfort when climbing stairs. The pain is reported on the inside of the knee or slightly below. Obesity, joint inflammation and female gender are three important risk factors for such bursitis of the knee.
What is the medical treatment?
When treating bursitis of the knee, the same principles apply as with all other bursitis: Rest, cooling, anti-inflammatory medications or ointments, bandages or taping to stabilize the joint, possibly surgery and more.
To read more, see Bursitis: Treatment.
If the bursitis of the knee is only a sign of another disease or malposition, it must be treated accordingly.
