Duration of the disease | Bone edema at the knee

Duration of the disease

No general statement can be made about the duration of bone edema in the knee. It depends on the cause of water retention and can range from a few days to several months. In some cases, bone edema in the knee does not completely disappear and is therefore permanent. More important than the duration, however, is the development of possible complaints. Initiating or changing treatment should be considered if, for example, pain continues to increase or does not subside after several days or weeks.

How long are you on sick leave?

Since bone edema in the knee can have very different causes, it is also very different how long you are ill with it. The doctor will make the decision to issue a certificate of incapacity to work and its duration depend on the symptoms on the one hand and on the planned treatment measures on the other. In many cases, physical rest is indicated, so that a sick certificate may be indicated for a few days, especially in the case of physical work. How long you are ultimately ill depends on the cause of the bone edema in the knee and the success of the treatment. After an accident, one is usually healthy again after a few weeks.

How long should I not do any sports?

How long one should refrain from doing sports in case of bone edema in the knee depends on the cause of water retention in the bone and the resulting complaints. If the joint is painful or movement is restricted, sport should be avoided until the symptoms subside. However, in many cases, a light load on the knee is advisable, as this stimulates the bone metabolism and promotes the healing of the bone edema. How long one should refrain from sports is therefore a decision to be made on a case-by-case basis, which is best made together with the treating physician.

Bone edema after arthroscopy

Bone edema in the knee after arthroscopy, i.e., after a mirror image of the joint, is a very rare but possible complication of the procedure. Damage to the cartilage surfaces can lead to the death of bone substance and the penetration of water into the resulting cavities. However, symptoms after arthroscopy of the knee are rarely caused by bone edema and other causes are more likely.

Therefore, if pain or other symptoms occur, the treating physician should be consulted. Bone marrow edema syndrome is the medical complex of the various possible symptoms and consequences of bone edema. The knee is one of the typical localizations, but in principle any bone can be affected.Thus, bone marrow edema syndrome is not a uniform disease, but a summary of bone damage from various causes, all of which may present a similar clinical picture. The main focus is on the mostly load-dependent pain in the knee joint.