Duration

How long it takes for a swelling of the hollow of the knee to subside depends to a large extent on the cause of the swelling. In general, a conservative approach, i.e. a non-surgical treatment, is rather lengthy. The swelling recedes as soon as the trigger, e.g. the underlying disease or injury, has been treated, which may well take several weeks. Surgery usually promises faster improvement: If, for example, a Baker cyst has been surgically removed, the surgical area will remain swollen for a few days, but should soon look normal again.

Swollen hollow of the knee during pregnancy

If a swollen hollow of the knee (or swollen lower leg) occurs during pregnancy, one must – in addition to the previously mentioned diseases – think of the so-called pre-eclampsia. The above-mentioned swellings occur, in this case water retention, high blood pressure and damage to the kidneys. In addition, affected persons report drowsiness, flickering eyes, headaches and nausea. The disease can damage mother and child, which is why hospitalization is necessary. In extreme cases, birth must be induced in order to successfully treat the disease.

Swollen hollow of the knee with calf involvement

If the swelling covers the entire calf, local inflammation, vein diseases or injuries may also occur. In addition, there are, however, several other clinical pictures that need to be clarified. Weakening of the heart or liver (heart failure, liver failure) can lead to water retention (edema), which accumulates in the lowest point, i.e. in the lower legs.Some drugs can also cause edema.

In these cases both calves are usually affected. If only one calf is swollen, a possible thrombosis should be considered again. The lymphatic system can also be damaged and lead to swelling of the calf, for example after an operation in the leg or groin or after radiation treatment.

This is known as lymphedema. This is often the case after the treatment of cancer, when affected lymph nodes have been removed. Likewise, certain parasites, bacteria or viruses can lead to a failure of the lymphatic drainage with edema formation. Certain systemic diseases, e.g. some forms of rheumatism, can also cause calves to swell.