“Knee problem?”
My left knee has been swollen for about a week and I can hardly walk on it or bend it and don't know what to do about it?
Male | 65 years old
Complaint duration: 6 days
Medications: none
Conditions: none
5 Answers
The knee looks swollen and should be aspirated and fluid sent for studies
Injection with steroid may help but also need to rule out infection
This could be gout, pseudogout, hemathrosis - blood in knee joint and many other causes
Injection with steroid may help but also need to rule out infection
This could be gout, pseudogout, hemathrosis - blood in knee joint and many other causes
You need to go to the emergency room and have it aspirated ( fluid removed and check for infection).
You need to a rheumatologist or ortho to have the joint aspirated and have the fluid sent for cell count, gout or pseudogout crystals, and most importantly, infection needs to be ruled out by culturing the joint fluid. An infected knee should be treated immediately with IV antibiotics. Gout is a self-limited condition and will improve on its own or with anti-inflammatories with time. Infection, if not treated, would damage the affected joint.
Go see your MD.
You should see your doctor immediately for evaluation and appropriate diagnostic imaging to ascertain the cause for the problem if you have not done so already.
