Of the many symptoms that mar rheumatology diseases like arthritis and osteoporosis, one of the hallmark symptoms include a swollen knee. But when is it that a swollen knee requires medical attention? When can it be treated at home? When do you need to head over to the hospital?
Most mild to moderate forms of knee swelling can be taken care of at home. Medical attention is needed if the swollen knee persists and it is accompanied by other serious symptoms including pain.
When Do You Contact A Doctor?
Below are the guidelines that people need if their knee swelling is in need of medical attention. If a person is not sure about whether they need medical help or not, a call to the doctor can help you to better come to the conclusion on whether an office visit is needed. You need to contact a doctor for rheumatic pain treatment if:
- The knee is severely swollen or there is an abnormality
- A person has a fever of over 1000F
- The swelling of the knee has persisted for over 3 days
- If the knee pain is excruciating (when the pain cannot be managed by over the counter prescription medication)
- The knee is unable to fully bend/straighten and there is considerable loss of mobility
- The person is unable to bear weight on the knee, or if that person feels that the knee is going to give out
A doctor will thoroughly examine the patient’s knee. It will be a physical examination, but if the doctor requires more information to make an accurate diagnosis, then they may recommend removing fluid from the knee by means of an in-office procedure called aspiration, after medical imaging like an X-ray.
If there is swelling of the leg and not just a localized joint, then it is best that you get medical attention. It could be indicative of serious health problems under the surface. Be sure to seek help if the swelling of the whole leg happens with no prior notice—there could be other symptoms like chest and leg pain, or breathing difficulty as these are all signs of a blood clot.
if it is a mild to moderate knee swelling, then you can apply ice and keep the knee at an elevated position. Add copious amounts of rest and your knee should be well on its way to healing. If the problem persists for more than 3 days, then get medical help as soon as possible.
