There are many possible causes for the pain and inflammation around the knee joint. One of those is knee bursitis – a condition in which the tiny, fluid-filled sac around the knee joint gets inflamed.
Usually, knee bursitis occurs due to overuse or injury, but an infection in the knee may also result in knee bursitis.
If you’ve knee bursitis, you may be wondering how to cure it. Let’s talk about how you can treat bursitis and alleviate pain caused by knee bursitis and where you can go for effective pain management in Bismarck, ND.
Self-care Measures
You can alleviate pain and inflammation of bursitis at home by using the RICE method – which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
- Rest – To let your knee heal and alleviate pain, you must give it enough rest. You must stop doing repetitive activities that may irritate your bursitis.
- Ice – Applying a cold compress on your knees at least three to four times a day for 15 to 20 minutes can also ease the pain and swelling.
- Compression – Compression bandages apply gentle pressure on your veins and promote better blood circulation. This way, compression bandages allow the affected area to heal faster.
- Elevation–Elevating your knee above the heart level reduces the swelling of the bursa and its associated pain and discomfort.
Medications
It is recommended to take over-the-counter medications if your pain is not getting better with self-care measures. You can take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as naproxen, aspirin, and ibuprofen, for pain relief.
In case of septic (infected) bursitis, your orthopedic doctor may recommend antibiotics. Based on the severity of the infection, your orthopedic doctor may recommend antibiotics in the form of a pill or IV drips.
Injection Therapy
If medications fail to provide enough relief, your orthopedic doctor may recommend injection therapy.
- Cortisone shots – Your orthopedic doctor may inject a corticosteroid into the knee to relieve bursa inflammation. In some cases, your orthopedic doctor may use an anesthetic and steroids to relieve pain.
- PRP Injection – To promote tissue regeneration and boost healing in the affected area, your orthopedic doctor may inject a platelet-rich plasma injection. These injections contain plasma, platelet, cytokines, and growth factors that work to cure bursitis.
Physical Therapy
In your treatment regimen, your orthopedic doctor may include physical therapy.
Your physical therapy treatment plan may consist of stretching and strengthening exercises that strengthen your muscles, increase joint flexibility, ease pain, and improve knee function.
Surgical Drainage
Also known as aspiration, surgical drainage is recommended for septic bursitis. During the surgical drainage, your orthopedic doctor inserts a needle to drain the septic bursa fluid, which helps relieve pain.
Bursectomy
Bursectomy is the surgical removal of the bursa. It is considered the last resort of treatment and is rarely needed for bursitis.
After removing the bursa, you can return to your normal activities after three to four weeks.
Bursitis Knee Treatment in Bismarck, ND
The symptoms of knee bursitis resemble several other conditions, like arthritis. Performing self-diagnosis can prevent you from getting timely care. So, get yourself evaluated by a medical professional.
At The Bone & Joint Center, our board-certified and fellow-ship-trained knee surgeons, Dr. Timothy Bopp, Dr. Joe Carlson, and Dr. Brian Dahl, provide highly individualized, comprehensive orthopedic care for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, including knee bursitis.
To know more about bursitis treatment or schedule an appointment with one of our knee surgeons, call us today at (800) 424-2663 or request an appointment online.
