Fluid on the knee
Discussion
drdc1971 said:
The serious but dull answer would be that it depends on what the cause of the fluid is. It sounds as though you are describing a Bakers cyst (popliteal cyst) which is most often due to osteoarthritis - was the fluid taken off straw coloured?
Yes it was yellow/straw coloured and they sent it away for testing apparentlyHIS LM said:
drdc1971 said:
The serious but dull answer would be that it depends on what the cause of the fluid is. It sounds as though you are describing a Bakers cyst (popliteal cyst) which is most often due to osteoarthritis - was the fluid taken off straw coloured?
Yes it was yellow/straw coloured and they sent it away for testing apparentlyDon't let any one else stick needles into your knee joint without a diagnosis, you get septic arthritis in the joint and it's destroyed.
-> GP
You need to be signed off/ take time off. Strict strict rest. Leg raised.
I got bursitis of the knee a few years ago, (housemaids knee apparently, I get all the high class illnesses!!) just by kneeling on the floor.
By the next day I couldn't bend my knee and it was very painful. Went to A&E as it was a Sat and had no idea what I'd done.
I was px painkillers and told home for rest, absolutely no use of leg. I was only allowed to walk to bathroon and back. They said if I didn't take it seriouly now I would potentially end up with a chronic problem (I couldn't risk it with my job)
Work were not sympathetic and gave me a hard time, so much so I went back to docs to double ck re: time off and he confirmed the risk I would take by going back to the sort of job I do.
So I stuck to my guns and it healed very well, fingers crossed it's never happend again though I can't kneel on that knee too much.
I got bursitis of the knee a few years ago, (housemaids knee apparently, I get all the high class illnesses!!) just by kneeling on the floor.
By the next day I couldn't bend my knee and it was very painful. Went to A&E as it was a Sat and had no idea what I'd done.
I was px painkillers and told home for rest, absolutely no use of leg. I was only allowed to walk to bathroon and back. They said if I didn't take it seriouly now I would potentially end up with a chronic problem (I couldn't risk it with my job)
Work were not sympathetic and gave me a hard time, so much so I went back to docs to double ck re: time off and he confirmed the risk I would take by going back to the sort of job I do.
So I stuck to my guns and it healed very well, fingers crossed it's never happend again though I can't kneel on that knee too much.
The Doc is being a bit negative as the risk of septic arthritis is very low with decent aseptic technique and the yield from joint aspirate is pretty good (can pretty much exclude gout / pseudogout if the sample is pretty fresh and the pathology lab are dab hands with a polarizing microscope). If the fluid was straw coloured and aspirated easily then it is unlikely to be a bursitis and the most likely would be a simple knee effusion secondary to osteoarthritis - are you of an age / background where OA would be likely?
drdc1971 said:
The Doc is being a bit negative as the risk of septic arthritis is very low with decent aseptic technique and the yield from joint aspirate is pretty good (can pretty much exclude gout / pseudogout if the sample is pretty fresh and the pathology lab are dab hands with a polarizing microscope). If the fluid was straw coloured and aspirated easily then it is unlikely to be a bursitis and the most likely would be a simple knee effusion secondary to osteoarthritis - are you of an age / background where OA would be likely?
It was straw coloured and came out easily and I am 47 years young, after they had drained me they also put a steroid in and that has calmed things down, the knee is less swollen and not warm to the touch as it was.So should I get the fluid removed from the back of the knee if so how or will it go away.
Some really good well informed responses so far thank you guys
Glad the steroid injection settled things down, buys some time whilst the results of the synovial fluid are awaited. A Bakers cyst should also improve as it is in communication with the knee joint (it is effectively a posterior buldge from the joint lining) but sometimes takes longer to settle than the rest of the knee. The next bit is enjoy it being better and wait and see what the results bring, do you have rheumatology or ortho follow up or is it back to your GP for the results?
drdc1971 said:
The Doc is being a bit negative as the risk of septic arthritis is very low with decent aseptic technique and the yield from joint aspirate is pretty good (can pretty much exclude gout / pseudogout if the sample is pretty fresh and the pathology lab are dab hands with a polarizing microscope). If the fluid was straw coloured and aspirated easily then it is unlikely to be a bursitis and the most likely would be a simple knee effusion secondary to osteoarthritis - are you of an age / background where OA would be likely?
A fair comment, followed by the highest quality advice I've seen in Health Matters for a while.Internet diagnoses still fraught with problems, see your GP.
drdc1971 said:
Glad the steroid injection settled things down, buys some time whilst the results of the synovial fluid are awaited. A Bakers cyst should also improve as it is in communication with the knee joint (it is effectively a posterior buldge from the joint lining) but sometimes takes longer to settle than the rest of the knee. The next bit is enjoy it being better and wait and see what the results bring, do you have rheumatology or ortho follow up or is it back to your GP for the results?
I have a follow up with the roomy dept at Hillingdon, once again thanks for the excellent responseGassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff