Bursitis in Knee
The pain, swelling and tenderness caused by knee bursitis can be pretty intense. The condition involves swelling or damage to the bursa, a sac filled with fluid that reduces the friction between the tissues in your knees. In other words, a bursa sac acts as a cushion between the moving parts. Your knee has three major bursae, any of which can become inflamed and painful. But the knee bursa most likely in need of knee bursitis treatment is the one directly over your knee cap or on the inside of your knee below the joint.
Knee bursitis in Manhattan can drastically limit your mobility and your lifestyle. Managing this type of pain is difficult and potentially frustrating. But it's not impossible. Consulting your New York City sports injury and pain management team can make a major difference in your quality of life as you go through treatment for knee bursitis.
Bursitis in Knee NYC — SPIN Sports Pain Specialists
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Causes
Overuse and injury are the leading causes of knee bursitis. And your chances of suffering from this condition increase if you're an athlete or were an athlete at some in some point in your life. The most common causes of the need for bursitis knee treatment include:
- Being subjected to recurring or frequent pressure — like having to constantly stand or kneel on hard surfaces for extended periods of time
- Strenuous activities that are hard on your knee
- Trauma to your knee
- Bacterial infection in your bursa
- Possible complications from: Osteoarthritis, Gout in your knee, Obesity
Bursitis is a common complaint with a variety of causes. But a skilled sports medicine doctor can isolate the cause of your troubles. Knowing the source of your condition enables him to fine-tune your knee bursitis treatment plan.
Take Action
It's sometimes hard to believe doing nothing at all constitutes taking action. But resting your knee is the first and most important step in bursitis knee treatment. If you're dealing with minor inflammation of your bursa, with your NYC doctor's guidance, you should:
- Take it easy for a while. Don't do anything to aggravate your condition.
- Put ice on your knee in 20-minute increments throughout the day to reduce swelling and ease your pain.
- Elevate your knee above your heart to relieve pressure and swelling.
- Lay on your side that's not injured.
- Sleep with a pillow between your knees to lessen the pressure on your sore joint.
- Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications for minor pain and inflammation.
Ready to find relief from knee bursitis?
Dr. Melepura's Midtown Manhattan clinic offers same-day appointments for evaluation and treatment.
More Knee Bursitis Treatments
If rest doesn't improve your condition, there are other options for bursitis knee treatment. Your doctor may recommend:
Aspiration
where your physician uses a needle to drain fluid out of your knee. This isn't the traumatic procedure it once was. As an outpatient treatment, there's no need to go to the hospital. Afterward, wrapping your knee helps with swelling, but soreness should be expected for a few days following this knee bursitis treatment.
Steroid injections
are administered by your doctor directly into your knee. This normally has a significant impact on any pain or swelling you're experiencing. The steroids are a fast-working treatment for knee bursitis. However, swelling and tenderness at the injection site may last a couple days.
Physical therapy
is a vital part of any bursitis knee treatment. Stretching and strength training make your knee stronger and more flexible. A knee brace or a sleeve may also be used for support and compression.
Antibiotics
are prescribed by your physician when infection is present.
Surgery
is always the last resort for your knee bursitis treatment. If your swollen bursa fails to respond to other treatments, your Manhattan pain management doctor may find that removal of the bursa is necessary. The procedure is a lot less invasive than you may think, but to achieve the best results and recovery, you need to stay off of your feet for several days. This promotes proper healing by preventing your wound from bleeding into where your bursa used to be.
Following Your Treatment for Bursitis
Being aware of any factors that put you at higher risk is tremendously important because there may be things you can do prevent the condition from coming back. Even simple steps can make a difference:
Wear knee pads
Take breaks to stretch your legs and rest your knees
Avoid squatting as much as you can
Maintain a healthy weight
Seeking a qualified medical opinion in New York City makes a major difference. Waiting can allow your condition to worsen. Together, you and your doctor develop the individualized treatment for knee bursitis plan that best fits your condition.
Real Stories from our Patients
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD
Double Board-Certified Pain Specialist
Meet Dr. Febin Melepura — Your Knee Bursitis Specialist in NYC
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD is a double board-certified interventional pain management specialist and the founder of the Sports Pain Institute of New York. He completed his residency and fellowship training at New York Presbyterian Hospital / Columbia University Medical Center, one of the nation's leading academic medical centers.
He holds dual board certifications from the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Pain Medicine, and has treated more than 7,500 patients and performed over 5,250 procedures throughout his career. He has been named a Top Pain Management Doctor in New York and one of America's Top Doctors™ by Castle Connolly.
Dr. Melepura's approach to knee bursitis is rooted in precision: identify the exact source, treat it with a targeted injection, and get you back to your daily life as quickly as possible.
Ready to Book an Appointment?
Same-day appointments available. Call (212) 621-7746 or book online.
What Our Knee Bursitis Patients Say
"Able to make an appointment to see Dr. Melepura on short notice… attentive to my concerns… Jazmin was also very kind and helpful."
"Excellent hospitality, listener and explainer… highly recommend the doctor and the place."
"Dr. Melepura is the best! He worked with me to find the optimal solution to my shoulder pain while I was preparing for a fight!"
"Lovely, bright and modern… doctor and staff were kind… felt my concerns were heard."
"Helpful and friendly staff who gladly follows up with you if and when needed. Dr Melepura was very helpful and professional as well as provided me with excellent information and feedback."
"Dr Febin is fantastic! Highly recommend him and his practice the Spin clinic. The doctor is a good listener, kind, attentive and gave me great advice. "
"Dr.Melepura was very efficient and interpersonal, felt like he was understanding the problems I was having and explained the processes to take to rehabilitate. I would recommend."
"I felt listened to and truly understood by Dr. Melepura. Started PT the very next day. They were very friendly and I didn't feel rushed at all. Already recommended them to my friends who have or continue to play through pain."