Knee swelling

Swelling may make your knee feel "tight or stiff" or you may not be able to fully bend or straighten it. Swelling from a minor problem usually develops slowly.

Swelling is more serious when you also have:

• Severe swelling or bruising within 30 minutes of an injury.
• Symptoms of impaired blood flow (pale, white, blue, or cold skin).
• Pain, increasing redness, warmth, red streaks, fever, or drainage of pus.

Knee swelling may be caused by:

• Injury. Swelling after an injury is common.
• Overuse.
• Repeated movement.
• Inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis or bursitis.
• Infection.
• Fluid buildup from blood, infection, or joint fluid.

If swelling gets better with home treatment, you may not need to see your doctor. Swelling that does not get better with home treatment may mean an injury is not healing normally or is worse than you originally thought.