I have effusion, swelling and pain in my knee joint, and difficulty straightening my leg. Should I have the fluid drained? Will the disease recur? (My Phuong, 54 years old, Vinh Long)
Reply:
Fluid in the joint cavity has the effect of lubricating, reducing friction during movement and nourishing the articular cartilage. Knee effusion occurs when the amount of fluid in the joint increases abnormally, causing pain and limiting movement. If not treated promptly, this condition can lead to dangerous complications such as stiffness, joint adhesion, paralysis, and disability.
Treatment depends on the cause and severity of knee effusion. Usually, patients can take painkillers, antibiotics if there is a risk of infection; anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs or corticosteroids taken orally or injected directly into the knee joint when there is a lot of joint effusion due to inflammation. In more severe cases, the doctor may prescribe fluid aspiration, arthroscopic synovectomy or joint replacement...
You may need to aspirate if there is too much fluid, causing pain and tension in the knee joint. This procedure helps reduce pressure inside the knee joint, relieving symptoms. However, most cases of effusion are often the result of specific diseases such as osteoarthritis, joint infection, gout, etc. If you only aspirate the knee joint fluid without treating the cause, this condition will recur. In addition, repeated aspiration of joint fluid can increase the risk of infection, joint destruction and cause negative consequences that affect the patient's entire body. Before deciding whether to aspirate fluid or not, you should see a doctor for advice and to find out the cause of the disease.
During treatment, you need to let your knee joint rest fully, avoid walking too much to reduce pressure and impact on the knee joint. Applying ice helps constrict blood vessels, thereby quickly reducing swelling and pain. Elevate your legs to improve circulation in the lower limbs, reducing swelling.
A proper diet also helps control the disease better. You should increase your intake of mackerel, sardines, salmon... These are rich sources of omega 3 fatty acids, which help the body fight inflammation and protect joints.
Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, fiber, antioxidants... which can protect cells from the harmful effects of free radicals, and contain high levels of calcium, which helps strengthen bones. You should also limit foods high in sugar and salt, fast food, alcohol, and stimulants.
Master, Doctor, Specialist I Nguyen Van Luu
Orthopedic Trauma Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City
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