Knee Pain
Knee Bursitis
- Pes Anserine Bursitis
Bursae are small, jelly-like sacs that are located throughout the body, including around the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and heel. They contain a small amount of fluid and are positioned between bones and soft tissues, acting as cushions to help reduce friction.
Pes anserine bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa located between the shinbone (tibia) and three tendons of the hamstring muscle at the inside of the knee. It occurs when the bursa becomes irritated and produces too much fluid, which causes it to swell and put pressure on the adjacent parts of the knee.
Pain and tenderness on the inside of your knee, approximately 2 to 3 inches below the joint, are common symptoms of pes anserine bursitis of the knee.
Bursitis usually develops as the result of overuse or constant friction and stress on the bursa. Pes anserine bursitis is common in athletes, particularly runners. People with osteoarthritis of the knee are also susceptible.
Several factors can contribute to the development of pes anserine bursitis, including:
Incorrect training techniques, such as neglecting to stretch, doing excessive hill running, and sudden increases in mileage
Tight hamstring muscles
Obesity
Being duck-footed or having knock knees
Osteoarthritis in the knee
The symptoms of pes anserine bursitis include:
Pain slowly developing on the inside of your knee and/or in the center of the shinbone, approximately 2 to 3 inches below the knee joint.
Pain increasing with exercise or climbing stairs
Puffiness or tenderness to the touch in this area
During the physical examination, your doctor will inspect your affected knee and compare it to your healthy knee. They will examine your knee, checking for tenderness, and will also assess the range of motion in your knee and whether pain prevents you from bending it.
Your doctor may employ the following tests:
X-rays. Your doctor may order X-rays to make sure there is not a fracture or other bony problem that is causing your symptoms.
Other imaging tests. The diagnosis of bursitis is usually made on physical examination, but computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans may be ordered to check for other soft tissue injury.
Aspiration. If your doctor is concerned about the possibility of infection, they may aspirate (draw fluid with a needle) from the bursa and send this sample to the lab for analysis.
Nonsurgical treatment is usually effective as long as the bursa is simply inflamed and not infected:
Using the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) method: The RICE method involves resting your knee, icing your knee, wearing an elastic bandage around your knee (compression) and elevating your knee while you’re resting. This helps to reduce pain and swelling.
Taking pain relievers: Your healthcare provider may recommend taking pain relievers (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, or NSAIDs) to help reduce pain and swelling in your knee. Acetaminophen can be used as an alternative if you cannot tolerate NSAIDs or are allergic.
Aspiration & cortisone injection: If the swelling and pain do not respond to the above measures, your doctor may drain (aspirate) the bursa with a needle, then inject the bursa with a corticosteroid (cortisone injection). The corticosteroid is an anti-inflammatory drug that is stronger than medications that can be taken by mouth.
Antibiotics: Infectious bursitis is initially treated with antibiotics.
Surgical drainage: This is required if infectious bursitis does not respond to antibiotics alone.
If swelling continues even after nonsurgical treatments, your doctor may recommend surgical removal of the bursa. After surgery, the knee should regain its flexibility in a few days, and you can resume normal activities in a few weeks.
You may experience pain and swelling in your knee for the first few days after your surgery. Cold therapy can be used to treat these symptoms.
How using the HeatPulse
and Thermosleeve can help
The Thermosleeve is a cold compression sleeve which can be used to relieve pain and swelling from bursitis or knee surgery. Using the Thermosleeve to ice your knees after activity can also help prevent bursitis.
The Thermosleeve combines cold and compression to numb pain and induce vasoconstriction, bringing down swelling and inflammation. The snug fit around your knee ensures 360 coverage of the injury, boosting the efficacy of the cold therapy.
You may experience pain and swelling in your knee for the first few days after your surgery. Using the Thermosleeve to ice and compress your knee can help relieve these issues.
For the first week after your surgery, use the Thermosleeve at regular intervals 3 or 4 times a day for 10-20 minutes at a time, with at least 30-40 minutes between sessions. After the first week, use the Thermosleeve as needed to relieve pain and swelling.
The Thermosleeve is a cold compression sleeve which can be used to relieve pain and swelling from bursitis or knee surgery. Using the Thermosleeve to ice your knees after activity can also help prevent bursitis.
The Thermosleeve combines cold and compression to numb pain and induce vasoconstriction, bringing down swelling and inflammation. The snug fit around your knee ensures 360 coverage of the injury, boosting the efficacy of the cold therapy.
You may experience pain and swelling in your knee for the first few days after your surgery. Using the Thermosleeve to ice and compress your knee can help relieve these issues.
For the first week after your surgery, use the Thermosleeve at regular intervals 3 or 4 times a day for 10-20 minutes at a time, with at least 30-40 minutes between sessions. After the first week, use the Thermosleeve as needed to relieve pain and swelling.
Hear from customers
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