Bursitis of the knee is an inflammatory condition that can be caused by an immediate injury, or it can slowly develop over time. Around the knee joint, there are three bursa sacs filled with fluid. When these bursae become inflamed, the symptoms of bursitis of the knee begin to surface. At first, the knee will turn red and begin feeling warm to the touch. As the condition worsens, the knee will appear swollen and cause pain when moved or touched.

The two common causes of bursitis of the knee are a direct trauma to the knee or prolonged kneeling on a hard surface. The condition is very common in people who work in professions that require a lot of kneeling on the job, such as roofing. The appearance of the symptoms of bursitis of the knee will vary depending on the exact cause of the condition. In cases where the bursitis is caused by a direct blow to the front of the knee, the symptoms will appear almost immediately after the injury is sustained. When the bursitis is caused by a repetitive injury, such as routine and prolonged kneeling, the symptoms will appear more gradually and over a longer period of time.

Physicians recommend treatment as soon as the symptoms of bursitis of the knee begin to appear. The more quickly the condition is treated, the more quickly the patient will recover. As fluid starts building up in the bursa sacs, the knee swells and begins to hurt. When touched, the knee will feel warm and squishy. In mild cases of bursitis of the knee, physicians recommend using cold compresses, taking anti-inflammatory medication, getting lots of rest, and in some cases, taking pain medication.

When the fluid in the bursa sacs becomes infected, the case becomes more serious and the condition is called septic bursitis. In cases of septic bursitis, physicians often remove the fluid with a syringe and run tests to determine what exactly is causing the infection. They then may prescribe antibiotics accordingly and usually intravenously. In really rare cases, and as a last resort, the bursa sacs are removed entirely from the patient. Depending on the severity and exact cause of the symptoms of bursitis of the knee, the symptoms should go away within a week or two as long as proper care and treatment are administered.