If your knee pain is restricting your movements, then minimally invasive regenerative treatments could help you enjoy your life the way you want to.
Knee bursitis causes pain, tenderness and swelling of the bursa, a fluid-filled sac which forms under the skin, generally over joints. The bursa acts as a cushion between the tendons and the bones.
Knee bursitis is sometimes referred to as ‘housemaids’ knee’ as it affects those who regularly kneel such as carpet gardeners and carpet fitters. It is also often seen in those who take part in contact sports like rugby or wrestling.
What treatments does Jorja Healthcare Regenerative Treatments offer?
Our renowned medical team provides a range of treatments, from the traditional to the innovative:
This is an effective and well-researched procedure that’s a potential alternative to surgery. It takes advantage of the blood’s natural healing properties to reduce pain and improve joint function. It uses a specially concentrated dosage of platelets prepared from your own blood to repair damaged cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscle and bone. Treatment is administered via an injection and depending on the injury two to six injections may be required, performed at weekly intervals. Patients usually see their symptoms improve within four to six weeks of having the injections. PRP is a safe treatment option which, because your own blood is used, carries no risk of allergic reaction. Read more clinical evidence supporting PRP here.
Read Eddie’s Story. The British former professional strongman and World’s Strongest Man 2017 winner Eddie Hall recently received PRP Therapy.
What causes knee bursitis?
Any of the knee bursas can become inflamed but it generally tends to occur over the kneecap or on the inner side of the knee. It can be caused by:
- Overuse or strenuous activity such as running
- A direct knock to the knee
- Frequent kneeling, especially on hard surfaces
- A bacterial infection of the bursa
- Complications from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or gout
What are the symptoms of knee bursitis?
The symptoms of knee bursitis vary depending on which bursa is affected and what’s causing it. In general, your knee may feel:
- Warm
- Tender or swollen when pressure is applied
- Painful when you move it or are resting it
Symptoms may begin gradually and worsen over time or if you had a sharp blow to the knee, symptoms may appear rapidly.
How is knee bursitis diagnosed?
If your knee is feeling painful or tender or swollen a doctor will examine the area and ask questions about your symptoms to determine the cause.
You may also be referred for an:
- X-ray – to see if there any other bone problems such as arthritis which could be causing the pain
- MRI – using a magnetic field and radio waves a detailed image of the knee is created which can reveal subtle changes in the knee
- Ultrasound – sound waves are used to produce a detailed image of the swollen bursa
What are the non-surgical options for knee bursitis?
Treatment for knee bursitis aims to relieve symptoms and improve the function of the knee.
Initial treatment may include medications such as analgesics which help reduce the pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – NSAIDS – which reduce the pain and inflammation and steroid injections which reduce inflammation and provide short-term relief.
If the bursitis is caused by an infection the doctor may prescribe a cause of antibiotics.
Resting the knee and avoiding activities which causes pain can help with knee bursitis. You can also help reduce the pain, inflammation and swelling by applying ice to the affected area three or four times a day. If you do this, it’s important to place a cloth between the ice and your skin to prevent you from getting an ice-burn.
Compressing the affected area can also help reduce inflammation and pain and keeping the leg elevated will also aid recovery.
Our expert team specialises in treating patellar bursitis using advanced non-surgical techniques including mesenchymal stem cell therapy, Micro-Fragmented Adipose Tissue (MFAT), Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy.
What are the surgical options for knee bursitis?
The doctor may aspirate a bursa to reduce the pain and swelling. This involves inserting a needle into the affected bursa and drawing fluid into a syringe.
While surgery to remove an affected bursa is rarely recommended, it may be an option if your symptoms don’t improve with other non-surgical treatments or if you suffer from recurrent bursitis.
Why have a consultation at Jorja Healthcare Regenerative Treatments?
Our experienced consultants will undertake a thorough examination exploring non-surgical and surgical treatments. They’ll also discuss your suitability for our state-of-the-art biological therapies.
Who will my consultation be with?
Your consultation will be with one of our knee specialists and will last approximately 30 minutes. Our specialists are well-respected professors and highly experienced surgeons. You may potentially be asked to attend for an MRI scan, prior to your appointment.
As well as undertaking an examination, our specialists will take details of your medical history and discuss your symptoms. They will also detail all your treatment options and cover their potential benefits and risks.
Our expert team comprises of highly experienced surgeons, sports medicine doctors and physiotherapists who are committed to delivering a high level of care and the correct treatment option so you can quickly get back to moving around.
What is the autologus biological approach and when should it be considered?
Autologous translates as ‘from the same person.’ In brief, it involves using your own cells to encourage healing. The major benefits are that there is no chance of rejection, infection or contamination as you are using cells from your own body rather than a donor.
We offer a range therapies based on this principle which can be considered if traditional treatments including surgery aren’t relieving your pain.
Clinical evidence
Biological treatments are pioneering procedures and we’re continuously monitoring and recording its effectiveness. Patients undertaking these treatments are asked to complete pre-operative and post-operative questionnaires.
The information obtained from these questionnaires allows us to monitor your progress and it also contributes to our evidence-based database and other global studies on biological treatments. All information gathered is anonymised.