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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Knee bursitis signs and symptoms may vary, depending on which bursa is affected and what precisely is causing the inflammation. In general, the affected portion of your knee may:
- Feel warm to your touch
- Appear swollen or feel squishy to your touch
- Be painful or tender when you move or put pressure on it
A sharp blow to the knee can cause symptoms to appear rapidly. But most cases of knee bursitis result from repetitive injuries — sustained in jobs that require a lot of kneeling — so symptoms usually begin gradually and may worsen over time.
When to see a doctor
The bursa that lies over your kneecap can sometimes become infected. Call your doctor if you have a fever in addition to pain and swelling in your knee.
- Questions and answers about bursitis and tendinitis. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bursitis/bursitis_tendinitis_qa.pdf. Accessed Feb. 17, 2009.
- Hanada E, et al. Knee bursitis. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/120873802-11/805536116/1678/65.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4007-1..50064-X_1032. Accessed Feb. 17, 2009.
- Anderson BC. Knee bursitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 17, 2009.
- Regional processes: Knee. In: Noble J, et al. Textbook of Primary Care Medicine. 3rd ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2001. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/125156294-3/814972377/959/864.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-00828-3..50139-4--cesec42_4185. Accessed March 11, 2009.
- Prepatellar (kneecap) bursitis. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00338. Accessed March 11, 2009.
- Kouotouzis T, et al. Tendinopathy and bursitis. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/125156294-3/814972377/1365/357.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02845-4..50120-7--cesec40_5880. Accessed March 11, 2009.
- Huddleston JI, et al. Hip and knee pain. In: Firestein GS, et al. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/125156294-5/815026131/1807/290.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3285-4..10042-7--s0020_1201. Accessed March 11, 2009.
