What Are the Most Common Causes of Knee Pain and Swelling?
Knee pain and swelling are most often caused by an injury to the knee. Other causes are arthritis, bursitis, major or minor ligament injuries, torn cartilage and a Baker’s cyst. Less common causes for pain and swelling in the knee include autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis; in rare instances, it can be the result of a blood clot or cancer. Knowing whether the knee pain is on one side or both sides, and whether it is transient or constant provides a doctor with clues pointing to the correct diagnosis. While a person should consult a doctor whenever there is pain and swelling in the knee, rest and home care usually allows knee pain to resolve on its own. The knee can be injured by overuse, poor footwear, bad athletic form, or trips and falls. Knee injuries usually only affect one knee and often involve the anterior cruciate ligament or medial collateral ligament. These injuries can be simple strains and sprains or be severe enough to result in internal bleeding in the knee, increasing
