My knee has been swollen for weeks and it won't go down. What now?

Why swelling can become persistent

Short-lived swelling after a knock or a heavy day is common. When the knee stays full week after week, the joint lining is being irritated continuously. Each step on a knee with a torn meniscus flap, a loose piece of cartilage or an unstable ligament keeps the reaction going. In older adults, persistent fluid often reflects osteoarthritis that has become more active.

Long-standing swelling also has its own effects. It switches off the thigh muscle, particularly the inner quadriceps, which makes the knee weaker and less stable, and it can stop the knee straightening fully. That is why waiting months is not a neutral choice.

Questions that point to the cause

• Did it start with a twist, a fall or a pop? That suggests a ligament, meniscus or cartilage injury
• Does the knee catch, lock or give way? That points to a mechanical problem inside the joint
• Is it worse after activity and better with rest? Common with arthritis and degenerative tears
• Are other joints, your back, eyes or skin also affected? Consider an inflammatory arthritis
• Is it warm, or do you feel generally unwell, with weight loss or night sweats? Get seen promptly

What a consultation in Doha usually involves

At Aman Hospital, Dr. Gelber takes a detailed history and examines the knee for fluid, ligament stability, meniscus signs and range of movement. A standing X-ray is usually the first image, and an MRI is often needed to show the meniscus, ligaments and cartilage. If the cause is still unclear, fluid can be drawn from the knee and tested for crystals, infection or inflammation, and blood tests may be added.

Treatment follows the cause. Many patients start with a focused physiotherapy programme and activity changes. An injection may help some types of arthritis. When a mechanical cause such as a displaced meniscus tear or loose body is keeping the knee swollen, keyhole surgery is often the most direct fix.

Until you are seen

Keep the knee moving through its comfortable range, work gently on tightening the thigh muscle with the leg straight, ice after activity and avoid the movements that clearly make it worse. Seek urgent care if it becomes hot and red, you get a fever, or the calf becomes swollen and painful.