Bursitis, as this inflammation is called, can vary in degree from mild irritation to an abscess formation that causes excruciating pain. Signs and symptoms are tenderness, swelling with redness over the affected bursa, pain on movement, and limitation in the movement of the knee.
A doctor may prescribe non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, a cortisone injection, sometimes mixed with a local anesthetic or antibiotics, according to the condition, and/or painkillers if there is severe pain. Swelling also may call for draining some of the fluid.
Finally, the condition may require an arthroscopic examination in which a tube is inserted through which the interior of the knee can be looked at and/or surgery to remove the inflamed bursa.
More: Exercises to Treat Shoulder and Neck Pain From Cycling
Training may be resumed once the pain and swelling has been reduced. The progression should be guided by any pain felt. You can always expect some degree of discomfort when restarting training after an injury, and you must learn to discern between discomfort and pain.
Knee Contusion
Bruising of the knee due to a crash or direct blow. Bleeding from damaged blood vessels allows blood to seep into the surrounding soft tissue. There often is skin damage and discoloration, along with pain, swelling, tenderness and restricted knee movement. Do not confuse this with hemarthrosis (blood in the joint) in which the knee will rapidly swell and become painful and hot. This condition requires immediate medical attention to drain the blood if long-term problems are to be avoided.Knee Strain
Injury to the muscles or tendons that attach to bones of the knee. Usually caused by prolonged overuse, sudden fierce effort or subjecting the knee to a level of effort without sufficient preparation, or a crash causing a violent blow or force to the knee.