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Swelling at the front of the kneecap

The swelling in front of the kneecap sits between the skin and the bone, not inside the joint. That is why the knee still bends normally, and why changing how you kneel matters more than any medicine.

Do not wait for an appointment

The swelling is red, hot and painful to touch, or you feel feverish
There is a cut, crack or boil in the skin over the swelling
The pain is severe and getting worse by the hour rather than the day
You are diabetic and the area is red or the skin is broken

Sheet 30 · Knee exercises Hip & kneeTwo to three weeks, once the kneeling stops

Do this

Stop kneeling. That is the treatment. Everything else supports it
Work out what is doing it — mopping the floor, prayer, construction work, plumbing, floor-level cooking — and change how you do that one thing
Use a knee pad, or a folded towel, for any task that genuinely cannot be done standing
Ice for 15 minutes, two or three times a day, while it is swollen
Keep the leg moving and keep walking. The joint itself is not the problem
Come and have it looked at if it is not settling in two weeks, or sooner if it changes

Avoid this

Kneeling with a pad and carrying on. The pad reduces the harm; it does not remove it
Pressing, squeezing or trying to burst the swelling
Any hot fomentation if the area is red or hot — heat on an infected bursa makes it worse
Antibiotics left over from something else. If this needs antibiotics it needs the right one, for long enough

The questions everybody asks

What is the swelling?

A small cushion in front of the kneecap that has filled with fluid.

It sits between the skin and the bone to let the skin glide. Repeated kneeling irritates it and it fills up. The joint inside is usually entirely normal, which is why you can still bend and walk.

How do I know if it is infected?

Redness, heat, and feeling unwell.

A plain irritated bursa is a soft swelling that is uncomfortable to kneel on. An infected one is red, hot, tender to the lightest touch, and often comes with fever. Infected needs treating the same day.

Can the fluid be drawn out?

Yes, and sometimes it should be.

Drawing it off gives quick relief and, where infection is a question, tells us what we are dealing with. It fills again if the kneeling continues, which is why the kneeling has to change.

Will it come back?

Only if the kneeling does.

This is one of the few conditions where you control the outcome almost entirely. People who change how they do the task do not usually see it again.

Open the exercise sheet

Pictures, how many and how often, and what it should feel like. Free, and printable.

Guides for you

In your language, free to download. Each one is a short PDF you can keep on your phone or print.

On cost: if we suggest a scan, an injection or an operation, ask us what it costs and what happens if you do nothing. We will answer both. You should never feel pushed into spending money.

Consultation is ₹500 for a first visit and ₹300 for a follow-up, the same at both clinics. For anything else, ask at the desk or on WhatsApp before it is done — we will tell you the exact cost.

Should you come and see us?

A page is a starting point, not a diagnosis. If the pain is not settling, come in and have it looked at properly — bring any X-ray, MRI or CT films you already have.

Nallasopara West

Opposite Patil Hospital

Shop No. 14, Veena Apartment,
Opposite Patil Hospital, near Panchmukhi Hanuman Mandir,
S.T. Stand Road, Nallasopara West — 401203

Monday to Saturday
12:00 noon – 2:00 pm · 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Sunday by prior appointment only

Call 87665 22099 WhatsApp

Virar East

Opposite Parimal Hospital

Shop No. 7, Damodar Tower,
Opposite Parimal Hospital, Morya Nagar,
Manvel Pada Road, Virar East — 401305

Monday to Saturday
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Sunday by prior appointment only

Call 92702 84859 WhatsApp

Other conditions

Ready when you are.

Call either clinic during consulting hours, or send a WhatsApp message any time.

Nallasopara West Virar East