[goosepimple]

Had a pressure problem with my knee joint and then one day it swelled - went to the doctor who cranked it all around, nothing much just thought it was arthritis but he says not.  Next day swollen badly.  Knee was clunking, couldn't walk up and down stairs. Had real trouble walking and bending the leg for months.  Now 5 months on it's still slightly swollen and still a bit sore, still having problems.
I know I know, I will go back to the doctor who will probably send me for an xray but I don't have the time just now I have deadlines.  I tend to be a leave it for 6 months and it will probably be fine type person.   
A neighbour said she thought it was housemaids knee in which the fluid on the knee separates from the bone.  I'm 53, not overweight.
Anyone ever had it?

[Fleecewife]

Ask for a referral to an Orthopaedic surgeon.  I understand Housemaids knee to be a sudden large swelling, which responds to ice packs and elevation, but in view of how long this has been grumbling away, they might feel it needs a look inside.  With knees, the 'give it a while' route is a good one as you don't want the surgeons poking around inside your knee if they don't really need to.  Do you wear knee pads or use a kneeler when you're kneeling?  Essential.

[Sudanpan]

Housemaid's knee is a bursitis - inflammation of the prepatellar bursa. It can get to be a chronic condition. Is usually treated via anti-inflammatories, ice, painkillers and non-aggravation of the area until it settles.
The knee has loads of these bursa in various places - they act as protection pads - and any one can get inflamed for various reasons. Another typical one is 'Baker's cyst' where the bursa between the tendons of the muscles at the back of the knee can get inflamed.
There are many elements of the knee that can throw up issues at any point - you might have tweaked/torn one of the menisci in the joint, this can cause huge swelling and pain.
If it has been persisting for a while I would recommend further investigation - perhaps an MRI - ask your GP for a referral

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Yes two of my brothers developed it, however that was due to kneeling a lot on either a hard or uneven surface, it can be quite a common occurrence. There is another knee condition, but that is a type of condition which teenagers get in their knees as they grow, which eventually goes away when they stop growing; However not all teenagers get the condition, only some. My brother and I have both had the condition, but it went away when we turned 18. I hope that you get everything sorted out soon and do keep us updated? I have to go to the doctor myself, as I think I may have cracked the bone in my toe

[Buttermilk]

WBF all they do for broken toes now is tape them to the next one along for support.

[goosepimple]

Don't think I'd get away with taping my knees together ...

Well, thanks all.  I will get back to the doctor week after next (too busy).  I don't kneel down very often - I think it's all the walking about I do plus long drives - an odd thing but I realise my jeans pull on my knee when I'm sitting at the computer or sitting in the car - only realised how much it does now the knee is painful by the way - I honestly think that has something to do with it then all the walking I do aggravating it as well. 

Will get it checked out, hate going to the doctors though.  Thanks all.

[verdifish]

Try having farriers knees.  43 and 5 knee operations later.  I can truly say I feel your pain.

[goosepimple]

.....not to mention your back I bet!