Joint bleeds

Joint bleeds are when blood collects in a joint. If they are not treated early, there may be serious consequences. You may lose your range of motion or have pain when you move. You may even lose the ability to walk on your own.




Joint bleeds can happen in any joint, but the knees are the most common area. Joint bleeds are often the result of injury, but they can also occur spontaneously.




When blood enters the joint, a tissue called the synovium becomes inflamed. This results in joint swelling. All of this causes damage to the joint. The longer and more often blood is in a joint, the worse the damage may be.

Why is it important to stop bleeds fast?

Untreated or delayed treatment of bleeds lowers your quality of life. It makes everyday tasks, like walking up stairs or shaving, difficult or painful.

Treating bleeds early can stop blood from entering your joints. This reduces short- and long-term damage to your joints. It can give you more freedom to do the things you want to do. You may even use less factor. It is best to treat when it tingles—before it starts to swell or hurt!

It is important to know which drugs to avoid and which to take to stop bleeds as quickly as possible. Talk to your hemophilia treatment center (HTC) about which drugs are okay. Make this part of your plan.

Remember: When in doubt, don't wait to treat!