Fluid in my knee...(please read)?

Probably time to get it done. I've been there several times and it's not that bad. It will take the pressure off and ease the pain.

I do not know what is involved in "draining " fluid off a knee, but I would strongly suggest that you try accupuncture before you let anyone do any cutting on that knee.

When I broke my left leg (the smaller bone - about 3 or 4 inches above the ankle) back in January of 2002, it gave me no real trouble as long they kept the cast on it, but the day they took that cast off (April 1st), within an hour, my foot, ankle and lower leg had all swelled up to grotesque proportions!

As time went by, the swelling went down - but only by a very small amount. By mid-summer (late June or early July), my left leg was still twice as big around as the right one, and my ankle was still completely lost in the swelling!

Then I found out about a college of oriental medicine where I could get weekly accupuncture treatments at an affordable senior discount. After just a few treatments, by mid-August, the leg and ankle were back to normal and I was actually wearing the same size shoes on both feet again!

When my boyfriend developed severe breathing problems just over a year ago, I sent him to them and, while his problems have not gone totally away, they have become much more managable.

At least try it. If it doesn't work, then you can go back to your original plan.

Your doctor should and will make that call - however, be aware that much like my wife, you aren't 18 any more. If you need actual surgery because you didn't tap the fluid, or there are complications that require surgery, you are at increased risk of pulmonary embolism - especially if you are on the pill or hormones, or become pregnant. It happened to my wife last Thanksgiving.

Don't wait, get it taken care of before it becomes the end of you dancing or walking normally. It won't be the same as my wife, who was injured in a severe car accident before we met, but she's never going to be able to run again, let alone dance.

I have had the fluid drained off a knee. They put a needle in and pulled the fluid out with a big syringe. drained off over a pint of fluid. not a bad or real painful procedure

Yikes. Sounds like you might've aggravated it while dancing. Even then, two years seems like an awfully long time to have such as problem. I'd at least get it checked out, maybe get a second doctor's opinion this time.