Strep Knee

strep knee
noun

A bizarre and dramatic immune response where your knee swells up like a grapefruit because your body decides to fight strep throat… in your leg.

Origin: Coined by a concerned patient and an equally baffled doctor, "strep knee" occurs when your immune system gets the memo about a strep infection (even secondhand from your niece) and goes rogue—attacking your joints instead of just your throat.

Symptoms:

-One tragically swollen knee
-Joints that feel like they’ve been personally offended
-Fatigue that rivals a toddler after a sugar crash
-A mysterious limp that screams “I swear I’m not faking it”
-Googling “why is my knee mad at me?” at 2 a.m.
-Physical therapist side-eye followed by, “Well, that’s new…”
“Yeah, I didn’t even have strep throat, but now I’m limping because of strep knee.”
by notangieeeanggg April 10, 2025
Get the Strep Knee mug.

Strep Knee

strep knee
noun

A bizarre and dramatic immune response where your knee swells up like a grapefruit because your body decides to fight strep throat… in your leg.

Origin: Coined by a concerned patient and an equally baffled doctor, "strep knee" occurs when your immune system gets the memo about a strep infection (even secondhand from your niece) and goes rogue—attacking your joints instead of just your throat.

Joint Havoc (J.H.): A medically unverified condition where your knee revolts due to strep knee

Symptoms:

-One tragically swollen knee
-Joints that feel like they’ve been personally offended
-Fatigue that rivals a toddler after a sugar crash
-A mysterious limp that screams “I swear I’m not faking it”
-Googling “why is my knee mad at me?” at 2 a.m.
-Googling "can your knee be dramatic" and feeling seen
-Physical therapist side-eye followed by, “Well, that’s new…”
Usage:
“Yeah, I didn’t even have strep throat, but now I’m limping because of strep knee.”

"I went to urgent care for a sore throat and left with a knee brace—turns out it was strep knee, because apparently my immune system has a flair for drama."
by notangieeeanggg April 11, 2025
Get the Strep Knee mug.