While you're considering your options, protect your knee by doing gentle (non-weight-bearing) range-of-motion and muscle-strengthening exercises. If, despite these treatments, the cyst recurs and remains troublesome, MRI imaging may be done to detect an underlying meniscal tear or other possible cause of increased joint fluid and cyst formation. Sometimes, a Baker's cyst needs to be drained by a doctor experienced in this procedure. If cyst is related to knee arthritis, doctors often do a cortisone injection into the knee to reduce inflammation. When you're up and about, use a cane or crutch. Because stress on the knee joint can increase inflammation, rest your leg, and keep it elevated whenever you can. To reduce inflammation, take an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others) or naproxen (Aleve, others). To bring down swelling, apply a cold pack to the area, or use a compression wrap. If a Baker's cyst causes discomfort or interferes with normal activities, there are several things you can do. (A painless Doppler ultrasound of the calf can rule out DVT.) That's why it's important to find the source of the problem right away. These symptoms resemble those produced by a blood clot in the calf, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a serious condition that requires immediate treatment. But occasionally they burst, and if that happens, synovial fluid can leak into the calf below, causing pain, swelling, and reddening. Sometimes the bulge is so large that it's hard to fully bend or straighten the leg.īaker's cysts aren't dangerous and they may go away on their own. It may cause no symptoms at all or just a bulge at the back of the knee, but it can also cause pain, swelling, and joint stiffness. The excess fluid can also cause the whole knee to become swollen.Ī Baker's cyst forms when excess synovial fluid bulges into the hollow at the back of the knee joint.Ī Baker's cyst is often found incidentally during a physical exam or an ultrasound performed for other reasons. If the fluid bulges into the popliteal space, a cyst can develop (see the illustration). These conditions may cause the synovial cells lining the knee joint to produce excess fluid. There are several ways to treat a Baker's cyst, but it will often recur if the underlying cause hasn't been addressed.Ī Baker's cyst may occur as a result of an injury to the knee, such as a tear in a meniscus, or damage to the cartilage from conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. The cyst is filled with synovial fluid, a viscous material that lubricates the knee joint, reducing friction among the components of the joint and allowing the knee to flex and extend freely. It's named for William Morrant Baker, a 19th-century surgeon who first described the condition. A Baker's cyst (also called a popliteal cyst) is a fluid-filled sac that can develop in the popliteal space, the hollow at the back of the knee joint. Are there any other treatments for it?Ī. Your situation is fairly common. Q. I have a Baker's cyst in my right knee.
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