Description

A Baker's cyst is a fluid-filled growth behind the knee. It makes a bulge and a feeling of oppression. It is also called a popliteal (pop-luh-TEE-ul) cyst, a Baker's cyst at some point the causes of the pain. The pain may get worse with activity or when it is fully straighten or bend the knee.

A Baker's cyst is usually the result of a problem with your knee joint, such as arthritis or a torn cartilage. Both conditions can cause your knee to produce too much fluid.

Although a Baker's cyst may cause swelling and discomfort, treating the underlying problem that is causing usually provides relief.

Symptoms

In some cases, a Baker's cyst does not cause pain, and you may not notice it. If you do not have symptoms, which can include:

  • Swelling behind the knee, and sometimes in the leg
  • Knee pain
  • The stiffness and the inability to fully bend the knee

The symptoms may get worse after you have been active or if you have been unemployed for a long time.

When to see a doctor

Seek medical attention if you have swelling and pain behind the knee. Although unlikely, these symptoms may be a sign of a blood clot in a leg vein.

Causes

A lubricating fluid called synovial (sih-NO-vee-ul) fluid helps the leg swing smoothly and reduces friction between the moving parts of the knee.

But sometimes the underlying conditions can cause your knee to produce too much of synovial fluid. When this happens, fluid can build up in the back of the knee, which leads to a Baker's cyst.

This can be caused by:

  • Inflammation of the knee joint, which can occur with different types of arthritis
  • A knee injury, like a tear of cartilage

Complications

Rarely, a Baker's cyst explosion and leakage of synovial fluid in the calf of the region, causing:

  • Acute pain in the knee
  • Swelling in the calf
  • Sometimes, redness of the calf, or a feeling of water running down the calf

Diagnosis

A Baker's cyst can often be diagnosed during a physical exam. However, some of the symptoms of a Baker's cyst are similar to the symptoms of serious conditions, such as a blood clot, aneurysm or tumor. For more information, your doctor may order imaging tests, including:

  • Ultrasound
  • X-ray
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Treatment

Sometimes a Baker's cyst will go away on its own. Mild symptoms can often be controlled by avoiding activities that trigger them.

However, if the cyst is large and cause pain, you may need treatment.

Drugs

A nonprescription pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) may reduce the pain and inflammation.

An injection of steroids, such as cortisone, in the knee can reduce inflammation. This can reduce the size of the cyst and relieve the pain, but it doesn't always stop the cyst from returning.

Therapies

Gentle exercises that improve range of motion and strengthen the muscles around the knee can help you feel better and preserve the function of the knee.

Surgery or other procedures

To reduce the size of the cyst, your health care provider may drain the fluid from the cyst with a needle. This is called a needle aspiration and is often performed with ultrasound guidance.

If a joint problem that is causing the cyst, arthroscopic surgery can be performed to repair the problem. For example, if a tear of the cartilage that is causing the synovial fluid to collect in the knee, the surgeon will remove or repair the torn cartilage. At the same time, the surgeon may also remove the fluid from the cyst.

Rarely, surgery is needed to remove the cyst. This approach is normally used only after other treatment options have not helped the pain, and the ability to walk or perform other activities is still limited.

Lifestyle and home remedies

If arthritis is the cause of the cyst, your doctor may advise you to take some or all of the following steps:

  • Follow the R. I. C. E. principles. These letters stand for rest, ice, compression and elevation. Rest of the leg. Ice on your knee. Compressing the knee with a coat-sleeve, or a brace. And elevate your leg whenever possible, especially at night.
  • Try over-the-counter medications to ease the pain. Medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve, others), acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and aspirin can help relieve the pain. Follow the dosing instructions on the package. Do not take more than the recommendation of the dose.
  • Reduce your physical activity. Doing so will reduce the irritation of the knee joint. Your health care provider can provide guidance on how much time you need to reduce their levels of activity. Your doctor may be able to suggest alternative forms of exercise that you can do in the meantime.

Preparing for your appointment

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

  • Write down the symptoms you are experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Write down key personal information, including recent changes in life.
  • List of all the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you are taking.
  • Write questions to ask their health care provider.

Your time with your health care provider can be limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of their time together. For a Baker's cyst, some basic questions to ask include:

  • What caused this cyst to develop?
  • What tests do I need? Do these tests require special preparation?
  • It's a Baker's cyst temporary or long-term?
  • What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
  • What side effects can I expect from treatment?
  • What steps can I take my own that might help?
  • What I need to limit my activity? If so, how much and for how long?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions?

Do not hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care provider is likely to ask a series of questions, such as:

  • When did your symptoms begin?
  • Do you feel pain or stiffness in all the time, or the pain come and go with the activity?
  • Does your knee swell, feel unstable, or lock?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • Nothing seems to improve the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
Symptoms and treatment of Baker's cyst