Baker’s or popliteal cyst

oh, it was SO very painful ... I've always been an active person.

Good morning @terryescobar, 3 years is quite a long time. Have you had any guided imaging while the Baker's Cyst was being drained? If so.....then you will see the contact the Baker's Cyst makes with the inside of your knee and how it fills with fluid. When that happens it pushes other tissues in the knee out of the way.....creating a painful disturbance. I had the guided imaging two weeks ago before a trip to Texas. After getting an MFR session, on the following day I massaged the knee and pushed the fluid out myself. I followed the "Chris" massage with ice packs and masked it with medical cannabis.

I still had to use my cane and beg forgiveness for not going out to dinner with the family. So, it is time to look at surgical options. I will do that on June 25th. As far as I know, repair surgery is the only way to get rid of the Baker's Cyst if there is a meniscus tear.

Here is a discussion from the Mayo Clinic about how synovial fluid builds up. Please note that if the cause is arthritis, it may be possible to avoid surgery. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bakers-cyst/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20369955

I will look for the images so I can upload them for you. Give me some time. I am not the most organized person in this world.

May you have peace and comfort.
Chris

Thank you so much for your reply!

I have not been diagnosed with Baker's cyst, but in the last few months have done edema massage (toes to torso) with my legs, as well as "pumping" heel to toe and other stretches before bed. Helps immensely with the meds I take! Magnesium, heat and cold alternating helps, too. I wear a knee brace and/or compression socks days where I am on my feet or sitting alot.

I've had two meniscus surgeries on the same knee over ten years. I also had Bakers cysts come and go over the years. They can push on nerves in the back of your knee like the sciatica. My Ortho keeps giving corticosteroids injections and hoping for the best. I've had knee taps to remove fluid. I feel the cyst enlarges mostly due to the weakness of the bursa from surgeries and is aggravated by movement like extra exercise. I rode my bike only 4 miles one day and that was enough to make it pop out again. I always ice up after doing anything anymore. Good luck.

My son has something similar to a bakers cyst but it is on the front of his knee. After an MRI he was told it was a bakers cyst. Do bakers cysts occur on the front of knee? He had arthroscopic surgery on the same knee a few years ago. He also weight trains, until he "tweaked" his back. Could these issues be related? I believe he has an appointment with an orthopedist. Has anyone had a similar issue?

Have not heard of Baker's cysts on front of knees. I have one on the back of each knee and have had them for some time, only one hurts at times, not sure how big they are. I have had cysts on my scalp, small ones, but got them both removed without any problems.

I was having little twins of knee pain in the back of my knee. I guess by the tendons and if I rested, it got better so I kinda just played with it like that then one day I was on the treadmill at the gym with my daughter and I went to get off the treadmill, and I stepped on my affected leg Which resulted in excruciating pain and I couldn’t put any weight on it on my leg so we went to the ER they found the Baker cyst on the right knee through an ultrasound from then it was rest, some pain, med, ice, and heat, I went back to my doctor and he recommended to get a Cortizone and check which idea, but by that time my other leg or knee was compensating for my right knee. I didn’t end up in go to a physical therapist, which you gave me some exercises to do on both legs but rest and ice and and to only be up for 15 minutes at a time anyway I did the exercises for about a week and now my right knee is swollen again and hurting again along with my left leg . so I’m wondering if I should be checked for a meniscus tear. A long with my knees I’ve had low back surgery with a three level cage. I do have stenosis and that has flared up a lot more than usual so I’m a mess. I was told to take about eight weeks to get over but it sounds like this could be a long journey. Any recommendations are appreciated.

Thank you. I didn’t realize all the mistakes I made in my post. I’ll make sure I read my next post through.

@cookiezz, I'm dealing with a Baker's cyst on my left knee right now too. Luckily physical therapy and doing my daily exercises diligently is helping. but s l o w l y.

I find that improvement came in very teeny tiny steps at first and accompanies by some setbacks. Icing and rest helps most during the setbacks. The exercises I was given didn't only focus on the knee but also my ankle, my hip and lower back. These areas also needed strengthening or management because they were compensating for poor posture due to the pain in my knee. It's all connected, right?

Now after about 8 weeks, I'm feeling a lot better. Not completely healed, but I see significant improvement and can do the things I like to do again. I'm going on a hiking trip in June so that'll be the real test.

I think you're wise to see your doctor to make sure it isn't something else going on and to rule out a meniscus tear or other injury. If Baker's cyst is confirmed, then maybe a check in with the physical therapist to make sure you're doing the exercises correctly and not over doing it.