Baker's Cyst Treatment

The other name of Baker's cyst is popliteal cyst. It is a fluid-filled cyst found at the back of the knee. It can be identified as a bulge, which may or may not be painful. It causes a lot of discomfort as swelling and stiffening of the joint tends to interfere with the bending of the knee.

During knee movements, it may cause a clicking sound in the knee. Sometimes, the knee joint may get locked up temporarily due to the presence of the cyst there. The symptoms are even worse for those who have a painful Baker's cyst. This is because the pain is not only just confined to the knee area, but also gets extended to the calf as well.

Baker's cyst is formed only when there is an existing problem in the knee. Those who are suffering from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or have sustained a knee injury are prone to Baker's cyst.

It is formed due to accumulation of the synovial fluid that lubricates the cartilage and tendons of the knee in order to reduce the friction between them when the joint is moved. In normal conditions, this fluid is circulated through the entire knee joint region.

When there is a knee joint inflammation or a tear in the cartilage, then the knee produces excess amount of the joint fluid, which then gets collected in one particular area of the knee.

In this condition, if any pressure is exerted on the knee, then the fluid build up bulges out at the back side of the knee and the cyst is developed. It is more commonly found in women and that too who are above the age of 40 years. This is because more number of women in this age group get affected by arthritis as compared to men.

When the cyst is painless and is not causing any trouble during knee movements, then it does not require any treatment at all. Doctors will just monitor the cyst from time to time. A cyst with mild pain and swelling is treated naturally.

Both these symptoms can be relieved with the help of ice therapy. Place an ice pack on the affected knee for 10 minutes and repeat the same several times after a gap of every few hours. Similarly, many people have found heat therapy to be highly beneficial for reduction of the pain and inflammation caused by Baker's cyst.

Use a heating pad that is set at the lowest temperature setting and apply heat on the knee area for 10-15 minutes. While treatment is going on, you must rest the knee to ease off the pressure from it.

For a more intense pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed that provide temporary relief from the symptom. Analgesic creams which are available over the counter can be applied topically to reduce the pain. If there is an excessive localized swelling, then doctors administer cortisone injection directly into the knee joint.

If the cyst leads to knee joint instability, then use of compression bandage is recommended to provide the required support to the knee joint and make it more stable.

In those cases, where too much of fluid is accumulated in the knee joint and the size of the cyst has become large, then doctors drain it out with the help of a needle. This method of treatment is known as 'needle aspiration'.

 If the real cause behind the increasing size of the Baker's cyst is a badly damaged knee caused by arthritis or meniscus tear, then surgery is conducted to repair the damage. Doctors opt for surgical removal of the cyst only when it is unavoidable.

Even after successful treatment, there is always a chance of Baker's cyst recurrence. Therefore, you have to take some preventive measures to minimize the chances of injury in the knee joint. Suspend all such activities that cause knee pain.

Wear supportive footwear that can reduce the pressure from the knee. If you are involved in sports activities, then warming up of the knee joints before the activity and cooling down after the activity is a must.