Baker cyst treatment includes resting and taking painkillers like aspirin or NSAIDs like ibuprofen as directed by your doctor to reduce swelling and ease pain. However, it is only recommended for those who are less effective with the illness. Learn more about it before you start the treatment process.
What is Baker’s Cyst?
What does Baker’s cyst mean?
If the tissue at the rear of your knee fills up with synovial fluid, the fluid that keeps the joint moving easily, you may develop a Baker’s cyst, which is also known as a popliteal cyst. Inflammation and swelling happen.
In the back of your knee, Baker cysts are small lumps that fill with fluid. That happens when something damages your knee or swells the area. Checking with a doctor is still a good idea, even if they are not usually necessary. While not common, cysts can form beneath both knees simultaneously.
A Baker’s cyst usually happens to people over 40, but it can happen to anyone, even kids. Besides that, women are more likely to get diseases like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis that are associated with Baker’s cyst.
Types of Baker Cyst
They are classified as primary and secondary Baker cysts.
Primary Baker Cyst: This type of cyst forms when the knee joint has too much synovial fluid because of damage or inflammation. These kinds of Baker cysts often happen to people with gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and other types of arthritis.
Secondary Baker Cyst: A secondary Baker cyst forms when there is a blockage in the knee joint or the veins that connect to it, causing synovial fluid to build up. This kind of cyst can happen if the knee is damaged, scar tissue forms around the joint after surgery, or if the person has osteoarthritis or a torn meniscus.
Symptoms of Baker’s Cyst
- Swelling Joint
- Fluid accumulation around your knee
- Knee clicking (crepitus)
- Pain behind your knee and calf
- Trouble bending your knee
- Knee swelling and tightness
Causes of Baker’s Cyst
Any damage to the knee joint can cause oedema, which can lead to a Baker cyst. Most of the time, knee accidents and different types of arthritis are to blame. These are some of the most common types of arthritis that can cause Baker cysts:
- Gout
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
Knee oedema can turn into a Baker cyst after an accident. Baker cysts are brought on by knee accidents, which include:
- Repetitive strain injuries (overuse injuries)
- Bone fractures
- Meniscus tears
- Sprains
- Hyperextensions
- Dislocations
Baker cysts can result from knee ligament injuries:
- MCL tears
- ACL tears
- PCL tears
- LCL tears
Complications of Baker Cyst
Most of the time, a Baker cyst will rupture. The sac around the Baker cyst breaks when it quickly fills up with too much fluid or when it is under too much pressure, filling a water balloon up too quickly by accident. What does that mean? The bottle breaks because too much water gets in.
If a Baker cyst breaks, it can lead to knee and lower leg problems, such as
- Increased risk of infection
- Swelling of the knee joint
- Pain and tenderness
- Reduced range of motion
- Compression of nerves
Baker cysts are often found when doctors check out people. But the signs of a Baker cyst could also mean you have something more serious, like a blood clot, a tumour, or cancer. Your doctor may ask for imaging tests to find out more. Here are some examples:
- MRI
- Ultrasound
- X-ray
Baker Cyst Treatment
People who have Baker cysts usually get rid of the problem that caused them instead of fixing the cyst itself. Once the appropriate knee repairs have been made, the cyst will usually go away on its own.
Baker cyst treatment will depend on the illness or event that needs to be dealt with. There is a way to treat injuries called the RICE method, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. It is possible to treat most small wounds with the RICE method.
Rest: To keep the pain from getting worse, don’t do anything that makes you feel bad.
Ice: During the initial 24 hours following the injury, put an ice pack or chilled cloth on the wound for a duration of 10 to 15 minutes per hour. After one day, you can put ice on it every three to four hours. Wrap your face in a towel or rag before putting the ice pack on it.
Compression: If you follow this method, the stiffness in your knee will go down because it stops blood from getting to the area. Wrap or put on a compression tape around your knee. You can also choose pants that reach the knee.
Elevation: Setting your upper leg and knee higher than your heart is a good idea whenever you can. You can put pillows, blankets, or cushions behind your leg to help it stay up.
Medicines
Your doctor or nurse may tell you about pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs. Over-the-counter (OTC) NSAIDs like ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen can help. The vast majority of people are able to handle them. No more than 10 days in a row should go by without taking these medicines. That being the case, you should talk to your doctor about it. You might get corticosteroids or cortisone shots if your doctor tells you to.
Physical therapy
If you need to heal from an accident or have arthritis, your doctor may suggest that you go to physical therapy. A personal trainer will show you exercises that will make the muscles around your knee stronger.
Surgery on the knee
If you break your bone or hurt the cartilage or ligaments in your knee, you may need surgery to fix it. If a Baker cyst is very painful or makes it hard to move your knee, you may need surgery to remove or drain it. The orthopaedic surgeon will provide a diagnosis regarding the specific surgical treatment needed and offer guidance on the anticipated recovery process.
Further Baker Cyst Treatment
Injections of Corticosteroids: In this method, corticosteroid medicine is injected directly into the cyst to ease pain and reduce swelling.
Aspiration: A less invasive medical treatment called aspiration can remove fluid from a cyst, which is good for the patient’s health.
Cyst excision: A small cut is made on the back of the knee to remove the cyst.
Arthroscopy: With arthroscopy, a small camera is used to see the cyst and remove it with as little damage as possible.
Drainage: For drainage, a needle is put into the cyst to get the fluid inside it out.
Synovectomy: During surgery, the synovial membrane that lines the knee joint is removed. This membrane is what causes the cyst to form.
Side-effects of Baker Cyst treatment
Some of the most common side effects of Baker cyst treatment are:
- Pain and stiffness in the knee.
- Redness and swelling in the injection area
- A bigger chance of getting an illness if surgery is done
FAQs
What is the best treatment for Baker’s cyst?
The growth from a Baker’s cyst might go away on its own, so you might not need surgery. Your doctor may also tell you that you can use crutches, compression wraps, or an ice pack at home to help the swelling go down. Someone can also show you some easy moves that will make the muscles around your knee stronger. Your doctor might have to drain a cyst if you have one. In other words, the fluid will have a needle in it. Surgery might be needed to fix the damage around the joint.
What are the causes of Baker’ Cyst?
There is swelling in the back of the knee when fluid from the knee joint fills it up. A Baker’s cyst is what this is called. Even if your knee is healthy, this can happen. It happens most often after a sports injury or a disease that affects your joints.
What will happen if you don’t treat a Baker’s cyst?
If you don’t treat the Baker’s cyst, it might go away on its own. But the lump or pain might get worse or bigger. The cyst could also burst, hurting the leg below.
Can you walk if you have Baker’s cyst?
Walking lets fluid move between the knee joint and the cyst, which may exacerbate your symptoms. Still, your knee should be strong and stable.
How long does a Baker’s cyst take to heal if not treated?
Most Baker’s cysts go away on their own, though it could take months or even years.
How to find the best doctor for Baker cyst?
Doctors know a lot about bones and muscles and can find and treat Baker’s cysts. Just connect with the GoMedii Team and let us handle everything.
Are the results of the Baker cyst treatment permanent?
A Baker Cyst can be fixed if the main problem that caused it is also fixed, like knee pain or arthritis. But if the cause isn’t fixed, the cyst might return after treatment.
How much does Baker cyst treatment cost in India?
To get rid of a Baker cyst, surgery, drugs, physical therapy, and removing the fluid inside the cyst can cost anywhere from 2000 USD to 8500 USD. The cost varies from treatment to treatment.
Does Baker cyst need treatment?
Getting away from things that worsen weak symptoms is often enough to improve them. But if the cyst is big and hurts, you might need to get rid of it.
Choose GoMedii as your treatment partner to get the best treatment at an affordable cost, and through a hustle-free process. You can simply Drop a query to experience revolutionized treatment services via Whatsapp (+91 9311101477) or email us at connect@gomedii.com our team will contact you as soon as possible. To make things easier for you, just download our app from your Google play or app store!
About GoMedii: GoMedii is a Healthcare Technology Platform That Works Out Your Treatment / Surgery the Way You Need & Plan. A Treatment partner that simplifies the patient journey at every step. Drop Your Queries for the most affordable & world-class treatment options.You may simply download the GoMedii app for Android or iOS.
