Baker's Cyst

[Mermaid02]

Had extreme knee pain and this appears to be the cause. Waiting for an ortho consult but thought I'd ask about others experiences.

 

[low-key]

serious question, do bakers get it ?

 

[Mermaid02]

serious question, do bakers get it ?

I like to bake, but I'm defintely not a professional.

 

[cvjw]

My husband has one. Ortho basically told him to go home and don’t do anything that makes it hurt!

 

[ronandannette]

My husband has one. Ortho basically told him to go home and don’t do anything that makes it hurt!

I was diagnosed with one about 5 years ago but honestly, at this point I couldn't even tell you which knee it's in. Partly because at my age, both my knees hurt a little all the time and partly because the main aggravating factor for mine is exertion in hot climates (causes major swelling) and I haven't been on that kind of a vacation for quite a while.

 

[mumto3girls]

Had one about 8 years ago. It came on suddenly and my knee constantly felt like it was going to buckle. While I was waiting for an appointment with an orthopedic doctor it started feeling somewhat better but not 100%. When I finally saw him he confirmed my PCP’s diagnosis of a Baker’s cyst and gave me a cortisone shot. Within 24 hours it felt like a new knee and I’ve had no trouble since.

 

[slo]

I have one in both knees and my DD has one in her knee - they’re painful! There’s really nothing you can do about them besides hope it bursts.
Mine act up more in warm weather months when I’m doing a lot of walking, working around the yard and practicing softball with my DD (so, pretty soon they’re gonna be flared up - something to look forward to ). My DDs hurt all the time, since she practices all the time, and she’s a catcher. She ices it regularly and takes Advil. She’s always hoping it will burst, but no luck with that yet. But even if it bursts, it can always return

 

[ronandannette]

I have one in both knees and my DD has one in her knee - they’re painful! There’s really nothing you can do about them besides hope it bursts.
Mine act up more in warm weather months when I’m doing a lot of walking, working around the yard and practicing softball with my DD (so, pretty soon they’re gonna be flared up - something to look forward to ). My DDs hurt all the time, since she practices all the time, and she’s a catcher. She ices it regularly and takes Advil. She’s always hoping it will burst, but no luck with that yet. But even if it bursts, it can always return

That's something to think about. Sometimes orthopedic cysts resolve themselves (at least temporarily) by rupturing. Maybe that's what happened to my Bakers Cyst since it hasn't been an issue for a while. I've also had an on-going series of ganglion cycts on my wrist for the past 40 years. No matter what method gets rid of one (I've had two surgically removed, two drained and filled with cortisone and at least 3 rupture), another forms in exactly the same spot. I should have known something similar could happen here.

 

[disney castle days]

I had one in my knee, and it wasn't too painful (I also had a torn meniscus and some other problems at the time). They did nothing about it. I think it's still there, I am honestly not sure.

 

[ronandannette]

I had one in my knee, and it wasn't too painful (I also had a torn meniscus and some other problems at the time). They did nothing about it. I think it's still there, I am honestly not sure.

People certainly do report varying degrees of discomfort. I wasn't even really aware I had one until it was diagnosed. A doctor palpitated it while examining for something else and it was followed up with an ultrasound. The ortho specialist offered to drain it with a long needle aspiration but it wasn't bugging me near enough to go through with that.

 

[NFLDERS]

So relieved that I'm not alone with my cyst. I've been coping with mine for 5+years. Unfortunately mine is pretty much a 24/7 pain scenario. My former GP didn't drain it because he found they come back. He retired and my new doctor is of the same opinion. I've tried everything including Osmo Patches with no success.. sigh. A cane has become my godsend when a fair amount of walking is 'necessary.'

Recent follow up tests show no change in size, and until my knee has a worsened arthritis state I'm not an orthopedic surgeon patient candidate either. I wish the thing WOULD burst! There have been times with forgetting and I crouch almost sitting on my ankles, the pain as a result is excruciating!

Good luck with yours OP.

 

[ronandannette]

So relieved that I'm not alone with my cyst. I've been coping with mine for 5+years. Unfortunately mine is pretty much a 24/7 pain scenario. My former GP didn't drain it because he found they come back. He retired and my new doctor is of the same opinion. I've tried everything including Osmo Patches with no success.. sigh. A cane has become my godsend when a fair amount of walking is 'necessary.'

Recent follow up tests show no change in size, and until my knee has a worsened arthritis state I'm not an orthopedic surgeon patient candidate either. I wish the thing WOULD burst! There have been times with forgetting and I crouch almost sitting on my ankles, the pain as a result is excruciating!

Good luck with yours OP.

Have you considered asking for a referral to an orthopedic specialist? Would it come back? It's a definite possibility (like my ganglions have) but they don't re-form immediately and you may well get a year or more of relief from a needle aspiration. Worth trying if yours is that severe, IMO.

 

[NFLDERS]

Have you considered asking for a referral to an orthopedic specialist? Would it come back? It's a definite possibility (like my ganglions have) but they don't re-form immediately and you may well get a year or more of relief from a needle aspiration. Worth trying if yours is that severe, IMO.

Your reply has me reconsidering, it would be worth at least a try. My hesitation I think was two fold first being the lack of any hope I felt from their (2 GP's) opinions, and my reluctance to enter into ANY strong addiction medication solutions. The later being I guess that which my brain thinks would ensue. I'm glad this thread topic came up, because I'm decided to at least investigate again. Thanks Annette.

 

[ronandannette]

Your reply has me reconsidering, it would be worth at least a try. My hesitation I think was two fold first being the lack of any hope I felt from their (2 GP's) opinions, and my reluctance to enter into ANY strong addiction medication solutions. The later being I guess that which my brain thinks would ensue. I'm glad this thread topic came up, because I'm decided to at least investigate again. Thanks Annette.

FWIW, my GP didn't speculate on anything; just made a referral to the orthopedist and the orthopedist never mentioned pain meds at all, only suggested the needle aspiration if I wanted it. Maybe the model of care is a little different in Ontario but here, GP's aren't really good for much except diagnosis, referrals and continuity of care. I think it's also reeeealy hard these days to get handed a prescription for opioids; there's such a heightened awareness of addiction issues.

 

[NFLDERS]

FWIW, my GP didn't speculate on anything; just made a referral to the orthopedist and the orthopedist never mentioned pain meds at all, only suggested the needle aspiration if I wanted it. Maybe the model of care is a little different in Ontario but here, GP's aren't really good for much except diagnosis, referrals and continuity of care. I think it's also reeeealy hard these days to get handed a prescription for opioids; there's such a heightened awareness of addiction issues.

Probably the same here. It's been quite some time, Covid time for instance that I've heard what the climate is here today. My older brother was recently put on Percocet heart related issues with disastrous results, but he had to be weaned from it's use.

 

[Psychodisney]

Your reply has me reconsidering, it would be worth at least a try. My hesitation I think was two fold first being the lack of any hope I felt from their (2 GP's) opinions, and my reluctance to enter into ANY strong addiction medication solutions. The later being I guess that which my brain thinks would ensue. I'm glad this thread topic came up, because I'm decided to at least investigate again. Thanks Annette.

I don’t think they drain Baker’s cysts very often due to the risk of infection. Generally, they form in response to something else going on in the knee such as arthritis, torn meniscus etc. Try ice and avoiding anything provoking. There are some KT taping techniques you could try too.

 

[Ktsmart25]

Had extreme knee pain and this appears to be the cause. Waiting for an ortho consult but thought I'd ask about others experiences.

Does anybody have pain going from back knee all the way up back of the thigh? I have a baker's cyst and these symptoms too