- Written By: Jacquelyn Gilchrist
- Edited By: Michelle Arevalo
- Last Modified Date: 25 March 2012
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2003-2012 Conjecture Corporation
A cyst located on the knee is sometimes also called a Baker’s cyst or a popliteal cyst. Cysts are small growths, typically filled with fluid or air. Baker’s cysts are typically benign, or not harmful. While they are not cancerous, some of them may be painful.
Some knee cysts are caused by the overproduction of synovial fluid. Synovial fluid is a substance that lubricates the parts of the joints to reduce friction and wear-and-tear. Too much synovial fluid can accumulate into a knee cyst. Overproduction of it may be caused by inflammation of the knee, which is often associated with arthritis. It may also be caused by a direct injury to the joint, which may cause a tear in the cartilage.
The symptoms of a knee cyst can vary. Some people may have no symptoms. Others may notice stiffness in the knee, as well as swelling and pain. This may worsen when the leg is extended or during activity. Some knee cysts may cause a noticeable bulge and a sensation of tightness in the area.
A doctor will first conduct a physical exam when diagnosing a knee cyst. He will check for a growth on the back of the knee, and evaluate the patient’s range-of-motion and symptoms. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan can help detect the cyst. X-rays may also be needed to determine if the cyst is associated with another condition, like arthritis.
If the knee cyst is not painful or interfering with activities, the patient may not require treatment at all. These cysts can often dissipate over time on their own. The exact length of time required for this varies widely in different patients.
Cysts that cause pain and limited mobility may be treated with conservative methods first. To relieve pain, a doctor can inject a medication called a corticosteroid into the knee. Patients will likely be advised to rest as much as possible, apply ice to the area, and wrap the knee in bandages following this procedure. Physical therapy can also help with patient range-of-motion. Large cysts may be drained of fluid with a needle in a process called needle aspiration.
Often, the recommended treatment depends on the underlying cause of the cyst. If the patient has torn cartilage, he may undergo surgery to correct the problem. Arthritis may be improved with medications to alleviate the cyst. Surgery to remove one is generally not recommended, due to the possible risk of damage to nerves and blood vessels. Many patients find it tolerable to simply live with the knee cyst until it goes away on its own.
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anon257064
Post 4 |
I've felt knee pain all my life. I'm 19 now almost 20. I was involved in taekwondo, marching band and bowling in high school. I've noticed that there is a hard marble like lump on the inner side of my right knee. It stiffens and is painful to move sometimes. I had people say it's a torn cartilage and/or a cyst. I used to wear knee braces (max ones) but they don't work anymore. I can't afford to go get the procedures done to see what it is, but does anyone know something that will help this? |
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CopperPipe
Post 3 |
@naturesgurl3 -- It sounds like you you might have a Baker's cyst, especially since there's no pain, but in my experience Baker's cysts tend to show up on the side or front of the knee rather than the back.
Are you sure that your cyst isn't a sebaceous cyst (one in the skin)? That would seem slightly more likely for a cyst behind the knee, especially since the back of the knees is usually pretty fleshy on most people.
Again, I'm not saying you don't have a Baker's cyst of the knee, but I'm just saying you might want to get a doctor to check it out before you start hitting up the knee cyst treatment aisle at your local drugstore -- they can give you a little better idea of what could be going on, and then you'll be able to treat it in the most effective way. |
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naturesgurl3
Post 2 |
If you have a cyst behind the knee joint, what is the treatment? I randomly noticed a lump on the back of my knee the other week, and I thought that I had just banged my leg or something, but it didn't go down.
So now I'm worried that it could be a cyst. I read that a lot of knee pain is from cysts, but I'm lacking that symptom. There's no pain, just the lump. Does that sound like it could be a bakers lump, or a cyst in my knee?
I'm not too worried about it since it's not getting any bigger, and it's not painful, but still, I'd like to keep an eye on it. Is this the best course, or should I see my orthopedist? |
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StreamFinder
Post 1 |
I've recently been experiencing a lot of pain in my knee, so I'm starting to wonder if it could be caused by a cyst.
I am a hard-core runner (I do 6 miles a day, minimum), so I'm kind of used to knee pain, but this is different than just muscle soreness or a joint issue.
Do you think that I could possibly have a cyst in the knee? There's no lump, and no other symptoms besides pain. I had a friend who once had a baker cyst behind the knee take a look at it, but he said he wasn't sure. What do you think could be going on? |
