Bakers Cysts

mudie68

Hi,
I have osteo in base of spine, both hips, and not too bad in my knees, but recently I have developed Baker Cysts on and behind both knee caps; and wow! the pain is excruciating to say the least and impossible to walk. In some people it is less profound and is caused thru' injury or osteo'.
On the 15th of this month I see a specialist for an op' on my left hip and waiting for an appointment for the Cysts. At the present time all that can be done is rest with opioids, but mostly they're not too helpful. To date the cysts are engorged with clear fluid and seem to tighten the knee caps from operating properly.
I'll be the happiest person in the world when I recieve relief thru' an op' or whatever is decided. Bye for now.....................mudie68.

dreamdaisy

I wish you well for your appointment on the 15th and I hope something can be done to help you with the cysts. I have never heard of these before - they sound painful. DD

cherrybim

Hi Mudie,

I've never heard of a Baker's cyst being described as being on and behind kneecaps.

The usual interpretation is behind the knee itself and boy aren't they painful! Walking comes to an absolute stop and I fully understand the pain you must be in!

Thirty years ago I had not one but three operations to sort out a semimembranous bursa. The thinking then was once it had "popped out" excision was the only answer. Nowadays treatment is far less invasive and surgical intervention seems to be a thing of the past, thank goodness

I hope all turns out well for you as I'm sure it will.

Cherry x

skezier

Hi Maudie,

Welcome to the forums though sorry you have got the problem.

there have bee a few posts about these so if you use the search box and type in bakers cysts it should pull up a few posts. I can't remember who they are except one who isn't on here much so may not see your post.

Its not too long till the 15th and hopefully they will sort them then. I got some vague memory that they are sorted quite well but my memory isn't brilliant so best rely on the search box really to pull up the posts.

Fingers crossed that with rest they will at least stop growing and any feelings of something trickling down the back of your knee is something you must talk to the doc about as well. nice to meet you and hope it will all sort for you on the 15th. Cris x

williamlargs

Last May after my RA was almost 3 years in remission my knee which had been troubling me for a while went up like a balloon and I felt like sh..!
Two days later my lower leg swelled up and I was sent to hospital. At the hospital I was told it was a possible blood clot (deep vein thingy) and I would require a scan. As it was a holiday weekend and no one was available to do the scan I was injected with warfrin and sent home and told to go back on the Monday. To cut a long story short I was scanned and told it was a bakers cyst behind my knee which had ruptured and caused the swelling. None the less I still had to have daily warfrin injections in my stomach for the next week!!!

My rheumy who I managed to see in July last year confirmed the bakers cyst and had occured because my RA had flared again.

I am now on MTX and my RA is very much under control once more I'm glad to say. Anyway that is my experience of a baker's cyst. Not an overly pleasant experience. :shock:

Regards

wibberley

I've had a couple of burst bakers cysts. First time it happened, they whipped me into hospital with a suspected dvt - the swelling was just the fluid from the cyst, so I was sent home again.

2nd time it happened, I knew instantly what it was and basically told the doc what to diagnose me with! Both times it happened, I just had the fluid drained off and a bit of cortisone injected in, with a course of anti-inflammatories to take.

From what I remember, we all have these cysts but arthritis-sufferers are prone to them swelling up behind the knee (I think they're also called Housewives Knee?). You can have them surgically removed but rheummys advise against this as they are there to provide support.

Lois x

julie47

Hi mudie
Welcome to the forum
Just want to wish you luck on the 15th and I hope that something can be done about the cyst.
Take care
Juliepf x

barbara12

Hi Mundie
Sorry you are suffering from a cyst, my OH had one behind his knee, but didnt know it was there till it burst, like someone else said it can be mistaken for a blood clot, his leg swelled up with the fluid.
So I do hope you can get it drained, rather then it burst.
Good Luck with it
Love
Barbara x

Hils

Hello,

I came across your note about Baker's cysts while browsing topics. I am curious as to what they are. I recently discovered a small lump at the back of my knee about the sze of a pea. It hurts to touch. I thought i was imagining it but a few weeks on it is still there. Does this bare any similarity to your symptoms?

Best wishes
Hils.x

mudie68

Thank you to you all for the well wishes with my Baker's Cyst's. I did see the specialist on the 15th and all he said 'we' must keep and eye on them. They're still there and larger, although the pain is still the same, hecka'va sore, and a nuisence to say the least. Have a phone appointment with my GP this Monday 17th April about same, see what happens then.
Again, thank you. Everyone of you are a font of knowledge and gives me a better insight into the ailment.

Thanks...............mudie.

MissKat

Ouchy... yeah the pain is excruciating... I've had burst cysts behind my knee which have seeped through to the front. I couldn't walk. Ouchy ouchy ouchy...

Big (gentle) hugs, hope you get some relief soon x x x

julie47

Hi mudie

Sorry the specialist didn't do much for you.....It is ok him saying we will keep an eye on them , but if they are causing so much pain ,surely he should do something about them eh? :???:
I wonder what your doctor will say.
I hope the telephone app goes well.
Take care
Juliepf x

Donna Mc

Hi there,
I had problems with cysts behind my knees too before i was put on Enbrel and now thankfully they are down again. The one behind my left knee was the largest. It was 10cm x 10cm. It then burst and the fluid ran down into my calf and foot until i had a leg and foot that looked like Shreks instead of mine. I went to A+E and they kept me in with a sucpected clot and done loads of tests which came back positive for a clot. It was only after they done a scan that they found out it was the cyst that had burst. They are very painful and leave your knee joint very tight so i know how you are feeling. I wish you all the best and hope they are sorted soon,
Donna.

mudie68

Thank you again for the moral support from you all. Tonight things ain't too great pain-wise; so I can assure you all these comments mean a lot. Will be in touch with results.
Thank you, mudie.