Bakers Cyst(s)

tyreon
tyreon Member Posts: 15
edited 9. Oct 2012, 05:13 in Living with Arthritis archive
I am wanting to know if there is any complete resolution to my Bakers cysts. I have these cysts behind both knees. I guess I have had them for some 8 years. Over the last 1 year they have become enlarged and it can and does inhibit my cycling and early morning walking,especially descending stairs. I already see a rheumatologist and am on medication. Up until recently I was on Enbrel which I found very effective.Most recently I have gone over to Simponi.Why? Because I only have to inject myself 1/12 against 1/52 and sometimes I go travelling, not knowing where I am staying.
I have AS. I have have had both cysts aspirated x1,maybe x2,then a steroid medication injected into the area. There was some relief,and some reduction in the size of the cysts...but no resolution. Has anyone had these cysts,then thru intervention(medication or otherwise)had them resolved. Just recently I came across the intervention involving prolotherapy. I plan to ask my rheumatologist about it:con?Unproven? Or not available on the NHS but showing good results?

I know I can lay on the floor,raise my legs and apply ice packs to reduce this swelling.But I can't do it 20 out of 24: I would like to try to live as near normal life as possible. Advice/comment welcome.Resolution thru surgery? Or would this be but temporary?

Comments

  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi tyreon
    And a warm welcome from me
    My hubby had one last year , he didnt even know he had it till it burst.they treated him for a DVT till he could be scanned.
    Touch wood it hasn't come back, I see you have had them drained, so apart from that I cant think of anything you could do.
    I do hope that someone else comes forward with some more advice .
    You take care .
    Love
    Barbara
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm sorry I can't help, tyreon. I didn't even realise Bakers Cysts could become a permanent feature. I thought they were temporary things. I hope you can sort something out and continue your cycling.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • tyreon
    tyreon Member Posts: 15
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks to both of you who have replied.Since my post I have been trawling thru forums looking for info and resolution to my queries.I can find little but ambiguity.There appears no easy resolution. I have found no person who has said,'had 'em,now gone cos o...'.I have had similar difficulty getting a yes or no answer from the medical profession.I guess there is no easy, ready fix. I had reconciled myself with living and working with them recently,because,altho unsightly,they didn't over-impede what I could do in cycling/walking.Now,I might be approaching the time where I can no longer cycle the mileages I could on consecutive days. What bloody carry-on!
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello tyreon, what a carry-on indeed. I have never had one and hope I never do but if this was my problem I would be talking to my rheumatologist about it. I hope you can find an answer to it and soon. I wish you well. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • cherrybim
    cherrybim Member Posts: 334
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Tyreon,

    33 years ago I had a Baker's cyst surgically removed from my left knee. In those days both my Dr and my Orthopod said that once they had popped out there was no alternative other than surgery. It didn't go well, wound refused to heal totally and I was left with a permanently weeping sinus. The operation was repeated and the same situation occured. I then had a third op, this time by a plastic surgeon, again it was a no go and I ended up having a course of radiotherapy on the wound site which fortunately worked even though it left a permanent dark brown stain :roll:

    I now have a reoccurence behind the same knee. However, I'm booked in with one of the joint clinics (as in the two of them together, seeing the same patient) that my Rheumy and Orthopod hold as I need a TKR on my left knee and a THR on my right hip, mirror ops to those I've already had, lol.

    I'm hoping that all these years later the two consultants are going to decide and devise something really great between them :lol:

    I do hope you'll find a solution to your problem, it must be really difficult having both knees hors de combat, I do sympathise.

    Cherry
  • Soretoe2
    Soretoe2 Member Posts: 198
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    H, i I also have had recurrent Baker's cysts for over 30 years. Every now and again I go off to have them drained and take the steroids for a while and they settle down again.
    I have been told it's not that usual to keep having them reoccur. It's likely a genetic componant that does this to us and I just have to live with it.. like everything else, we just have to live with. (Don't you just love docs that keep saying that).
    So I've no advice other than what's already been written. Just offering my sympathy and support.
    Please let us know if you find something that helps that we can all ask for. Joy.
  • tyreon
    tyreon Member Posts: 15
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    again,ta for replies.

    I've rested today,and raised my legs.It does help.

    If I could be guaranteed I could get rid of these gremlins by staying horizontal,resting and elevating my legs for 2 months,I'd do so.But I ain't getting advice or feedback,or guarantee,that this would be so.So I rest,then cycle...and the gremlins stay with me until..what? I over-cook 'em and all about my knees swell. If only I could get some definitive advice on how to get rid of 'em.
    Why is my knee producing this excess of synovial fluid? Doesn't it have any common-sense! Why not take a holiday,have a T break. I must be creating enough synovial fluid for 30 athletes.
    You would also think that as I got older my arthritis would ease up:everything else does.
    W
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Arthritis ease up as we age? Fat chance! :lol: It thrives on us getting older 'cos the longer we're about the longer it has to play with us. I can't remember how many times I've had my knees aspirated but the fluid always returned - it has stopped since I went on humira (fortnightly injections) but I am sure it will return as the effectveness of the drug eases. I think this is part-and-parcel of your particular 'version' of this malarkey and perhaps the cycling exacerbates matters. I remember when Pete Sampras retired from tennis he said one of the bonuses would be he could stop the anti-inflammatories - aren't all top sportspeople on them? I'm sure bodies don't like being over-worked. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben