Baker’s Cyst Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

What is Baker’s Cyst?

It is basically the fluid filled cyst which causes the feeling of bulge and tightness behind the knee. In addition to this, the pain may get worse while extending the knee or flexing or when the sufferer is active. Other name for the condition is popliteal cyst. It is mostly caused due to the knee joint problem, for example cartilage tear or arthritis. Both the conditions tend to cause the knee producing excessive fluid, thus leading to the condition.

Even though, Baker’s cyst results swelling whilst making the sufferer very uncomfortable, by treating the underlying probable problem provides relief in majority of the causes.

What are the Symptoms of Baker’s Cyst?

In few cases, the condition is not noticeable while causing no pain at all. In case the symptoms are experienced, they would be:

• Knee stiffness.
• Knee pain.
• Swelling behind the knee, also in the leg sometimes.
The symptoms can turn worse in case of standing still for a very long time, or being active.

When is the high time to consult a doctor?

In case of experiencing swelling and pain behind the knee, one must immediately consult a doctor in order to find out the underlying cause.

What are the Causes of Baker’s Cyst?

The lubricating fluid known as synovial fluid tends to help the leg smoothly swing plus lessens friction between your knee’s moving parts. However, sometimes, your knee produces excessive synovial fluid that results fluid building in popliteal bursa (back knee area) causing the condition Baker’s cyst. Such can happen due to:
• Knee injury, for example cartilage tears.
• Knee joint inflammation, for example occurs with different kinds of arthritis.

Discuss the complications:

Hardly, the baker’s cyst tends to burst, leaking synovial fluid into your calf region, resulting:
• Swelling.
• Sharp knee pain.

How is Baker’s Cyst Diagnosed?

Physical exam can help diagnosing baker’s cyst. Though, since few symptoms of the condition mimic the ones of some very serious conditions for example tumor, aneurysm or blood clot, the doctor may advice certain noninvasive imaging tests in order to determine the exact problem, such tests include:
• MRI
• Ultrasound.

How is Baker Cyst Treated?

Usually, no particular treatment is needed and the condition tends to disappear itself. In case the cyst is quite large resulting great pain, the doctor can use certain treatments including:

• Fluid drainage.
• Medication.
• Physical therapy.

Normally, the purpose of baker’s cyst treatment is to treat the basic cause rather the condition itself. In case the doctor finds out that excessive synovial fluid is caused due to cartilage tear, he may advice surgery to repair or remove the torn cartilage.

If the condition is linked with osteoarthritis, it would remain swollen even after receiving the treatment of arthritis. Surgery would be advice in order to remove the cyst which is not resolving, whilst affecting the joint movement.

Look at the few ways that can help you prevent knee injury:

• Always wear proper shoes.
• Always use your feet balls to turn rather the knees.
• Prior exercising, warm up yourself, afterwards cool down yourself.
• In case of receiving knee injury, immediately stop and take good care of it. Consult a doctor if the condition worsens.

 

By : Natural Health News