Can a baker's cyst????

[kfayler]

I was diagnosed with a baker's cyst about eight months ago.  The pain comes and goes.  Right now I'm having intense pain down my left calf muscle and my shins.  Here's what's bothering me about the diagnosis.  It seems most of the research I've found shows baker's cysts "blow out" the back of the knee BENEATH the bend of the knee.  Mine is on the back of my leg, but ABOVE the bend of my knee.  Could this have been misdiagnosed? I'm really worried about this!!!

[shadehawk]

kfayler,

It is usually a good idea to have a second opinion.  You could have further hurt your knee since your assessment. 

Are you going to physio at all or are you doing home exercises for your injury?

Hope that you can get an appointment soon and get some answers to your knee problems.  Let us know how everything is going.

Shade

[kfayler]

I was actually diagnosed at the ER.  He acted as though it were no big deal. Told me to take ibuprophen for the pain and if it got to be too much I could go to a specialist.  It was very passe about the whole thing.

I went to the ER because it was a painful knot.  It wasn't red or fevered, but it scared me and I thought I may have had a blood clot.  Again, the Dr. was very matter of fact that it was a "simple" baker's cyst.  I was given no  referral, no plan of action as far as exercises.  Just discharged and sent on my way.

I've been walking a lot more lately than I had, and I wonder if that has caused the flare up of pain?

Kristie

[shadehawk]

Kristie,

Could be because you are walking more of late, but if you are still having problems it would not hurt speaking with your GP and getting a referral.  Reading articles usually say that this is usually a secondary condition to other knee damage.

http://www.ohiohealth.com/healthreference/reference/832BF70D-9516-4756-872E946C9961C8D6.htm?

Good luck,

Shade

[stgiles16]

Both of my Bakers Cysts were  above the bend in my knee. I was never diagnosed with any other knee problem until I was hurt in an accident. I have no idea why I had them. The first one burst (MAJOR OUCH) and I had the second one cut out. I have not had a recurrance since then.

Get a second opinion if it is really painful. It is usally a sign of other problems. good luck
missy

[jbksmomma]

I too have a cyst on my knee but its on the inside of my left knee. I get shooting pain don my calf and up my thigh as well but wasnt sure why. A lady on here told me it could ne the cyst is actually leaking and that could be causing the pain. Im not sure I have an appointment May 1 but as far as me having a bakers cyst I dont know what kind I have. They put me on Motrin 800 and Vicodin so who knows. I'll post and let you know!

[jathib]

The Baker's cyst is not really a concern but whatever is causing it could be. The ER is not the place to get a diagnosis for this sort of thing. See an orthopedic surgeon who will order x-rays, and an MRI so you can find out what's really going on with your knee.

[maryannhou]

I had a meniscus repair in jan was told than cartlidge damage in my lateral compartment was my worry not the tear. was also told i had a baker cyst. i went last week for another mri because of increase swelling and pain. the arthritis or cartlidge damage has spread to the other side of my knee, the medial section. the chrondoplaticia (?) is back and the baker cyst is larger than it was. I get terrible pain in the back of my knee very tight feeling. at times i feel like somethign running down the back of my leg. i am on my legs alot ( i work pt in a deli as a clerk). alittle nervous to what he wants to do now. was told in jan i would need a tkr alot sooner than someone else my age, but i doubt he will go that route now.