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Hi - I'm new to this site - first time I've joined a forum of any sort. I have had knee problems for at least 10 years but just grumbling along until the last two years when all my muscles seemed to be in permanent spasm and walking downstairs or downhill was painful to say the least. A physiotherapist suggested I might have Baker's Cysts but my doctor (without even feeling around my knees or looking at them) decided it was osteo arthritis. However as the pain got worse and the cysts got bigger about 8 weeks ago I went to an acupuncturist and after weekly treatments the cysts have drained away and whilst I am still experiencing a little stiffness in my legs I feel a new woman. I think my cysts started during my Shiatsu training (Shiatsu is a type of massage therapy) because Shiatsu is practised on the floor and requires a lot of kneeling. So I now work using a massage couch which helps a lot. The idea of draining the cysts seems at odds with my way of thinking. As I understand it the cysts are caused by a leakage of synovial fluid into the back of the leg. Meanwhile the body still continues to produce synovial fluid to lubricate the knees. If the leak is not healed in some way then the body will just continue to keep producing the fluid thus filling the cysts again if they are drained. It takes a lot of energy for the body to produce these fluids so tiredness can result - also being in continual pain is energy draining. Acupuncture come from traditional Chinese Medicine and according to Chinese Medicine theory one of my problems was a stagnation of energy in my legs - things no flowing properly, stiffness in the muscles. The acupuncture stimulates the body to rebalance itself and encourages the healing process. I would certainly reccommend it. Has anybody else chosen an alternative route?Good luck all you people out there with similar problems. Don't give up there are lots of things out there to try - if your doctor says there is nothing you can do and you must learn to live with it - don't believe them - there might be nothing they can do but there are many other therapies that could help!Big H.