Have a Baker’s cyst behind my knee - can I keep running?

[Runaway28]

Hi, I started to run in Spring after years of thinking it was not possible due to my previous knee ops for cartilage repair. Bought good trainers, wear basic knee supports and amazingly have got up to 3k! I repeat the Wk4 and 5 runs, always leave a few days gap and this seemed to work for me. My knees are 60 years old and a teensy creaky but I’ve had no pain and no aches when running (once I’d got past Wk1!) and even thought one day I might do a park run... but now I’ve found a small grape-size lump behind my right knee. GP says it is a Baker’s cyst, not serious, but I should stop running. Cycle or swim instead. Aagh! So I’ve not run for three weeks now and I miss it more than I’d ever imagined.

Any advice? Would it be safe/wise for me to regularly run just a short distance?

[Dexy5 Graduate]

Hello Runaway28’ I do feel for you as I had a bakers cyst prior to starting running at 60, and I know how painful it can be. I found it really painful when gardening with the squatting involved. With lots of knee issues at the time, I went to a consultant and had an MRI scan to check it all out. Turned out I had early arthritis, a spur on my cartilage and Baker’s Cyst. I was referred to a physio who gave me lots of exercises to strengthen the knees and surrounding muscles. I’m not sure if that helped get rid of the cyst or if it just went of it’s own accord.

I wouldn’t run against your doctors advice but it might be worth seeing if you can strengthen your legs by exercise while you aren’t running. I am glad to say that running has improved my knees and that it was probably sitting at a desk for 40 years that created my problems.

Good luck to you.

[Runaway28 in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks for your reply, that’s really helpful to know. Will get some physio advice and keep hopeful!