Bakers Cyst - Update

[TheBoys]

Hello

The cyst that i ve had now for over a year... has gotten worse as per an MRI I ve had last month.

Whilst there are some days when I feel " fine "... i can no longer walk nornally, run, hurry or bend the knee so this is very restrictive. I was going to Spain a couple of weeks ago and had to be ofgkiaded due to pain.

I saw a private doctor last night who indicated that there is no joint damage but I might benefit from having an arthroscopic procedure to flush out the joint and do a partial synovectomy.

This would be dependent on the views of my rheumatologist and whether he agrees it would be of benefit. I take hydroxy...and its made no difference to my RA.

Anyone ever had a synovectomy? I d be glad to be pain free... as if this goes onnas it is, in a few more years I could have more damage.

I am waiting results of Lung scans and have echocardiogram scheduled to see if an fit for methotryxate at the moment.

Paul

[NeonkittyUK]

Hi Paul, I wish you all the best with the synovectomy if you go ahead with that. What did they say after they had done the MRI scan of your knee? If I missed something whilst my Net was down recently, my apologies. My Baker Cyst recurring issues are due to the fact my knee cap is worn and there is still some permanent inflammation in there in the tissues behind the back of my knee, even though my med keeps new inflammation from happening elsewhere and keeps my CRP under 5. I still have good movement and much more so when I can get a steroid injection in it about every year. At some point I will go ahead with the TKR. I thought that Baker Cysts came when there was a significant amount of inflammation as I have described, but I don't know enough about anyone else's Baker Cysts to comment on that! Mine in the past has filled the back of the knee up (the popliteal fossa area) with this sac/cyst of fluid if that makes sense, and I know it is time to ask for a steroid injection when I can't bend it properly going downstairs. It feels full and painful and stiff when it plays up. Not moving makes it worse. Aqua exercise helps it a lot.

So sorry I can't offer any experience re a synovectomy but if you have no joint damage on the knee (thank goodness) then you wouldn't be needing a TKR. I once asked re the synovectomy for my BC and was told I would be better having TKR as with my joint damage in the knee the BC would keep coming back, so understand why they said that. Is the Hydroxy holding the RA at all for you, and keeping the RA inflammation levels/ CRP down? I ask as you say Hydroxy has made no difference. Sounds like you may be flaring in general. I had more Baker Cysts when my RA was going bonkers with flares in the early RA days. Much less of the Cysts now. I hope your lung scans/ECG are good and you can start MTX and see if that improves your BC situation and RA in general (although MTX can take up to 12 weeks to fully work) and that you can soon discuss with your rheumy if synovectomy will help you. Good luck , Paul.