Bakers cyst

[Sjhoney]

Hi!

I’ve had about 4 bakers cysts since having my knee replacement 18mths ago.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? I’m just not sure what’s causing them? Very hard to get answers right now.

Thanks!

Sarah

[Sjhoney]

Thanks for replying! I was told this wouldn’t happen after TKR but I’ve had more since than before! I’m just very frustrated as you need to jump thru hoops at the moment to talk to anyone in rheumatology 😩

[Deeb1764]

I liked this I as I get them and was told I need both knees replaced but the link I found says they go away about a year AFTER TKR. Glad I saw this post as I thought they would automatically go away not having to wait maybe a year.

[Sjhoney in reply to Deeb1764]

Yes I was told by my surgeon that they would disappear after surgery? Obvs this hasn’t been the case 🙄I’m going to call rheumatology helpline fir some advice. I don’t think the GP has much knowledge tbh.

[Deeb1764 in reply to Sjhoney]

Yes been reading since I read your post there is a lot off research showing they don’t “just disappear” which is what I thought they would do too.

[Sjhoney in reply to Deeb1764]

Does it say what causes them? My knee def feels different when one is brewing, swollen and tender.

[Deeb1764 in reply to Sjhoney]

It's caused when the tissue behind the knee joint becomes swollen and inflamed. The swelling and inflammation can cause:

pain in the knee and calf

a build-up of fluid around the knee

occasional locking or clicking in the knee joint

However, sometimes a Baker's cyst may not cause any symptoms other than the fluid-filled swelling at the back of the knee.

A Baker's cyst can sometimes burst (rupture), resulting in fluid leaking down into your calf. This can cause sharp pain, swelling and redness in your calf.

What causes a Baker's cyst?

Knee damage caused by a sports-related injury or a blow to the knee can lead to a Baker's cyst developing.

A Baker's cyst can also sometimes occur if you have a health condition such as:

osteoarthritis – usually caused by age-related "wear and tear" of joints; it particularly affects the knees, hips, hands and big toe

inflammatory arthritis – including rheumatoid arthritis, which is a less common type of arthritis and is caused by the immune system attacking the joints

gout – a type of arthritis that usually affects the big toe and is caused by a build-up of the waste product uric acid in the blood

Baker's cysts are more common in women than men, probably because women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. They usually develop in people aged over 40, although can affect people of any age, including children.

[Deeb1764 in reply to Sjhoney]

From NHS webpage

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Sjhoney]

I had had Baker Cysts for around 12 years on and off behind a RA/osteo knee and was told it’s also the alignment of my knee cap. The “popliteal fossa” .. soft area/depression behind the knee .. is very congested due to my knee cap pushing back causing the misalignment. That is a main reason I am told it feels so troublesome as there’s not much space. However they are painful for anyone. I’ve had such great relief with the hydrocortisone shots to the knee over the years which make the cyst disappear for around 7-9 months that I’ve not gone for knee replacement yet, but I feel it will be needed eventually. I originally thought the cysts disappeared after knee replacement and then saw a few people in here saying they still had them.

[Sjhoney in reply to Neonkittie17]

Hi, congestion is a good word, that’s often how I describe it. It’s just frustrating as otherwise my new knee is great 😩

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Sjhoney]

I hope it settles for you soon. Did you have a knee steroid in it or did these Baker cysts post op subside (and then return? 🤨)

[Sjhoney in reply to Neonkittie17]

They eventually subside, but they’re painful to begin with 🙄

[silentpool]

I had these cysts for years prior to my RA diagnosis in 2018. The rheumatologist told me that they were contributing to the damage to my knees and has drained them 3 times and injected steroids. The third time was in October 2019, the last time I have seen anyone. He said that I should reduce the amount of exercise I was doing including the walking for health walks (!!) and restrict myself to gentle walks, which I have been doing, but would dearly love to increase what I can do. However without the prospect of F2F appointments I am scared to push myself in case the cysts return. I don't know whether swelling in a cyst is always damaging to joints; he certainly gave me that impression.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to silentpool]

In my experience of these for the last 13 years, walking helped them more as they seemed to bulge and be more painful if I didn’t move much. We are all different though. I think if the cyst gets large it can press on other areas to cause pain and may cause damage but I used to have the knee steroid injection and it made the cyst disappear like magic for 7-9 months. I was told draining wasn’t the way for me.

[Sjhoney in reply to Neonkittie17]

I’ve never had much swelling, I just know when something is up. Not even sure if it’s the same one or a new one every time. GP doesn’t know enough about it and haven’t spoken to rheumatologist for over six months.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Sjhoney]

That I don’t know if it keeps inflating or is a new one ... a mystery!

[Neonkittie17]

Sounded like a real fast reaction you had there. Mine usually start small then increase so I can’t bend the knee going downstairs. I had an IV steroid with my Rtx two weeks ago so that has sent the Baker Cyst packing for a while. Mine is usually a domed swelling and is very tender to touch but not usually hot. Wish we could banish them permanently.