Woke up today with painful lump behind right knee, went on google and wondering if this is a Baker’s Cyst as I believe it can be linked to autoimmune conditions. Feels ‘tight’ when walking and most uncomfortable when driving. Has anyone else experienced this? Have appointment on Monday with GP for monthly review,so will see what she says, at the moment having quiet afternoon with bag of frozen peas in a dish towel wrapped round it. Some days I just wonder ‘what’s next’, then I remember, we are Warriors! Thanks for reading, would be grateful for any information. Carol
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Fifegran
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It is a fairly common side affect of knee arthritis. For many people it does not last long or comes and goes. Bearing in mind our age demographic your Baker’s cyst is probably less likely to be linked to auto immune disease, and most likely related to an osteoarthritis condition.
It is pretty alarming though to find a lump behind your knee. Se what your doctor says next week
I have had swollen misshaped knees for years but they don’t give me any trouble. My father had very bad oesteoarthritis and suffered badly. Yes, it was alarming, appeared out of nowhere, am just lucky to have an appointment booked, usually have to wait weeks here!
Yes I had one before PMR though. This was about 15 years ago. I am 75 this year. It hang around for some time and eventually disappeared without intervention. It was troublesome but not disabling.
I have had ruptured Bakers Cysts in both legs,I also had never heard of them before. The first one was about 2 months before I was diagnosed PMR, and the second , about a month after. They were very painful,but do no lasting damage.
I’ve also got a bakers cyst which appeared suddenly a few months ago and now just comes and goes. It doesn’t bother me most of the time, just a tight feeling and I can massage it which helps. Neither rheumatologist or GP are concerned or offer any advice. I was having general problems with both knees anyway and had fluid drained and steroid injections so the bakers cyst was incidental and not sore. I feel it’s definitely PMR related as X-rays showed no OA. I appreciate general wear and tear happens as we age but I’m at the younger end of the PMR ‘norm’
I too live in Scotland and hoping to get my bus pass in next few months 🤞
Here’s hoping mine goes as quickly as it appeared! Been putting ice on it (frozen peas in tea towel), it doesn’t seem to have changed in size, seeing GP tomorrow. Thanks for replying.
Mine has completely gone,but I did have legs the size of an elephant for a few weeks,had to be tested for DVT,but all good, definitely related to PMR(the beast)
I am at the same place as you, diagnosed May/18, but currently at 9/8.5mg. An MRI of my right knee last summer revealed many organic/mechanical issues including OA and a large bakers cyst. Physic at the time said it develops due to strain on other functioning parts of the knee, and they can fill up staying in tact, or burst and subside. Mine had fluid around it so thought to have already burst. It has been painfully tight at times. Assuming my ortho surgeon will address it when I have my total knee replacement surgery, but I understand they can re-develop. Knee injections certainly do help with the discomfort.
That’s interesting that they can develop due to strain on other parts of the knee. Were you aware yours had burst? I live in hope mine will quietly disappear!
I had a knee problem about 2 years ago. I was sent to a knee dr by my gp who started talking replacement but ended up sending me to have it drained. My gp had given me an injection and sent me to physical therapy. It had about 1 teaspoon of fluid in it. All this was before my PMR was diagnosed. The last couple weeks my knee had been bothering me again especially going down stairs. My new gp sent me to a new knee dr. He gave me an injection and said it would take care of the discomfort in 2-5 days and if there was another bakers cyst it would dry it up. I wish I would have asked what the shot was. It worked!
I had cyst drained couple of weeks ago. Rheumatologist wanted to examine fluid and crystals to explain joint inflammation. Always trying to separate PMR symptoms frim orthopedic mechanical issues. I have a lot of orthopedic pains not responsive to pred
I just had a steroid injection in each knee by my gp after complaining to him about pain behind my knees. I've never had problems with my knees until about 2 months ago. Came on out of the blue. It's difficult to sit, as well as rise from a seated position, and having an afternoon walk is an impossible chore. I didn't think the pain was due to a cyst, because I felt no lumps. Much better now with the shots. . Just when I think things are status quo, PMR comes up with yet another surprise.
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