Quick recap - was diagnosed with PMR in May 2021 after 5 months of symptoms. Was put on 40 mg of Prednisone daily to start because of the GP’s worry it could be GCA. I’m currently on 4.25 mg and starting to slowly reduce to 4 mg.
The summer of 2022, I noticed that I had a lump behind my knee. I showed it to a GP and they sent me for x-rays and an ultrasound. The radiologist said it was a Baker’s Cyst and recommended I get an MRI. The requisition was sent in October 2022. I finally got the MRIs (both knees now - developed Baker’s Cyst on right side) at the end of February 2024. Just spoke with the GP and I have tears in the medial menisci in both knees. So the Baker’s cysts came about because of the torn menisci.
I have been running since my mid-teens but stopped running soon after being diagnosed with PMR (I did have a few weeks when I was originally diagnosed and was on 40 mg - I was running on trails with my dog - felt like I could do anything! I hadn’t run for 5 months at that point.) So I haven’t ran since the summer of 2021. For the 45 years that I did run, I never had any issues with my knees. I was always careful to rest and not run when I ever felt like I might be injuring myself.
I do walk daily, twice a day, a total of 6- 10 km. These are slow walks with my dog. I told the GP about my walking and they felt that it was good to continue walking if there is no pain (overall, it hasn't affected me, but sometimes it will hurt a bit at the beginning of a walk, but goes away once the walk progresses).
Some family members and friends are pointing the finger at my running, but the Baker’s cysts didn’t come about until 1.5 years of having PMR, 1 year of prednisone, and after 1 year of no running. I’m thinking it’s due to PMR and how it affects soft tissues in the body.
Are there any studies/peer-reviewed papers that speak to the damage that PMR does to soft tissues? I do have the paper about how it can affect the knee joint, but I want to be able to point to something that shows what PMR does in general. I want to be able to share this with the Sports Medicine clinic I'm being referred to (although, I probably won't get an appointment for months and months).
Thank you!
Written by
LucilleG
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Baker's cysts are seen quite often in patients with RA and there seem to be quite a few reports of them in patients with PMR. They result from excess fluid from the knee joint so I suppose that if you have synovitis in your knee due to PMR, you are likely to be at a higher risk of developing them.
You have mentioned many times how muscles and soft tissues are compromised by the underlying autoimmune disease activity that is attacking them and creating inflammation. I thank you so much for this - I never learned this from any GP or my terrible rheumy (who is no longer my rheumy!)
I'm thinking that the prednisone has helped out with any inflammation that was being produced in the knee joint due to the menisci tears. Now that I'm below 5 mg of prednisone, it might not be helping out as much.
"Baker’s cysts typically result from a problem inside the knee joint, such as osteoarthritis or a meniscus tear. These conditions cause the joint to produce excess fluid, which can lead to the formation of a cyst. Most Baker’s cysts will improve with nonsurgical treatment that includes changes in activity and anti-inflammatory medications. Some cysts may even go away on their own, with no treatment at all."
I've had Baker's cysts for years. My orthopedic surgeon doesn't seem to be worried about them tho I find them a tad annoying is all. No pain in them. I used to run for years. When I had two knee replacements, I was told not to run ever again. Sigh. Miss those days! But walking works too and is easier on the joints.
Why were you told not to run? Was the in the belief it makes the joints wear out quicker? I'm sure I have seen a study that disproved that and some surgeons say wait 6 months before restarting running.
What, wow! Yes, he said it would eventually cause small shavings or bits of the metal etc. to wear off and float around inside the joint over time and, yes, wear out eventually. I am shocked and excited! I so miss running. Thanks for that info!!! I shall do more research on this as I do have friends who are runners even with their TKR's.
From what I've been reading, it seems that my torn medial menisci caused the Baker's cysts.
I've been getting a bit of pain on the left medial border of the tibia and femur, where the medial meniscus is. I've been doing RICE and it seems to be helping.
The pain comes and goes and is not too bad so I'll monitor it, and continue to walk and not do anything that requires twisting, stopping quickly, etc. I think with tears in both medial menisci, I just have to be careful and continue doing what I'm doing. I also miss running! But for now, I'm so happy that I can walk as much as I do.
I too have torn menisci, causing Bakers cysts. My GP said they are harmless and not to let them hold me back. One even burst which was painful but harmless. Orthopaedic guy told me that only Africans can tolerate running and if I kept it up, I would get other injuries. I walked after that but it wasn't until I stopped doing lunges that my cysts went away. GP said they would drain one day and they have. I just take it easy on the knees now, knowing that they are susceptible.
Thanks for this! Yes, the actual Baker's cysts don't bother me at all, it is just the medial side of my knee that bothers me every now and then. But that hasn't stopped me from walking! It did get worse a few days ago (the left knee that developed the first Baker's cyst). It woke me up and I ended up not being able to sleep on my side for a few nights. I elevated it, iced it, wrapped it and took it easy - it now is back to where it was before - just some small aches every now and then.
You'll know if it has burst, whole lower leg swells up and is very painful. But it drains and the cyst reforms. But as I said, harmless and very common.
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