Treatment for Baker's Cyst

The treatment for Baker's cyst, which is a type of synovial cyst, must be guided by an orthopedist or a physical therapist and usually starts with rest of the joint and treatment of the problem that is causing the accumulation of fluid in the joint and the appearance of the cyst.

Depending on the problem causing the Baker's cyst, your doctor may recommend different types of treatment. For example, if the patient suffers from arthritis, the orthopedist may recommend injections of corticosteroids in the joint, since if the patient has a rupture of the ligaments, physiotherapy or surgery, for example, may be necessary.

Understand what the baker's cyst is by clicking here. The main difference between the Baker's cyst and the sebaceous cyst is the body structures involved. In a baker's cyst, the cyst is located between the gastrocnemius muscle and the tendon of the semimembranous muscle, while the sebaceous cyst is composed of sebum and is found in the dermis or hepidermis.

How to Relieve Baker's Cyst Symptoms

Some treatments, such as applying cold or physical therapy, help to alleviate the symptoms of Baker's cyst, until its cause is resolved, and include:

• Use compression stockings: help to reduce swelling in the knee, relieving pain when moving the joint and decreasing the risk of deep vein thrombosis; Apply cold compresses: applying cold to the back of the knee for 10 to 20 minutes helps to reduce swelling and pain; Take anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed by the doctor: such as Ibuprofen or Diclofenac; Doing physical therapy: uses exercises that help strengthen the knee muscles, avoiding excessive pressure on the joint and reducing pain.

In the most severe cases, where the pain is very severe or the Baker's cyst is very large, it may be necessary to drain the cyst with a needle or resort to surgery to remove the cyst.

See also: How to treat a knee injury

In order to treat the ruptured Baker cyst, it may be necessary to complement the treatment with the intake of analgesic medications by the orthopedist, such as Paracetamol or Naproxen, since the liquid can escape into the calf and cause severe pain, similar to deep vein thrombosis.

Signs of Baker's Cyst Improvement

Signs of improvement in a Baker's cyst can take up to a few months to appear, depending on the problem that is causing it, and include decreased pain, reduced swelling and easier movement of the knee.

Signs of Baker's Cyst Worsening

The signs of worsening of the Baker's cyst are mainly related to the ruptured Baker's cyst, which causes severe pain in the calf, swelling of the area and difficulty in moving the leg, which may prevent walking.

Complications of Baker's cyst

The main complication of Baker's cyst is the appearance of deep venous thrombosis due to the formation of a clot in the veins of the legs, causing symptoms similar to the ruptured cyst, such as redness, swelling of the leg and severe pain, especially in the calf.