Baker Cyst Treatment

A Baker's cyst is the commonly used medical term for a swelling, or a balloon like protrusion behind the knee. While there can be several reasons for this, the commonest ones are the inflammation of a bursa, or a fluid pouch, behind the knee, or a severe knee injury. Sometimes, when there is too much fluid produced for flexing the knee joint, this can also fill up in the bursa, which is like a balloon like sack that holds fluids.


This will appear like a bulge on the back of the knee, and may also sometimes go unnoticed. It is condition is not always a painful one. It is good to know that a Baker's Cyst is mostly harmless and will tend to disappear by itself. Only in some very rare cases will it give grief and trouble to people over a prolonged period of time. For most part, it appears and disappears on its own, without any particular pattern to its existence. For remedial measures, you should first try to get a handle on why you are having this problem - Baker's Cyst is a symptom, rather than an ailment or disease by itself. You are better off tackling the problem at the root, than trying to remove the cyst. Check to see if you have suffered a blow or have been injured in the recent past. This could possibly be the reason for the appearance of a Baker's Cyst in the first place.

If you have no underlying condition and your Baker's Cyst has been around for longer than two weeks, you should seek medical advice. It is possible that you may have to get it lanced and drained out. Meanwhile, you can keep applying cold ice packs to it for relief from the pain and discomfort. You can also continue to flex your knee. If you are not in too much pain and can manage it, try to go for a regular walk. This may very well help to heal your condition to a large extent. Just remember not to push yourself too hard, as it may cause unending problems otherwise. If you cannot go for walks, you can try to sit on a chair and keep straightening and bending your knee while in sitting position. This will be a very good exercise to disperse the fluid that has gathered without causing any additional trauma either. But do not ignore the problem if it has been around for long.