Baker's Cyst
Also called Popliteal Cyst
What is it?
A Baker's cyst is a fluid-filled cyst that causes a bulge and a feeling of tightness behind your knee. The pain can get worse when you fully flex or extend your knee or when you're active.
What causes this?
- Too much synovial fluid
- Cartilage tear
- Inflammation of the knee joint
- Underlying problem with knee like arthritis
Symptoms
- Swelling behind your knee and sometimes in your leg
- constant knee pain
- stiffness
Who can get this?
Mostly everyone can get this but adults are more likely to get this diseases because of arthritis. Children ranging from the ages of 4 to 7 most commonly get this disease also.
Treatment
Baker's cyst does eventually go away on its own but it may come back. Doctors usually treat the underlying cause instead of the actual cyst, by surgery, but sometimes they drain the cyst, prescribe medication, or issue physical therapy depending on how big the cyst is.
Works Cited
"Baker's Cyst." Definition. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
"Baker Cyst: Learn About Treatment and Surgery." MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
"Baker Cyst: Learn About Treatment and Surgery." MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.