Becker's cyst under the knee

Baker's popliteal cyst is a benign pathology that develops as a result of filling the synovial bladder with articular fluid. It can be of different sizes and is accompanied by discomfort or pain. Consider the conditions for the formation of a Baker cyst under the knee, its treatment, symptoms and means of prevention.

Causes of the formation of popliteal cysts and symptoms of the disease

The cyst-bakurapredstavlyaet a small bag filled with fluid in the popliteal fossa. A characteristic feature of the pathology is that it is formed in the weakest area of ​​the articular capsule. A hernia of the synovial membrane appears between the two muscles and remains connected to the joint with a small leg.

Find out the causes of pathology

Any joint contains synovial fluid, which acts as a lubricant and reduces friction. When too much synovial fluid is produced, or the space containing it is compressed, it accumulates on the back of the knee. This leads to the formation of a cyst in the popliteal space. Almost all diseases of the knee joint can lead to this phenomenon.

Highlight the most common causes of Baker cyst formation at the age of 40 years:

• Meniscus injury. The meniscus is an articular cartilage that plays an important supporting role in the knee. The risk of rupture or injury to the meniscus increases with significant physical exertion, falls or knee bumps, for example, in sports.
• Vices of the knee joint, including the synovial membrane.
• Arthritis of juveniles. This is an inflammatory disease of the joints that occurs in childhood, for example, as a complication of a sore throat.

The common causes of the development of pathology after 40 years include:

• osteoarthritis and cartilage degeneration;
• quadriceps insufficiency;
• rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease of cartilage.

How does a Baker cyst manifest itself?

First of all, there is a feeling of discomfort, which varies depending on the size of the cyst. We list the most common symptoms of Baker's cyst:

• In many cases, a popliteal cyst of a small size does not cause pain and goes unnoticed, and can be detected by chance.
• The cyst manifests as swelling in the form of a ball in the popliteal fossa, which can reach the size of a tennis ball. To the touch, the edema is more or less firm and elastic, does not move, and seems more like a change in the position of the knee when the popliteal area is stretched.
• Depending on its size, a cyst can interfere with knee bending, especially in a squatting position, as well as walking.
• The cyst is manifested by pain when the adjacent muscles are compressed, between which it is located.
• There may be a feeling of stiffness in the affected knee.
• Large edema can also compress the popliteal artery or nerve and manifest as a burning sensation or tingling in the calf.
• Some forced loads, such as stretching or squatting, can lead to a cyst rupture. This condition is accompanied by sudden acute pain in the knee, followed by rapid swelling of the legs due to the flow of synovial fluid into the muscles.

Thus, the intensity of the symptoms tends to increase during exercise or, conversely, from prolonged immobility.

Diagnosis of the disease

As a rule, the description of the symptoms already allows the doctor to make a diagnosis. In this case, these types of diagnostics can be assigned:

• physical examination;
• Ultrasound to assess the size and location of the cyst;
• radiograph to determine the degree of wear of the knee joint;
• MRI for bleeding and tissue rupture gives information about the causes of the cyst;
• laboratory tests to check the parameters of inflammation and the presence of rheumatoid factors.

Treatment options

Treatment of Baker's cysts on the knee joint can be carried out using traditional methods, and using folk remedies. It should be noted that in most cases it is not necessary and the cyst passes spontaneously within a few days.

Traditional therapy

Treatment should be carried out only in the case of functional disorders, such as stiffness in the knee, difficulty walking, or constant pain. There are several methods of therapy:

• Injection of corticosteroids directly into the cyst will reduce pain and inflammation and lead to its rapid resorption. At the same time, there is a high risk of recurrence of the cyst.
• Drainage. To eliminate the excess of synovial fluid, the cyst is punctured by a needle. The procedure is quick and painless, but with the risk of recurrence.
• Bandage. An elastic bandage applied to the knee will prevent the rapid re-formation of cysts, since an increase in the muscle contraction of the knee joint is usually associated with exercise.

The surgical option is chosen in case of failure of other therapeutic methods of treatment. Operational intervention is indicated when the popliteal cyst is due to the presence of osteoarthritis. However, the long-term effectiveness of such an intervention has not been proven.

ethnoscience

It must be understood that folk remedies for treating Baker's knee cysts will be most effective in the early stages of the disease or if used simultaneously with traditional therapy. We bring to your attention the most popular recipes, how to treat a Baker cyst under the knee, in the opinion of readers.

Compress from celandine:

1. 15-20 g of finely chopped herbs should be poured with boiling water (100-150 ml).
2. Cover with a lid, the broth must be insisted about 20-25 minutes.
3. Put the resulting mass on gauze and tie to the knee. Keep the compress for 2 hours.
4. Freshly harvested color should be crushed in a mortar and pour badger melted fat in equal proportion.
5. The mixture should be stirred and infused in a warm place for 2 hours.
6. The ointment is applied daily to the knee, the duration of application is 5-6 hours.

Ointment for treating Baker's cyst of the knee joint in velvet flowers:

Doctors insist that the treatment of Baker's cyst of the knee using traditional methods should be considered as an addition to the main therapy. Take care and be healthy!