Most insurance companies require a second opinion before agreeing to reimburse a patient for an aspiration procedure. Getting a second opinion from a physician who is as qualified as the physician who gave the initial diagnosis is advisable in any case. Understand the potential risks and benefits of aspiration, and ask your physician any questions that will help you better understand the procedure. It can also help to talk to someone else who has undergone the same procedure.
Any physical problems, such as a fever or infection, should be reported to your physician, and you should notify your physician of any medication you are taking. You will probably not need any anaesthetic and should not have restrictions placed on food or drink in the days preceding aspiration. Here are some important steps to remember as you prepare to go to the hospital or outpatient clinic for an aspiration of your baker's cyst: At most medical centers, you will go to "patient admissions" to check in for your aspiration procedure.
Aspiration is usually an outpatient procedure but there may be a separate department for inpatient surgery, so be sure to ask your doctor. After you have checked in to the hospital or clinic for your aspiration, you will go to a holding area where the final preparations are made.
Paperwork regarding your past medical history and medication allergies is completed. You will change into a hospital gown, and remove all of your jewelry. You may be given a narcotic painkiller or a sedative, so you should arrange ahead of time for someone to help you leave the hospital and drive you home.
Wear a loose pair of pants or other clothing that will fit comfortably over your knee bandage when you leave the hospital. Most aspirations for baker's cysts take about 15 minutes to perform. You are usually given a local anesthetic that numbs your lower leg.
Your physician will insert a needle into the center of the Baker's cyst. The thick, transparent joint fluid is slowly removed. Depending on the size of your cyst, the physician may have to insert the needle and draw fluid multiple times. When all the fluid has been removed, your cyst will generally no longer be visible. Your knee is wrapped with a compressive dressing that helps stop tissues from expanding and collects any minor drainage that may occur.
Stitches are not needed. After an aspiration, your knee may look and feel as if it has been deflated. Patients do not generally need to go to the recovery room after an aspiration. You will be taken to the waiting room or another quiet area in the doctor's office or hospital.
Your healthcare provider will ask you about your medical history and your symptoms. They will give you a physical exam, which will include a careful exam of your knee. If the cause of your symptoms isn't clear, you may have imaging tests, such as:. Some Baker cysts go away without any treatment. If your cyst starts causing symptoms, you might need treatment at that time. If you do have symptoms, you may be treated depending on the cause of your cyst.
For example, you may need medicine for rheumatoid arthritis. Or you may need physical therapy for osteoarthritis. Most Baker cysts go away without surgery. Healthcare providers only rarely advise surgery. You might need surgery if your Baker cyst is causing you severe symptoms and no other treatments have worked. Your provider will check you carefully for other knee problems to treat before advising surgery.
In many cases, a Baker cyst will come back after surgery. In rare cases, a Baker cyst may cause complications. The cyst may enlarge, which may cause redness and swelling. The cyst may also rupture, causing warmth, redness, and pain in your calf. The symptoms may be the same as a blood clot in the veins of the legs. Rupture can also lead to its own complications, such as:.
If your cyst starts causing mild symptoms, plan to see your healthcare provider soon. See them right away if your leg is red and swollen. These symptoms may mean your Baker cyst has ruptured. Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:. Skip to content. Baker Cyst Not what you're looking for? Start New Search. What is a Baker cyst? What causes a Baker cyst? Who is at risk for a Baker cyst? You may be more likely to get a Baker cyst if you have other problems of the knee joint, such as: Osteoarthritis of the knee Rheumatoid arthritis of the knee Tearing of the pads of cartilage menisci inside the knee Infectious arthritis.
What are the symptoms of a Baker cyst? If you do have symptoms, they may include: Pain in the back of the knee Knee stiffness Sense of swelling or fullness behind the knee, especially when you straighten your leg A swelling behind the knee that goes away when you bend your knee These symptoms tend to get worse when standing for a long time or being active. How is a Baker cyst diagnosed? If the cause of your symptoms isn't clear, you may have imaging tests, such as: Ultrasound, to view the cyst in more detail X-ray, to get more information about the bones of the joint MRI, if the diagnosis is still unclear after ultrasound or your provider is considering surgery.
How is a Baker cyst treated? Other treatments for a Baker cyst can include: Over-the-counter pain medicines Arthrocentesis to removes excess fluid from the joint space Steroid injection into the joint to reduce cyst size Surgery to remove the cyst Most Baker cysts go away without surgery. The incision may sting if you flex and extend your knee, so try to minimize movement for about a week. For two or three days after surgery, you may experience night sweats and a fever of up to Your physician may suggest acetaminophen, coughing, and deep breathing to get over this.
This is common and should not alarm you. As soon as possible after surgery, you should begin doing physical therapy as directed by your surgeon. You may return to work the next day after excision, depending on the severity of your pain. The underlying cause of your baker's cyst, whether it was arthritis, torn cartilage, or other knee problems, usually dictates the specific rehabilitation program you need to undergo.
You can begin physical therapy within 48 hours after excision in most cases, depending on the overall condition of your knee. After excision, you usually need to avoid strenuous activities that put pressure on the bones in your knee.
Running, jumping, or twisting may aggravate the synovial membrane and increase its production of fluid, causing your cyst to swell again. The rehabilitation program to help heal your knee after a baker's cyst excision is usually similar to the program used to heal a meniscus tear. Your physician or physical therapist usually designs a custom rehab program that follows a general pattern.
For one to two weeks after surgery, you should typically rest your knee to allow the incisions to close properly. Your physical therapist can teach you stretches and mild exercises to increase your range of motion. After healing, it usually takes two to six weeks of strengthening exercises to ensure you have proper muscle strength to support your knee. Continuing to visit your therapist can help you learn the proper form and approach to the recommended workout.
After about six weeks of rehab, physical therapy can typically become activity-oriented as you regain the ability to perform complicated movements, using stationary bikes, elliptical machines, and cross-country skiing machines. When you feel comfortable performing these gym activities, you are usually ready to return to your favorite recreational activities. Physicians usually suggest that you continue strength training even after your knee has been rehabilitated. Have your physician periodically check your knee for strength and signs of a recurring baker's cyst.
The best way to prevent a recurring baker's cyst is to properly treat the knee problem or disease that caused the cyst. Once cysts heal, they rarely return. Becoming less involved in strenuous activities, like contact sports or long distance running, may help prevent future baker's cysts. But you do not need to avoid activities or be overly concerned with prevention unless the underlying cause of your baker's cyst was a severe disease or injury that warrants extra prevention measures.
A baker's cyst may be more problematic later in life, harming the function of your knee joint, and you should continue to visit your physician for check-ups after the cyst heals.
Weight control is also important. One extra pound of body weight translates into three or four pounds of weight across your knee every time you take a step. Lightening the load on your knees helps them to function better. Day of Surgery. Preparing for Surgery. Surgery Procedure. Recovery Room. Home Recovery.
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