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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffIf your doctor determines that arthritis is causing the cyst, he or she may advise you to take some or all of the following steps:
- Follow the R.I.C.E. principles. These letters stand for rest, ice, compression and elevation. Rest your leg. Ice the inflamed area. Compress your knee with a wrap, sleeve or brace. And elevate your leg when possible, especially at night.
- Try over-the-counter pain-relieving medications. Drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen (Aleve, others), acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and aspirin can help relieve pain. Follow the dosing instructions on the package. Don't take more than the recommend dosage.
- Scale back your physical activity. Doing so will reduce irritation of your knee joint. Your doctor can offer you guidance on how long you need to reduce your activity levels, and he or she may be able to suggest alternative forms of exercise you can do in the meantime.
References
- Helfgott SM. Popliteal (Baker's) cyst. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed June 27, 2012.
- Handy JR. Popliteal cysts in adults: A review. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2001;31:108.
- Knee problems. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Knee_Problems/. Accessed June 27, 2012.
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