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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffMany times, no treatment is required and a Baker's cyst will disappear on its own.
If the cyst is very large and causes a lot of pain, your doctor may use the following treatments:
- Physical therapy. Icing, a compression wrap and crutches may help reduce pain and swelling. Gentle range-of-motion and strengthening exercises for the muscles around your knee also may help to reduce your symptoms and preserve knee function.
- Fluid drainage. Your doctor may drain the fluid from the knee joint using a needle. This is called needle aspiration and is often performed under ultrasound guidance.
- Medication. Your doctor may inject a corticosteroid medication, such as cortisone, into your knee to reduce inflammation. This may relieve pain, but it doesn't always prevent recurrence of the cyst.
Typically though, doctors treat the underlying cause rather than the Baker's cyst itself.
If your doctor determines that a cartilage tear is causing the overproduction of synovial fluid, he or she may recommend surgery to remove or repair the torn cartilage.
In some instances, particularly if you have osteoarthritis, the cyst may not go away even after your doctor treats the underlying cause. If the cyst doesn't get better, causes pain and interferes with your ability to bend your knee, or if — in spite of aspirations — fluid in the cyst recurs and hinders knee function, you may need to be evaluated for surgery to remove the cyst.
- Foley BA, et al. Injection therapy of bursitis and tendinitis. In: Roberts JR, et al. Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine. 5th ed. Maryland Heights, Mo.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/184552931-3/955852100/2083/443.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3623-4..00052-3--s0245_2527. Accessed Feb. 19, 2010.
- Rupp S, et al. Popliteal cysts in adults. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2002;30:112.
- Handy JR. Popliteal cysts in adults: A review. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2001;31:108.
- Cleveland KB. Nontraumatic soft-tissue disorders. In: Canale ST, et al. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/184837580-2/0/1584/169.html?tocnode=55686842&fromURL=169.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-03329-9..50027-1--cesec17_905. Accessed Feb. 19, 2010.
- Centeno CJ, et al. Sclerotherapy of Baker's cyst with imaging confirmation of resolution. Pain Physician. 2008;11:257.
- Laskowski ER (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 24, 2010.
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