The knee consists of a fluid called synovial fluid, which reduces friction between the bones of the knee joint while you move your leg. Sometimes this fluid is produced in excess, resulting in its accumulation in the back of your knee. A Baker’s cyst or popliteal cyst is a fluid-filled swelling that develops into a lump behind the knee. This causes stiffness, tightness and pain behind your knee. It is commonly seen in women and people aged over 40 (although it can develop at any age).
Baker’s cyst, in some cases, does not cause any pain and may go unnoticed. However, you may experience symptoms such as swelling behind your knee and legs, stiffness behind the knees, slight pain in the knee towards the upper calf (especially when you bend your knee or straighten it completely). Pain can become severe when you flex your knee and when you are active. Sometimes the cyst can tear open and the fluid can drain into the tissues of the lower leg, causing swelling and redness.
Baker’s cyst is caused by underlying conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout, an injury to the knee, or inflammation of the knee joint.
When you present with the above symptoms, your doctor will review your medical history and perform a thorough physical examination of your knee. Further tests such as ultrasound scan and MRI may be recommended in order confirm the diagnosis of Baker’s cyst.
Most often, Baker’s cyst does not require treatment and may disappear on its own. However, if the cyst is large and causes a lot of pain, the following treatments may be performed:
- Medications: Your doctor injects corticosteroid medications into your knee to reduce pain. However, this doesn’t always prevent the reoccurrence of the cyst.
- Fluid drainage: Fluid from your knee is drained using a needle that is guided by ultrasound. Steroid injections sometimes follow fluid drainage to reduce inflammation and pain.
- Physical therapy: Your doctor may suggest the application of ice and a compression wrap or crutches to help reduce the pain and swelling. He/she may also include strengthening and range-of-motion exercises for the muscles around the knee.
- Surgery: Your doctor may treat the underlying cause rather than the condition itself. If a cartilage tear is causing the over production of synovial fluid, surgery may be determined to repair the cartilage.
Depending on your condition, your doctor will determine the best treatment that will help alleviate your symptoms of Baker’s cyst.
Mwili wa mtu una maji yanayoitwa synovial fluid ambayo hupunguza msuguano kati ya mifupa ya mguu wakati wa kusonga mguu. Wakati mwingine umajimaji huo hutokezwa kupita kiasi, na hivyo hujipanda nyuma ya goti. Kisti ya Baker au kisti ya popliteal ni uvimbe uliojaa umajimaji ambao huendelea kuwa kiwambo nyuma ya goti. Hii husababisha ugumu, ugumu na maumivu nyuma ya goti lako. Kwa kawaida huonekana kwa wanawake na watu wenye umri wa zaidi ya miaka 40 (ingawa inaweza kutokea kwa umri wowote). Katika visa fulani, kibofu cha Baker hakisababishi maumivu yoyote na kinaweza kutambuliwa. Hata hivyo, unaweza kupata dalili kama vile uvimbe nyuma ya goti na miguu, ugumu nyuma ya goti, maumivu madogo katika goti kuelekea kiuno cha juu (hasa wakati wa bend goti au kulifanya moja kwa moja kabisa). Maumivu yanaweza kuwa makali unapoinua goti lako na unapokuwa na shughuli nyingi. Wakati mwingine kibofu hicho kinaweza kupasuka na maji yaweza kuvuja kwenye tishu za sehemu ya chini ya mguu, na kusababisha uvimbe na mwekundu. Cyst ya Baker ni ugonjwa wa msingi unaosababishwa na ugonjwa wa arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, au uvimbe wa kiungo cha goti. Ikiwa una dalili hizi, daktari wako atachunguza historia yako ya matibabu na kufanya uchunguzi wa kina wa goti. Uchunguzi zaidi kama vile uchunguzi wa ultrasound na MRI unaweza kupendekezwa ili kuthibitisha utambuzi wa kibofu cha Baker. Mara nyingi, ugonjwa wa Baker hauhitaji kutibiwa na unaweza kutoweka peke yake. Ikiwa cyst ni kubwa na inasababisha maumivu mengi, matibabu yafuatayo yanaweza kufanywa: - Dawa: Daktari wako anaingiza dawa za corticosteroid kwenye goti lako ili kupunguza maumivu. Hata hivyo, si mara zote kwamba hilo huzuia kibofu hicho kisitokee tena. - Utoaji wa umajimaji: Umajimaji kutoka kwenye goti lako hutolewa kwa kutumia sindano inayoongozwa na ultrasound. Nyakati nyingine sindano za steroidi hufuatwa na kuondolewa kwa umajimaji ili kupunguza uvimbe na maumivu. - Tiba ya kimwili: Daktari wako anaweza kupendekeza matumizi ya barafu na wrap compression au crutches kusaidia kupunguza maumivu na uvimbe. Pia, unaweza kufanya mazoezi ya kuimarisha na kuimarisha misuli ya magoti. - Upasuaji: Daktari wako anaweza kutibu kisababishi cha ugonjwa huo badala ya ugonjwa huo. Ikiwa kupasuka kwa mfupa wa mifupa kunasababisha kutokezwa kupita kiasi kwa umajimaji wa synovial, upasuaji waweza kuamuliwa ili kurekebisha mfupa wa mifupa. Kulingana na hali yako, daktari wako ataamua matibabu bora ambayo yatakusaidia kupunguza dalili za ugonjwa wa Baker.