Strategies For Treating A Baker's Cyst

Physical Therapy

An individual experiencing symptoms from their Baker's cyst may be advised to have physical therapy as part of their treatment. When a patient's Baker's cyst grows large enough, it can easily cause them to have difficulty with joint movement. The cyst can cause the individual to be unable to mobilize the joint physically, or it can cause them to experience severe pain upon attempting to mobilize the knee joint. By the time the cyst has grown large enough to cause such symptoms, the muscles of the knee have become weak as a result of reduced muscle use. This mechanism can lead to problems with an individual's overall balance and stability when standing or walking because the muscles that move the knee can no longer support it. Physical therapy can help a patient learn how to do exercises, strengthening moves, and manipulations to rebuild the muscle strength in the knees. The exercises and movements are also effective at improving an individual's range of motion in the knee. With consistent physical therapy, a patient can prevent and even reverse any effects on their balance and stability caused by their Baker's cyst.

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Pain Relief Medication

Pain relief medication may be recommended or prescribed for patients experiencing significant pain from their Baker's cyst. In most cases, over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, acetylsalicylic acid, and naproxen sodium are all that is needed to help alleviate the pain from a cyst. Corticosteroid medications can also help with pain relief when they are injected into the site of the cyst because they reduce inflammation. In more severe cases where a patient cannot undergo a surgical procedure to remove an extremely painful cyst, their physician may prescribe stronger painkillers such as narcotic opioids to manage their pain. In circumstances where a patient's Baker's cyst ruptures, they may be prescribed a short round of narcotic painkillers. Some individuals may be prescribed systemic steroids if they are experiencing an excessive amount of inflammation from the cyst itself or the rupture of their cyst. Oral steroids help stop the response of the immune system that causes excessive swelling and pain. Both over-the-counter pain relievers and prescription painkillers may be necessary during recovery for an individual who undergoes surgery to remove their cyst.

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