I have a THR coming up and a Baker's cyst on opposite side

Posted , 2 users are following.

Hi everyone- I have had intermittent stiffness and pain from the right sacroiliac joint for years which finally began to be more noticeable in right groin, and hip damage from osteoarthritis was diagnosed with all the usual X-rays. Surgery for hip replacement is on 13 March and I'm assured there is no reason why it shouldn't go well.

only problem is that before all the THR discussion kicked off, I first went to the doctor with a painful left knee and he diagnosed a Baker's cyst. This is almost more of a problem at the moment than the hip,and is waking me up most nights. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do about it? I shall be putting more weight on my knee when recovering from the hip, and I don't want to do more damage. Is chiropractic/physio/massage likely to help?

many thanks all.

1 like, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Posted

    Since a bakers cyst is a symptom and not a condition in itself, it is actually entirely possible that your cyst is caused by the hip! Walking out of alignment can cause one. So on two fronts this isn't an easy question, because we don't know what the underlying diagnosis is, and you have left it very late - as far as I am aware there are only two "instant" treatments, and neither may be available this close to surgery. One is drainage - but that may not be possible due to infection risk. The other is steroid injections, but I am not sure if the latter can be done this close to the operation. You would need to speak to the doctor about these options. 

    Anything else is going to take weeks if not more. Regular rest is required - you'll probably get that anyway. Icing. Use a compression support around the knee. 

    This is a form of bursitis - and massage can help bursitis in other areas. But I checked this out and it appears that the structure of the cyst means that massage can actually aggravate it! Apparently this is something to do with the structure of the blockage. Google bakers cyst massage and there's an article from Massage Today. If I put a link the post will end up in moderation! 

    I seem to recall being told, or reading somewhere, that cold pressed castor oil rubbed into the knee gently can help - but this is longer term and I'm not convinced I believe it!

    Given the circumstances I would suggest that anything more rigorous than that should only be done on medical advice though, because there is a real risk of making things worse for yourself.

    • Posted

      Thank you so much, Beth, for your very helpful reply.  The knee has only just started to become a real problem, which was why I went to the doctor to begin with. Then he saw on my notes that I had seen another doctor in the practice about referral to a consultant re THR, and we turned our attention to that and never got back to the knee, except that he gave me Naproxin and Omeprazole - which killed the hip pain and did zilch for the knee! I have been on it since then, a matter of a few weeks, with occasional gaps when I forgot to take it or the pain was not bad enough.

      I will look at the article you suggested but, like you, I am linking the BC with the hip + walking alignment and I expect it to clear up once I am walking properly again.  Let's hope.

    • Posted

      That's entirely possible. And the walking out of alignment does sound like it's the cause. I haven't had that, but before my replacement I had bursitis in the hip, so I can relate to the pain, and the medication doesn't do a thing for it. Fortunately hip bursitis can be resolved by massage, so my physio showed me how to do it. And it still took several weeks to fully resolve. 

    • Posted

      Poor you - I have not had bursitis as far as I know, unless this is what a Bakers cyst is. Perhaps you know? Your suggestions of rest, icing and a knee support are all good ones and cold-pressed castor oil isn't such a mad idea: I believe it's a naturopathic treatment but would have to look it up to see its uses.  I will bear drainage in mind if I can't bend my leg properly again (went through a phase of that but it's better now) but steroid injections would be a very last resort for me.

      how long is it since you had your THR?

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