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The main symptom of a Baker's cyst is a soft lump at the back of the knee.
The fluid-filled lump may be more visible when standing up.
The lump may be your only symptom, but you may also have:
Your symptoms may be worse after walking.
• you have a lump anywhere on your body and you do not know what it is
These could be symptoms of a burst cyst (rupture) or blood clot in the leg called DVT (deep vein thrombosis).
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.
You have symptoms like pain and swelling in your leg, and:
These could be symptoms of a blood clot that has travelled to your lungs (pulmonary embolism).
A pulmonary embolism can be life-threatening and needs to be treated immediately.
Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Bring any medicines you take with you.
The GP will examine your leg and check for other health conditions that could be causing a Baker's cyst.
They may send you for an ultrasound or MRI scan, or refer you to a specialist for more tests or to rule out any serious causes.
A Baker's cyst does not always need treatment. Sometimes, particularly in children, it will get better on its own.
If the Baker's cyst is caused by an underlying condition, your symptoms will usually get better when that condition is treated. But other treatments for a Baker's cyst can include:
A Baker's cyst can take a few months to a few years to get better.
There are things you can do to ease the pain, swelling and other symptoms of a Baker's cyst while it gets better.
They can also help if a Baker's cyst has burst (ruptured). If this happens, your symptoms will be worse than normal until the swelling goes down, which can take a few weeks.
rest your knee
gently apply an ice pack (or a bag of frozen vegetables) wrapped in a tea towel to your knee for around 10 minutes at a time, and repeat every few hours if needed
raise your leg – you can rest it on a pillow
take ibuprofen or paracetamol to help with pain and swelling
Sometimes there is no particular cause of a Baker's cyst, especially in children.
In adults they usually happen when another health condition causes damage to the knee joint, like:
Anyone can get a Baker's cyst, but they are more common in people aged 35 to 70.
