Remedies for Meniscal Cyst

Do you know how vital a meniscus is for your safe movements? To learn about meniscus, you must understand what role it plays in your body. The meniscus is a cartilage portion that acts as a shock absorber, stress transmitter, lubricating agent, and nutrition facilitator. However, when the meniscus is ripped, a tiny cyst will likely form close to the tear. It is considered to be your body’s recovery response. So, this article will focus on the valuable remedies for meniscal cyst.

How Does Cyst Develop?

These cysts are usually observed with a meniscal tear that might develop due to degenerative variations in the meniscus. Though, it might be a related injury to your knee that may result from twisting or rotating the knee. However, considering the frequency of the meniscus tear, related cysts are usually rare.

What Elevates the Risk of Meniscal Cyst?

You are likely to develop a meniscal cyst if you are involved in the following activities:

• Involvement in sports that might cause a twist or turn of your knee
• Former Knee Injury
• Associated knee damage, specifically ligament injuries  
• Aging as your degenerative tears are likely to occur more frequently  

What are the Symptoms of Meniscal Cyst?

Sometimes, the meniscal outgrowth is without any symptoms. However, if you experience any signs, it can be as follows:

• Feel pain when you stand on the problematic leg, and sensitivity along with the joint of your knee 
• Solid lump on the position of the cyst, usually over the outside aspect of the knee
• The cyst is likely to become noticeable as you flex your knee
• Rarely, a painless lump
• Knee swelling and inflammation
• Knee joint line soreness over the problematic meniscus
• Ligament injury
• Knee joint locking

How to Diagnose Meniscal Cyst?

For diagnosis, you will have to visit a consultant or specialist. It is usually visible by examining and palpating a distinct mass on your tender medial or lateral joint line. However, the doctor affirms the diagnosis through imaging tests like MRI or ultrasound. These tests show cysts and related meniscus tears.

An expert physician is not likely to confuse it with a baker’s cysts, which is an amassing of fluid that usually accumulates on the medial backside of the knee. So, fluid might enlarge this area and develop a cyst when your knee is swollen due to any underlying reason.

Special Tests for Diagnosis

• MRI can affirm your diagnosis and determine the size and position of your cyst.
• Ultrasound is also a practical imaging test that helps you analyze the cyst and guides the doctor’s area to insert the needle into the cyst to drain the fluid.

How to Treat Meniscal Cyst?

If subsidiary or minimally symptomatic, the ideal treatment you can opt for is regular ice therapy or intake of anti-inflammatory medication. Your doctor might aspirate the cyst through a local anesthetic and insert a tiny needle to drain the cyst fluid. Though, it is temporarily effective, as the bump might regrow. So, some doctors might prefer injecting a small amount of cortisone into your cyst.

On the contrary, surgery might be a definitive treatment. Doctors usually treat this condition through arthroscopy, where they insert a tiny camera into the knee joint and make another small opening for inserting instruments. So, when your physician performs an arthroscopy, they surgically remove the torn meniscus. Hence, the associated cyst is decompressed.

When Can You Resume Your Sports and Other Activities?

Though meniscus cysts don’t recover independently, they are likely to become asymptomatic significantly if you change your routine. However, if your cyst is symptomatic, you can still partake in activities. Please discuss with your doctor, as they might perform surgery to treat the meniscus problem and decompress the cyst. So, you might be able to resume the activities within three weeks after the surgery.

How Can You Prevent?

There is no traditional way through which you can prevent cysts. However, if you try to maintain good health, fitness, and conditioning, you can avoid injury to the susceptible knee. Also, if you are an athlete, you must opt for proper protective equipment, knee support, best fit shoes, and proper length cleats to perform activities safely. Also, if you are a runner or exercise, you must wear appropriate and comfortable shoes to prevent an injury.

How Does Meniscal Cyst Develop?

Typically, your meniscus cartilage tears either due to degeneration or acute injury. As a result, the fluid from your knee sac seeps out of the tear and develops into a cyst. So, it is not an actual cyst and just an outgrowth of the dislocated synovial fluid. Also, your cartilage tear acts as a single-way valve that does not allow the fluid to return to the knee. Hence, the fluid accumulates in the form of a cyst beneath your kneecap.

Usually, this problem occurs in people who has a history of knee damage, cartilage problem, or sports involvement. Also, if you have arthritis, you are more susceptible to this condition.

Not all bumps develop on the side of your knee or are visible or painful. And if you have a meniscal cyst, you are likely to feel pain, swelling, or see an outgrowth (on the side of the knee).

So, when you examine your knee, you might find a bump near your joint line. The bump is typically soft and painless. However, if you twist or rotate your knee, you might feel pain and discomfort.

Comparison: Meniscal Cyst and Bakers Cyst

If you have a baker’s cyst, you might see a swelling behind your knee that is caused due to displacement of the capsule at the backside of the joint. A baker’s cyst can also develop due to a meniscal tear, arthritis, or ligament injury. So, the only difference between the meniscal cyst and baker’s cyst is the cyst’s location and size.

Just like a meniscal lump, a Baker’s cyst can form from a meniscal tear. However, they also develop due to any knee condition that increases knee joint fluid, such as osteoarthritis or ligament damage. 

Generally, you can distinguish between a meniscal lump and a Baker’s cyst based on the location and the size of the lump.

Can the Lump Be Something Else?

If you observe an outgrowth on your knee, it can be knee joint swelling, tumor, or housemaid’s knee. You should see a doctor immediately for advice, diagnosis, and proper treatment.