3. Diagnosis
It’s relatively easy to self-diagnose a Baker’s cysts. However, many people who have never heard of the condition before may choose to visit their doctor for a diagnosis. Your doctor will have no trouble identifying the cyst, and they will ask you how you incurred the injury that led to the development of the condition.
In some cases, where the patient is older than 60-years old, the doctor may order an MRI or X-ray test to detect signs of thrombosis or tumors. Your doctor will assess the integrity and strength of your knee joint to determine if there is any severe damage to your ligaments.
If your doctor finds that you have a ligament tear, they may refer you to an orthopedic surgeon for diagnosis. The orthopedic will check your test results and conduct their examination using your doctor’s reference notes. If you require surgery to fix the affected ligament, your doctor may have to wait for the swelling from the Baker’s cyst to subside, before they operate on the tendons.