Knee Cyst Surgery & Calf Pain

by Andres Torres
(Houston, Texa )

I'm 46 years old and and very active soccer player that just had a ganglion cyst removed on the inside of my left knee and removed small tear piece of the meniscal with a lot of fluid. I decided to have the surgery after many months of trying to deal with the pain and frustation of not getting better with rest and taking anti inflamatory drugs like Naproxen. The Naproxen 1000 mg per day is what kept my knee swelling down ,but it was not resolving the problem.

My knee is getting better with rehab exercises ,but my Calf Pain problem continues. I have the calf problem before the surgery and the Naproxen help me maintain a semi activity life style. I stop taking the Naproxen and the pain on my left calf continues and it is my biggest problem to full recovery.

Could this be a circulation issue? or is this related to fluid from the knee that still causing problems?

Please Advise. Thank you

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Knee Cyst Surgery & Calf Pain

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Dec 16, 2008
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calf pain
by: Bart - SII

Depending on how long ago your surgery was, the calf pain could be related to the recovery and the swelling in the knee from the procedure. However, because you said it was a problem before surgery, it may be that something else is going on.

You may have some abnormal compensations due to the fact that your knee has been injured for a period of time. I would discuss your calf pain with your doctor or therapist and get their opinions. They may want to do some diagnostic tests to make sure that it isn't a circulation problem.

There is another post with a similar complaint and their recommendations for reducing the pain - you can read it here

Bart

Apr 14, 2009
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ARTHROSCOPIC KNEE SURGERY
by: Anonymous

I WAS RELIEVED TO HEAR I WAS'NT THE ONLY ONE
WHO WAS HAVING TERRIBLE CALF PAIN POST SURGERY
I HAD A TORN MENICUS REPAIRED.THEY ALSO FOUND
2 GANGLION CYSTS POSTERIORLY.I DON'T KNOW IF
THIS IS RELATED IN ANY WAY TO THIS UNBEARBLE
CALF PAIN.I'M IN PT ALSO,AND THEY ARE JUST AS
CONFUSED.I SEE MY SURGEON NEXT WEEK,&I HOPE
HE CAN GIVE ME SOME ANSWERS.IF I WALK FOR FOR
AWHILE OR STAND ,THE PAIN STARTS UP.I FEEL
AS THOUGH I'M GETTING WORSE.I'LL KEEP
YOU POSTED IF I GET ANY ANSWERS
MARGARET

Jul 10, 2009
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CALF PAIN AFTER MENISCUS SURGERY
by: Anonymous

did your calf pain ever resolve I had surgery 3 weeks ago and have terrible debilitating calf pain. I had it before the surgery also, and I too had a ganglion cyst in the area that they said did not need to be removed. Any info.?

Jul 16, 2009
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calf pain after meniscus repair
by: Anonymous

i just went for a follow up after meniscus repair. doctor said it is from the water they use while to irragate the knee during the proceedure. the water/fluid settles in the calf. it should resolve in 3 weeks or so.

Jul 17, 2009
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Calf pain after meniscus surgery
by: Anonymous

I am about 6 weeks post surgery for lateral meniscus tear and I am having the same problem, and I had the same problem BEFORE surgery. Terrible pain at the outside of the knee extending into the top of calf and down the side. If I try to push my kneecap down to straighten out my leg fully it is the worst most horrible pain. My physical therapist keeps telling me I just have to work it and stretch it and it will go away. She absolutely KILLS me in PT. However, since I had the same pain before surgery, I just don't feel assured. I also had a cyst behind the tear that they told me did not have to be removed. I see lots of the same complaints on line with NO ANSWERS other than talking about blood clots, which this is not. Doesn't anyone have any answers??? HELP!

Jul 17, 2009
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calf pain after meniscus repair
by: Anonymous

I am 6 weeks post surgery and still have that same debilitating horrible side of knee, calf pain that you are talking about. I had it before the surgery also. It is not getting any better. PT is absolutely torture when she tries to get me to straighten out my leg by pushing my knee down into the table. Terrible calf pain, definitely not something from irrigation during surgery. Not a blood clot. I had a ganglion cyst behind the tear, also they told me it did not need to be removed. Just like you. I don't see any answers anywhere on line and the doctors and therapists just say to keep stretching it and give it time. I can tell you that i KNOW it won't resolve by stretching. It is really horrible and absolutely excruciating when I try and stretch it. HELP!

Jul 26, 2009
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Pain in calf dx with torn meniscus. Does this sound right to u?
by: Anonymous

Hi,

I just got back from ER and was told I had a tear in my meniscus. I am just not sure if the diagnosis is right or not because I am not having knee pain. I do have pain behind the knee in the bend part. But the worst pain is in my left side of the calf.

Does this sound like anything you had before the surgery? Also it is kinda bulged out in the spot that is hurting.

The only reason I went to ER is because I have a couple nurses in the family who were worried it could be a DVT (deep vein thrombosis). Dr. said he didn't think that it was he thought it was a tear in the meniscus. I just couldn't understand why I was having the pain in that certain area of my calf, and behind my knee bend.

Does this sound anything at all like what you had?

Thanks.

Jul 26, 2009
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Knee Cyst Surgery & Calf Pain
by: Anonymous

Hi,

I just got back from ER and was told I had a tear in my meniscus. I am just not sure if the diagnosis is right or not because I am not having knee pain. I do have pain behind the knee in the bend part. But the worst pain is in my left side of the calf.

Does this sound like anything you had before the surgery? Also it is kinda bulged out in the spot that is hurting.

The only reason I went to ER is because I have a couple nurses in the family who were worried it could be a DVT (deep vein thrombosis). Dr. said he didn't think that it was he thought it was a tear in the meniscus. I just couldn't understand why I was having the pain in that certain area of my calf, and behind my knee bend.

Does this sound anything at all like what you had?

Thanks.

Aug 07, 2009
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RESPONSE TO LAST POST
by: Anonymous

YES IT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT i HAD. THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW IF IT IS A MENISCAL TEAR OF ANY KIND IS TO HAVE AN MRI OTHERWISE IT IS JUST GUESSWORK! YOUR DR. SHOULD GIVE YOU A PRESCRIPTION FOR AN MRI SO THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DEALING WITH.

Aug 16, 2009
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Cyst on knee
by: jackie

Hi I just had a MRI and they found cyst on my knee will i have to have surgery how long off work?

Sep 04, 2009
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2 arthroscopy surgeries in 3 months
by: joyce

my first surgery was in may. several tears were
repaired. went back to workseveral weeks later
more pain went back to surgeon sent for mri
a very big tear was found and scar tissue from
first surgery.operated on again in august. now
i am having terrible calf pain can anyone help

Dec 16, 2009
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Surgery
by: Samantha

I had my knee reconstructed a week ago today and still cannot walk yet because of the pain in my calf, it is awful! I see the doctor tomorow so hopefully I will find out the cause, my PT thinks that i should be walking by now and doesnt know why my calf is hurting so it sucks.