swollen bump behind both knees?

[sarahjohnson23]

I wasn't sure where to post this question, but behind both of my knees I have a large swollen bulge. It doesn't hurt very bad, it's just uncomfortable and a little mild pain comes and goes. Also my feet are a little tingly and seem slightly swollen. The bulge behind my knees can be seen when I stand up or stretch my leg out. I looked it up online and "baker's cysts'' come up, but then I saw something that says it rarely happens behind both knees. My question is.. Does anyone know if these can be cysts/fluid build up behind my knees or do you think they are lymph node swellings? I'm more scared about it being lymph nodes swollen. But, I noticed I do put a lot of pressure on my knees like when I'm sitting down I tend to push my legs against the chair and also I carry heavy things that my cause injury. I'm not sure. Any insights would be appreciated. Thanks

[EcoKat]

Did you ever find out what it is? I started getting that swelling last month - about 3 weeks ago when I went to happy hour, then a show & then dinner with a friend. I noticed when I was walking to car that my legs felt really heavy, no pain or tingling just like dead weight. When I got home & looked, both my knees had swelling behind them - like a golfball sized egg of fluid behind them & my ankles and feet were swollen too. Figured it would go down while I slept, but it took 2-3 days before I saw my ankle bones again. Then I started feeling the tingling & then sharp needles when I put pressure on the gas pedal while driving. Swelling took about a week and a half to all be gone & still felt like someone had their  hand around my ankles. My doctor thought it was just from sitting too long & yes possibly the Baker's cyst, but by the time I saw her I was normal (even all my bloodwork). She told me it wouldn't be lymphedema since the lymph nodes I had removed 12 years ago were in my armpit & it would have had to be the ones in my groin to affect my knees down. Still not buying that since it is a lymphatic system, not areas.
Then happened again this weekend.  I drove out of town 2.5 hours, went hiking (no problem), went to another theatre and right after intermission noticed my legs were feeling tingly again, so I was kicking & stomping my feet, got to hotel with ankles & feet swollen but back of knees okay. They went down slightly while elevated overnight. Walked & hiked during day, I was fine, but drove 2.5 hours home and even though I stopped every 45 minutes to walk or just stretch & shake out my legs, those fluid eggs were back behind my knees. So very interested if you ever got an answer to what caused it for you.

[thatquietgirl]

Yeah, I'd try another doctor.  Either a different GP or a specialist if you're able.  The tingling isn't something to just laugh off, you know?  I'd not be wary if he just didn't think a lump there was concerning, but since you have tingling, there's something going on that needs to be addressed.  The lumps may or may not even be related to it, but it is something that shouldn't be going on.

[sarahjohnson23]

hello! Just wanted to follow up with you and let you know what happened haha so I went to the doctor and he couldn't figure out what it was.. he couldn't even tell if they were swollen or not.. but I know that the bulges were not there before.. Not sure what they could be. I asked him if they were baker's cysts or lymph nodes and he said they didn't feel like either. He even let me feel the back of his knees lol and he kind of had a lump as well, but not as big as mine. I'm not sure if I just grew muscles there or what it is, but hopefully it's not something bad.They feel like soft bulges and stick out when I stand up and also are a little achy. I'm concerned about the leg tingling too.  I might go to a specialist to see if they can figure out what they were because this doctor didn't really seem like he knew too much unfortunately.

[thatquietgirl]

Yes, go to the doctor sooner rather than later as if it is something serious you will want to know.  But most likely, it's nothing to worry about.  Sometimes people's lymph nodes just swell.  Heck, my lymph nodes randomly swell in my body when I'm not sick and go away when I am sick.  I had one incident where the one under my jaw near the back left side was swollen huge and was sore and went to ENT and it was nothing.  

I'd have to ask her which lymph nodes swell exactly when she has a flare.  I know the ones near/in her groin did, neck, armpits, under the jaw, probably the ones behind her knees.

Since you're experiencing tingling, I would really suggest going tomorrow.  It could be they are swollen (or the cysts or whatever they are) enough to pinch a nerve just enough to start a reaction from it.  

Best wishes!

[sarahjohnson23]

Thanks. I was hoping they wouldn't be lymph nodes :( I've been paranoid lately that I have a disease so it freaks me out. Did your sister have swollen nodes even behind her knees? Weird that you mentioned cat scratch fever because my cat did scratch me a little while ago on my foot and made me bleed so I wonder if that could be it. Not sure. I'm just putting off going to the doctor because I'm scared it will be something bad. I'm actually having tingling throughout my legs and feet right now so that's strange. I guess I will go to the doctor tomorrow ;/

[thatquietgirl]

You could just have some swollen lymph nodes, indicating your body's fighting something off.  It's no need to be super concerned.  My sister had swollen nodes all over her body, turned out to be cat scratch fever since we've had kittens in the past and she'd been scratched and bitten (in the way that kittens do when playing).  We got it all checked out and it was determined to be that rather than nothing serious.  So, don't get overly concerned just yet.

I would still go to the doctor just to make sure it is nothing to be concerned about.  Even if it is a cyst, you'll want it looked at as they tend to grow in my experience and need removal.