Hi there,
The cyst the doc may be referring to is called a Bakers cyst. I had one after my first right knee surgery, and when the second injury to the same right knee happened, and a second knee surgery was performed, it was discovered. Here is a site that may assist you:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bakers-cyst/DS00448
Now, once dx with RSD, many doctors do not want to do further surgery because of the risk of doing more harm and causing the RSD to spread. There are precautions that can be taken to stave the spread of RSD off if surgery is required on an RSD patient.
Alas, that doesn't help you with your symptoms of recurrent, constant pain and swelling. Other than the MS, we do share similar complaints. However, my ordeal was that my doctors ignored my complaints of the burning pain, deep ache,continuous swelling, and lack of mobility. They did not want to tell me that it was RSD, until I ask the doc on my MMI visit(WC case), what did he mean that my pain receptors had changed? He seemed shocked that I ask him that question. I had to remind him that he had said that on my last two visits, and one of those visits a WC nurse was present in the room. That is when he begrudgingly wrote on my Maximum Medical Improvement release report form that I could have RSD/CRPS I or CRPS II,minor??? Anyway, I was referred to a pain management doctor to have further evaluation of RSD on my knee. It took 3 months to see that PM doc and he dx me with RSD. WC wanted a 2nd opinion of their PM doc eval, and sent me to another PM doc, 3 months later; the 2nd doc agreed with first doc. Mind you, WC had stopped my pain meds,physical therapy,I was terminated and lost my private ins., and I had to go to my own PCP for pain relief. By the time I got to the 2nd PM doc, and his RSD dx was made, I am told that too much time had elapsed for possible reversal of the RSD to occur;also, there was no cure, and any blocks, or SCS would do me no good. Meds are the answer to my RSD. I could go into remission, but highly unlikely. The delay was caused by WC neglect to get me to a pain management doc in a timely manner.
So, you see, your docs tell you it is all RSD, and my docs tried to tell me that it was in my head, anything but RSD, until I got to the Pain Management doctors.
That popping sound could be chondromalacia patella, tracking problem when cartilage has been shaved or/degenerated to the point that bone is rubbing on bone. I have that problem,too. It is very painful, and PT was suppose to build up the muscles to keep my knee on track. I did not have chondromalacia patella issues until after the first surgery. I went to a 2nd ortho to do the second surgery, and he told me by looking at the photos of first surgery, that 1st surgeon may have been too aggressive shaving the cartilage to repair medial meniscus tear. The second surgery was to repair a lateral meniscus tear, that tore across to the median meniscus(injury repair of 1st surgery).
This site may assist you:
http://www.patellamd.com/1.html
Before the injury, I was a very active woman, worked out 3 times per week, worked 50 plus hrs per week, and family and I would spend most of our free time in nature; hiking, camping, fishing,etc. My signature at the bottom of this post sums up the information, without this detail.The detail in this post answered your questions.
Ortho rehab doctor..you need a pain management doctor. The two ortho surgical/ rehab docs I had were worried I was going to sue them, as I got worse from their care, not better.
My name is Linda, my friends call me Dew..nice to meet you. I am sorry you are experiencing this painful neurological disorder. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime.
