Getting Rid of Ganglion Cyst
You have a medium sized growth on the back of your right wrist. It looks like an air bubble. You are slightly uncomfortable as a result. Looks like you have a ganglion cyst.
A ganglion cyst is an abnormal growth or mass adjacent to any joint in the body. It is also the most common tumor or growth that occurs in the hand and wrist. It is a benign lesion.
A ganglion can arise because of inflammation in the joint. Inflammation can arise from overuse, arthritis or underlying medical conditions. Ganglions can be confused with aneurysms of the artery in the wrist, chronic infections or very rarely a cancerous process.
Adolescents are the most common patients with a ganglion cyst, but they can be seen in patients of all ages. Patients with ganglion cysts typically have one lesion, but some people are predisposed to having them in multiple locations. Patients may describe increasing stress on the individual joint prior to the onset of symptoms, such as weight lifting, push ups or gardening, but for most people we never know the cause.
Certain factors may increase your chances of getting a ganglion cyst such as being female, being between age 20 to 50, having a previous joint injury, and having arthritis in your hands.
The patient will notice a mass, growth or “knot.” The mass typically will vary in size and cause discomfort but rarely causes true pain. There may be some stiffness in the involved joint and rarely some numbness in the hand if the ganglion is in the wrist. Most of the time, an X-ray is taken to ensure that the ganglion is not arising from some underlying joint problem such as arthritis or a ligament tear.
Ganglion cysts will appear around specific joints. Common places where a ganglion cyst will appear are the wrist (front or back), finger (near any finger joint—close to the palm or just below the fingernail) and foot (close to the ankle or near your toes). Ganglion cysts are usually firm to the touch but not always. Some people report that the fluid-filled sacs are soft.
Your health provider will diagnose a ganglion cyst by examining you. A lump’s appearance and location indicate telltale signs of a ganglion cyst. Your doctor may press on the bump to see the bump is pressing on a nerve ending. She might also shine a light on the lump to see if it is translucent.
In some cases, your doctor may remove a sample from inside the lump (biopsy). In rare cases, your health provider may order an X-ray to see what is causing your symptoms. Your provider may order an ultrasound to tell whether it is a solid mass or cyst.
Not all ganglion cysts require treatment. Some cysts may disappear on its own. But your cyst may require treatment if you’re in pain, if certain tasks are difficult to perform (like gripping a pencil or walking) or if you are uncomfortable with the appearance of the cyst.
Treatment for a ganglion cyst includes anti-inflammatory medication (which may reduce swelling and relieve discomfort), splints and braces (which support and stop you from moving the affected area, reducing swelling and pain) and aspiration (where your doctor will use a needle to remove fluid from the cyst).
If none of those treatments work or if your cyst comes back, you might consider surgery. The surgery to remove your cyst is called a ganglionectomy. It is usually an outpatient procedure. It means you can go home the same day. Full recovery takes two to six weeks. Having the ganglion cyst surgically removed reducing the rate of reoccurrence.
What is important to remember about a ganglion cyst is that it poses no long-term threat to your health. The lesion is noncancerous. Your doctor can check on it from time to time. But a ganglion cyst may disappear on its own.
