Let's talk about ganglion cyst treatment options

[Tiramisu]

I had one on my wrist at about 12 yo. It was there for awhile and didn't resolve. I smashed it once and it came back bigger. Eventually, I had it surgically removed and it never came back.

 

Dh had a baker's cyst behind the knee, which is more or less the same thing as a ganglion cyst. It remained there for years, really bothering him, but he's one to put up with things. He had it aspirated many times but it would always come back worse. He did have surgery, not to remove the cyst but to repair the knee and that allowed the cyst to resolve over time.

 

Now, dd12 has one on her wrist. It popped up in a day and only a few days have passed and it's become rather large. I haven't seen the pediatrician yet, but I think I should call in just to have it confirmed that's what it is. I do have the name of an orthopedic hand specialist. I want to have it aspirated sooner than later because I heard that can sometimes take care of it and if you wait the fluid thickens. I don't want to race into surgery, but I don't necessarily want to do nothing. I've read posts here that they can go away on their own, but that never happened in our experience without intervention. Dd plays piano, and I wouldn't want to let something go that affects that.

 

So, if you have ever gone to the doctor for what you think is a ganglion cyst, did they do any imaging to verify it that's what it was?

 

Would a pediatrician be able to aspirate it?

 

Any ganglion cyst stories to share?

 

TIA!

[Sandsam]

My dd 14 had a ganglion cyst on the top of her wrist. Last October she had it aspirated. By December it had returned - larger than before. It was painful to her so last month she had it surgically removed. Apparently it had popped between scheduling the surgery and the surgery itself as the doctor said he removed primarily scar tissue.

 

She is still healing but has said the pain now is different than the pain from the cyst itself. I think we did the right thing.

 

You can find lots of statistics on the reoccurance of cysts once aspirated or removed. Removal seems the most effective.

 

On another note, I had a cyst years ago. After two self-inflicted smashings, it went away.

[Ottakee]

My ds had one on his wrist. We did the watch and see thing and after a year or more had it removed. Then it came back again later. We had it removed again and now he is cyst free. He did need to wear a brace for 7-10 days or so and then for a while after that to immobilize the wrist. He had no pain with it or the surgery.

[klmama]

One of my dc had this a couple of times. Both times, it went away on its own.

[6packofun]

When I was a teen I had one and the dr. aspirated it. No imaging or anything back then. Never came back, thankfully!

[Joshin]

DH had one last summer. Popped up after moving heavy stones building our pond. It was located on the back of his hand and it got huge, but didn't cause any pain, so the Dr. opted for a wait and see approach. He told DH that in his experience, those that go away on their own are less likely to come back, so he only removes them if they are painful or don't disappear after six months. He also told DH not to smash it because that results in scar tissue that can cause more cysts later. It went away after about three months on its own and he hasn't had another one so far.

[Laurie4b]

I had one in my late teens. It was aspirated, but came back, so I had surgery to remove it. The surgery was no biggee. It never came back after that.

[Tess in the Burbs]

I had one as a kid in my wrist that went up and wrapped around my fingers. I was playing piano competitively then and it was obvious i was losing my hand to this cyst. Surgery removed it. I noticed another bump a few years ago on the inside of my palm/fingers of the same hand. I knew the feeling of a cyst. Dr confirmed by feeling it and removed it with no issues.

 

For me, I would get it surgically removed. In my case it's always affecting my fingers and their movement.

[DianeW88]

I've had one on the inside of my wrist since high school. The result of an unfortunate volleyball mishap. :D It is communicable (meaning I can press it back in), and I've not done one thing about it. You don't have to treat them if they're not bothering you. And wrist surgery can be tricky on the inside of the wrist, so I chose just to leave it alone. It's not huge, so I can just ignore it.

[Dandelion]

I've had one on the inside of my wrist since high school. The result of an unfortunate volleyball mishap. :D It is communicable (meaning I can press it back in), and I've not done one thing about it. You don't have to treat them if they're not bothering you. And wrist surgery can be tricky on the inside of the wrist, so I chose just to leave it alone. It's not huge, so I can just ignore it.

 

I've had one like this on my wrist for the past 10 years. It doesn't bother me at all. I just press it in once a day. I guess it's become part of my routine. ;) If it were painful or were getting bigger, I would do something about it. But since it's not, the risk of surgery isn't worth it to me.

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

I had one many years ago, maybe 8-10 years ago, I can't remember exactly. I had it aspirated because it was extremely painful when I moved my hand. The doctor just did it in his office, no imaging of any kind. My wrist was hurting a few weeks ago, and I was hoping that the cyst wasn't coming back, but for now, it seems to have resolved itself.

[Tiramisu]

Thanks for sharing all of these stories!

 

I talked to the secretary at the hand specialist's office. She checked for me, and they would want an xray and an ultrasound done. I called the pediatrician's office and left a message for a script, but I don't know if they'll actually give me one without bringing dd in.

 

I want to cover my bases but I want to save time and copays if the pediatrician can't really do anything for us.

[Tree Frog]

My dd developed a ganglion cyst when she was playing piano competitively. The cyst, combined with moving, caused her to stop playing the piano. The dr. said she could have it removed or aspirated, but due to the location deep in her wrist, it could be a tricky surgery and would likely come back. She opted not to do anything and has found that it comes and goes. It seems to bother her when she's stressed, but otherwise, it doesn't seem to be a big deal. An aunt has had her ganglion cyst removed from her foot twice now and is expecting it to return.

[Orthodox6]

Well, mine is too brief to be of much interest. When I was a teenager, one appeared on the back of my hand. It amused me how it "wiggled" any time I moved the tendon upon which it sat. The doctor said that it eventually would go away by itself. It did.

 

Pretty tame and boring tale!

 

A couple of years ago, though, I developed something different. I was semi-freaking about some subcutaneous "lumps", so consulted a doctor. Ultrasound revealed that I had an assortment of lipomas. . . . Fast forward to a few months ago, and our 26-year old told us that a doctor had diagnosed him with lipomas. I was so surprised that this turned up in one of my children!

 

Any ganglion cyst stories to share?

 

 

 

[swellmomma]

I had one on the top of my foot in my early 20s. I ignored it for 2 years never wearing shoes or socks until I couldn't stand it anymore and had it surgically removed. It is amazing how much pain such a tiny little thing can cause. I have not had any problems since, and it has been 12 years since then

[KrissiK]

I had one on my wrist. That was this past summer. I went to my gp. She made an appt. with a surgeon to have it removed. I accidently smashed it. It went away. I cancelled the surgery. It hasn't come back yet.

[Clarkd]

I had one on my wrist 20 yrs ago. Dr. Did no tests and dx'd it visually. Said operating was not ideal due to possible complications. It popped when I accidentally hit it on something. It comes and goes, currently gone. I also have one on the inside of my ankle. Dr. Said it's only a concern if shoes become too painful. So far just leaving it alone.

[musicianmom]

I have one on my wrist, currently not noticeable unless I actually feel for it. It popped up when I was carrying a toddler on my hip all the time. Toddler got bigger, I quit carrying him, and the cyst has shrunk. It doesn't bother my piano playing.