Posted by: wfaulk
Ganglion cysts - 03/02/2005 13:46
Apparently more people have these than I thought. I've got one on the back of thelower joint of my thumb. It's not gotten any bigger or smaller in several months. It's mostly innocuous, but occasionally I'll hit it the wrong way and it'll be really painful. I've thought about getting it removed surgically, but I'm a little worried about damage to the tendon, as I've been told that it's a growth on the tendon.
Does anyone have any knowledge to share?
Posted by: wfaulk
Re: Ganglion cysts - 03/02/2005 14:37
Yeah, give that mine is small and at the base of my thumb, I think the result of that therapy is more likely to be a thumb dislocation than a burst cyst.
It's looking like aspiration is a less invasive treatment option. At least one of the sites I saw referred to surgical removal involving removal of some of the tendon sheath, and I don't like the sound of that.
Posted by: jimhogan
Re: Ganglion cysts - 03/02/2005 14:39
A slightly better UK page
here.
What they don't say is why the Bible method fell from favor. Many of these rupture and/or dissolve on their own, so the Bible just triggers that, but it may be that there are concerns about collateral damage. My coworker's was on the back of her hand (i n the area of the common flexor tendon sheath from that diagram) and it stood out like the Devil's Tower, so it was pretty easy to deliver a sharp, targeted blow that didn't whale on the entirety of her hand.
Posted by: pca
Re: Ganglion cysts - 03/02/2005 16:18
I have had a couple of these, most recently at the base of my right ring finger, just at the point where if I picked something up the pressure was greatest and the pain worst. My GP advised that the best treatment, unless the thing was really causing problems, was to apply steady pressure for a few minutes a day. Just press reasonably hard on it for ten to fifteen minutes, not quite to the point of pain. After a week or so it would deflate, and eventually go and probably not come back.
He was completely correct. It took about ten days, and I've had no trouble since.
His opinion was that surgical intervention with these things was almost never warranted, and usually too dangerous. If it went wrong the cure caused a lot more problems than the disease.
pca
Posted by: wfaulk
Re: Ganglion cysts - 03/02/2005 17:50
I'll give it a shot. Yours sounds quite like mine, even. Pressing on it for ten to fifteen minutes, though -- that's a lot of pressing. It's going to cut into my two-fisted activities.
It may be time to invest in a C-clamp.
Posted by: muzza
Re: Ganglion cysts - 03/02/2005 18:22
I had a ganglion cut out of my wrist several years back. It was affecting my training and surgery was the only option. I haven't had any problems since, not that i'm still training tho.
The steady pressure remedy sounds fine if it works for you
Posted by: DWallach
Re: Ganglion cysts - 04/02/2005 01:25
Those pictures... at that site... were awful. It's a good thing I'm not a medical doctor.