What happens if you ignore a ganglion cyst?

A ganglion cyst is a fluid-filled swelling that usually occurs near joints or tendons. A ganglion cyst of the wrist is one of the most common and most troublesome manifestations of this ailment. While these lumps may seem quite nasty, the important thing to keep in mind is that they’re non-cancerous. Most commonly, they’re oval and, at times, it’s easy to tell that they’re filled with a jelly-like fluid.

Their size varies from pea-sized, all the way to being around an inch large. They can also be quite painful. More commonly, they’ll just restrict your wrist movement, seeing as how their location is in the way of various wrist parts in the motion.

With all of this in mind and without further ado, here’s what you need to know about ganglion cysts of the wrist.

What Are the Symptoms of Ganglion Cysts in the Wrists? 

Obviously, the symptoms are quite straightforward, seeing as how you can’t exactly ignore a gelatinous lump growing on your wrist. Just keep in mind that this lump can develop along any other tendon or joint, as well. Ankles and feet are common places where you can find these lumps, as well.

Now, the size is also quite an indicator, seeing as how they usually don’t exceed an inch in diameter. Due to their texture, they can shapeshift, and even appear larger when you use your joint.

The majority of these cysts are completely painless; however, this doesn’t mean that the wrist pain caused by a ganglion cyst is unheard of. In this case, the pain can be excruciating even in a situation where the lump is barely noticeable. 

How is a ganglion cyst of the wrist diagnosed? 

It’s never too early to see an orthopedic wrist doctor. Even if you just think that you’ve felt something, it’s usually better to go get examined by a trained professional. Lumps aren’t always benign and it’s always better to be safe. Some lumps are not ganglion cysts but other benign conditions that can be aggressive. 

It’s worth mentioning that you can also use imaging to rule out hand arthritis or wrist arthritis.

What Are the Causes of Ganglion Cysts? 

A ganglion cyst happens when fluid leaks. Now, the cause of this is not always the same but two reasons are:

• Injury (joint sprain)
• Underlying arthritis

However most of the time we don’t know why they form.

If you’re aware of one of the two occurring in the recent past, chances are that the diagnosis will be a lot easier to establish.

Other than this, it’s also worth mentioning that the location of the cyst may have a massive impact on its origin. The classification of ganglion cysts is by their location. 80% of ganglion cysts are located at the wrist. Even then, they can be found at the:

• Back of the wrist
• Front of the wrist
• Base of the finger
• On the finger

Cysts at the front of the wrist often occur in older people who have arthritis, while those in the base of the finger often occur in young adults.

What Does The Ganglion Cyst of the Wrist Treatment Look Like? 

One of the reasons why a lot of people ignore this problem or postpone going to a doctor is due to the fact that these cysts disappear without treatment. Some guides even advocate waiting to see whether the cyst will disappear on its own. Even if it doesn’t disappear, a lot of people decide to just “let it be” unless it’s painful (and the majority of them aren’t).

Still, there are some instances in which you’ll definitely want to go for treatment. If there’s pain, you will probably want to get over-the-counter pain medication.

Anti-inflammatory medication can be extremely helpful with a ganglion cyst in the wrist.

Immobilizing the wrist or the finger that’s affected may help in those scenarios where the cyst has the tendency of disappearing on its own. In some instances, a needle is used to aspirate or decompress the cyst (drain the fluid). In this scenario, however, it’s quite likely that the cyst will reappear - hand surgery literature estimates a 80-90% recurrence with aspiration.

How is ganglion cyst removal conducted? 

If draining is not an option, or the cyst has reaccumulated, you might have to remove the cyst surgically. The two most common types of ganglion wrist surgeries are:

• Open surgery: Where an incision is made over the affected site and the cyst is removed.
• Arthroscopy: A surgery with a smaller cut via which a tiny camera called an arthroscope (hence the name) is inserted in order to give you a better view. Subsequently, the cyst is removed with the help of small instruments. This way, the incision is minimal.

Both surgery types are equally effective, although the latter causes less pain after the surgery. 

Wrap Up

While a ganglion cyst of the wrist is not life-threatening, it can definitely be quite painful. Because there’s a chance that it will go away on its own, a lot of people decide against seeking medical assistance. Still, if you do decide to be active in seeking the solution, it’s vital that you look for professional assistance.

If you want to learn more, you should contact our team of doctors at the Hand and Upper Extremity Center at The Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey.

Ganglion cysts are harmless and typically occur near the joints in the hands or wrists, as well as the ankles or feet. Though they don’t always cause pain, a ganglion cyst in the wrist may compress or irritate a nerve that passes through the joint, causing burning or tingling sensations.

However, you shouldn’t ignore any new lump or bump whether it causes pain or not. At Orthopedic & Wellness, our experienced physicians — Dr. Ojedapo‌ ‌Ojeyemi ‌and‌ Dr. Matthew Roh — specialize in diagnosing and treating many conditions that cause hand pain. 

Here, we share with you the signs that you may have a ganglion wrist cyst and explain when you need to see an orthopedic surgeon about it. 

About ganglion cysts

A ganglion cyst is a fluid-filled lump that forms under the skin near joints and tendons. They most often affect the joints in the hands, wrist, and feet.

In the wrist, these fluid-filled lumps may appear on the top or underside of your joint. Ganglion cysts vary in size, but they tend to grow larger the more you use the joint and shrink when you limit joint activity.

Though researchers are still investigating what triggers the formation of a ganglion cyst, they theorize that it may be due to repetitive use and micro-injuries to the joint capsule and supportive tissue. These recurring, tiny injuries stimulate production of hyaluronic acid, which is a gel-like substance that lubricates the joint.

The excess hyaluronic acid accumulates in the joint, creating the lump.  

Signs of a ganglion wrist cyst

If you have a visible lump under your skin on the top or underside of your wrist, you may have a ganglion wrist cyst. However, you can have small ganglion cysts that remain hidden under the skin at your wrist.

Most ganglion cysts cause no symptoms other than the lump. However, your cyst may pinch or compress a nerve as it passes through your joint, causing pain, tingling, or muscle weakness. 

Even if your ganglion cyst causes no pain, don’t ignore any lumps or bumps that form under your skin. Schedule an appointment with your primary care provider so you can get an accurate diagnosis. 

Treating ganglion wrist cysts

At Orthopedic & Wellness, we start with a nonsurgical approach when treating ganglion cysts. If your ganglion wrist cyst causes no symptoms, you may not need any treatment and the lump may go away on its own. 

If your cyst causes mild symptoms, we may recommend wearing a wrist brace or splint to immobilize the joint. This can ease your symptoms and give your cyst an opportunity to resolve on its own. 

When a ganglion wrist cyst causes severe pain or affects your ability to use your wrist, we may aspirate — drain the fluid — from your cyst with a needle. 

When to see an orthopedic surgeon

Though these nonsurgical treatments often help, your ganglion wrist cyst may recur.

We recommend that you see an orthopedic surgeon if you have a recurring ganglion wrist cyst that causes pain and affects your ability to use your wrist. Our surgeon performs an excision that removes the entire cyst, including the root, which helps prevent a recurrence. 

Recovery following surgery for a ganglion wrist cyst takes 2-6 weeks. 

Anyone can develop a ganglion wrist cyst. If you have an unusual lump on your wrist, call our office — we have three convenient locations: in Frederick, Waldorf, and Germantown, Maryland — or use our online booking tool to schedule an appointment with our orthopedic surgeon today.

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