Although the COVID-19 pandemic is the healthcare industry’s priority, its effects on one’s living conditions give rise to other problematic health conditions. Wrist pain is becoming a growing concern, especially for people who are stuck with work-from-home setups. It can affect anyone from physically active individuals to dedicated employees who deal with heavy workloads daily.
One potential cause for wrist pain is the development of ganglion cysts. Although they’re generally harmless, they can develop in the worst parts of your wrists, causing chronic pain.
What are ganglion cysts?
Ganglion cysts are non-cancerous fluids that pop up between your wrists’ and fingers’ joints. They come from tissue at the end or base of your joints, which form it into a balloon or a stalk-like shape. If they experience recurring stress at their base’s joint, they can grow bigger and more troublesome to remove. If they grow large enough, they can put pressure on your nerves, which leads to tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness.
Although ganglion cysts are typically benign, they can still have the potential of developing into a tumor. You can identify whether you have a harmless sack of fluid or a deadly build-up of cancer cells through transillumination. Thankfully, it’s highly unlikely that they contain malignant cells.
When should I receive treatment for ganglion cysts?
Their unsightly presence is usually the most damage that they can do. However, if the cysts grow in the worst places, such as the base of your thumbs or wrists, they may increase your difficulty in using your hands properly.
Most ganglion cysts can disappear just as fast as they appear. However, if you’re frequently stressing your hands, the cysts will take a longer time to fade away. It becomes an issue when they’re present in your dominant hand. People with ganglion cysts usually wait and see if the cysts can naturally go away over time. If this isn’t the case for you, several options can help you get rid of them.
How do I remove my ganglion cyst?
You have a variety of solutions to choose from when treating a ganglion cyst. If you’re not comfortable with invasive procedures, you can immobilize your wrist with a splint to limit movement. Doing so helps with the reduction of pressure on your cyst through exercises that will strengthen your wrist.
If the pain is a growing concern, aspiration is a treatment that removes the fluids inside the ganglion cyst. Unfortunately, it’s not always a successful procedure. Since cysts are similar to weeds, they can grow back again if you don’t remove their root source.
Wrist surgery is the permanent solution to remove your ganglion cyst. Through excision, surgeons will cut the cyst from the root to eradicate it. However, there’s a risk of damaging your radial artery if it’s at the top of your wrist.
Prevention is always the best option with these avoidable medical conditions. Overwork and trauma to your tissues is one possible cause of ganglion cysts. It would be best if you always exercise caution in using your body past its limit to not suffer the consequences.
Conclusion
You should be cautious about self-diagnosing your condition, especially if you’re not a medically trained professional. Although your injury may have similar symptoms, you should always consult with a licensed physician to properly assess your condition.
If you require a hand specialist in Jacksonville, FL to check your wrist’s condition, our trained physicians can diagnose you with expert technique and precision. Get in touch with us today to receive expert analysis and treatments for all your hand-related injuries.
