I went to a specialist yesterday who informed me it was a synovial cyst. He took X-rays and also diagnosed me with arthritis in my fingers, too. Well, my fingers have been very busy for a long time so I shouldn't have been surprised.
The specialist believes surgery to be the best option. However, he said I should think about it as long as it isn't bothering me and it isn't growing larger.
I don't like the idea of going through surgery. I also don't like the idea of not being able to get my thumb wet for two weeks, keeping my hand above my heart, etc.
Daughter #1 volunteered to cook supper but I suspect we would be eating hot dogs and beans for the duration.
I got brave this year and signed up to write 30,000 words next month with JeRoWriMo, NJRW's February writing challenge event. I don't want to miss out on that!
One of my friends suggested massaging the cyst everyday and I may do that because for now I've decided to wait. The cyst isn't that big and it's not bothering me. Having surgery would be a huge expense for such a small thing.
34 comments:
NO surgery!!! You know I have one too....see what happens...it doesn't interfere with your writing and activities.
Grace,
Yours is smaller. :^)
But I do want to wait for a while and see if it stays the same.
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Mark,
No thanks! :^)
I agree to the no surgery thing. As long as you can type with no problem, it's not getting any bigger, and it doesn't hurt, then why cut it out?
But still - sorry you're going through this!
Christine,
Thanks. At first, it was a bit scary, but I'm learning to accept it. I was never very vain about the look of my hands. I never could stand long fingernails and polish. I just hope it doesn't get any bigger.
I'm with you...if there is no pain, it is not medicaly necessary, if it does not bother you, then leave it alone :-)
I'm with the others...except for Mark, of course. (smile) If it isn't hurting, leave it alone. I have a rather stubborn case of rheumatoid arthritis which has tends to bring on rheumatoid nodules. I've had a number of these over the years. One on my elbow actually went away on its own. I did have one that appeared in the pad of my index finger removed because it WAS painful and DID interfere with things I had to do. One on the back of my neck was removed and only afterwards was identified as a rheumatoid nodule. Currently, I have one on my left pinkie finger, middle joint. It is a good deal larger than yours, and does look awful. (But then RA has messed up my hands so much that they'd look weird whether I had the nodule or not.) Since it doesn't hurt, and since it doesn't interfere at all with activity, I'm letting it go.
Sorry you are going through this. I truly do sympathize. Be glad you can keep tying. :)
Julie,
Yes, I am very glad I can still type. It is interesting that one of your nodules went away on its own. I read that happens sometimes. I would be delighted if this cyst vanished on its own, but it seems unlikely at this point since it is only about a month old.
Maybe I should hide it by wearing lovely white gloves like the ladies used to do in the old days. :^)
I had one and it went away on its own. Actually, I accidentally smashed it with a book and THEN it went away on its own. Not recommending treatment but...
Louann,
Just wondering how long it took to go away on its own after the the accidental smashing....
Ow.
My thumb looks just like that now. But at first it was red and sore. Its interfering with my nail growth too, makes a ridge that is higher and lumpy. I go see the Rheumatologist on Monday to see what he thinks, but my GP thinks its a gangoin. I had one on my foot years back-it never hurt like this one is. My other thumb seems to be starting one just like it too. Isn't arthritis fun? NOT.
ShadowsFire,
I'm sorry you're having the problem with your nail growth. My cyst doesn't hurt--although my hand does have the achy arthritis pain now and then.
This getting old business has its special moments. :^(
Hi, im 12 and new to all this commenting business. Anyway, I got a lump exactly like that one, I only realised last night though. It doesn't hurt but I would like it to go away. Are there any other ways to make it go away other than whacking it with an extremely heavy book?
Olivia,
My synovial cyst did flatten out somewhat all on its own. Evidently, sometimes that will happen. One of my friends suggested massaging it--so I did that occasionally.
At any rate, I did not whack it with a book and I did not have surgery done to remove it.
I hope your lump goes away, but getting an x-ray is a good thing. I was glad I did that so I knew exactly what the problem was.
Have the exact same cyst on my thumb for the past 8 months. At first it did not hurt but I found it unsightly.
Have had is drained unsuccessfully two times and cannot stop rubbing it which leaves it a bit sore. Went to hand surgeon and surgery is set for Friday.
Will keep you informed.
Rich,
Good luck with the surgery.
I had inquired about draining the cyst and the surgeon told me it wouldn't help because it would come back.
Take care.
Hi Penelope,
A few years later and I found your post. Thank you for sharing. A couple of months ago, the same kind of bump appeared on my thumb. How are you doing with it and might you have any new insights to share?
Much appreciated,
Stephany
HI Stephany,
The lump did flatten out a bit and now it appears to be no more unsightly than any other arthritic thumb. It rarely bothers me--only now and then. When it aches I put a heat pack on it.
I am glad I did not have the surgery, but I do recommend getting an x-Ray so you know for sure what kind of a bump it is.
Hi Penelope,
Thank you so much for responding to my post and providing this information to date. I am glad that it sounds less bothersome for you and I appreciate your recommendation.
All the best,
Stephany
I have one on my thumb also and it's not sore but getting large. Guess I should have it looked at.
I have one on my thumb also and it's not sore but getting large. Guess I should have it looked at.
Donna,
Yes, get a doctor to do an x-ray. It's good to know for sure what you're dealing with.
Good luck!
I had a nasty one and my thumb looked double it’s size. They said it was a ganglion. I was going to go back and see the surgeon again and now it’s almoat gone after 6 months. They gave me a “snug sleeve” to wear and that lasted maybe a week. Hard to text, wash hands etc. it also had two black dots looking like roots or a bug infested. That what I thought it was at first since it popped up one day. Nope. Two docs said it’s probably from arthritis (I’m 47...ugh). But it’s almost done now. Magic. I would wait and see if it goes away. Watch your gluten and dairy intake a bit. That might help. Those are inflammatory foods. 😉
Unknown:
Thanks for the tip on inflammatory foods!
I came across your post looking for answers, However I had gone to a orthopedic who stated after several x-rays, it was a ganglion cyst. my options were to have it removed with a high risk of infection due to the area. I opted out of course . Being a medical professional of pharmacy , the risk of infection was not worth it. I was at my primary doctor last night getting a regular check up and he took a look and stated that it was not a Ganglion but a synovial cyst. So puzzled I said ok who do I believe. He stated that a GC would if he aspirated it would automatically go down. surgery he said, for what!!!So I let him try to aspirate it, nothing came out. the fluid actually went back under the joint. only blood /So at the end of the day, that's what it was.it is the start of arthritis , Not stressing. it is annoying to look at , and ulgy. however there are lots worst to have. Leaving it alone.sometimes its better to just let it be... good luck to you .
Sandy,
When I saw the hand surgeon, he said that my cyst could be aspirated but then there was a high probability that it would come back. I did not want to go through the expensive surgery. My cyst did go down a bit without doing anything. I never was the type to paint my fingernails and wear fancy rings. My fingers are always busy. So as long as I can move my thumb—and I can—I can deal with the bump. Glad you’re not stressing about it. Good luck to you, too.
Hi Penelope,
A few months ago I recognized a similar cyst on my thumb but because of Coronavirus I never went to see a doctor. However, I probably bumped it against something because now, from all appearances, it seems to have disappeared almost entirely. I hope you are doing well,
BCollis
Hi Penelope, how is your thumb these days? As this post was made in 2013, curious to see how things are today.
Hi Bea,
My thumb isn’t bad. It just looks like a lumpy, arthritic thumb, which it is. For the most part, it doesn’t hurt—unless I’m out in the cold or strain it. Of course, the thumb became something I wasn’t very concerned about after discovering I had breast cancer. Then I had the torn meniscus on my knee. So, that’s life. Everything is relative. I can deal with a lumpy thumb. ��
Hi Penelope.
I have one just like this on both of my thumbs. First one thumb, then the other. They’ve both been there for at least 5 years now. They don’t hurt and I can still move my thumbs, so I’ve just left it as well. They haven’t gotten smaller, but haven’t gotten bigger either.
Unknown:
Yes, being able to move your thumbs is the important part and no pain is a bonus. Take care.
Hi Penelope, I’ve had one lump on my thump for the past years since I was 9 and It doesn’t hurt or bothers me at all but what could be the reason of the lump ?
Lalallaa:
A synovial cyst and a ganglion cyst are basically the same from what I've read. You can find more information here:
https://www.assh.org/handcare/condition/ganglion-cyst
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