How to identify a Ganglion Cyst

You keep getting that same painful cyst over a joint and you just don't know what it could be...

It starts out looking like a wart but then it hurts... You wonder, do wart's hurt?

So just how do you know if you are dealing with just a cyst or a Ganglion Cyst?

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Identify the problem area.
   
   Warts grow in the skin and are caused by a virus
   Cysts are typically the result of an injury
   
   So first thing is you need to identify if this is a wart or a cyst.
   Cysts develop rapidly And cause pain
   Warts develop slowly and may cause itching but rarely cause pain

2. Does the cyst eventually break and go away?
   normal cysts caused by tissue damage will go away and not return to the same site unless you re-injure it.
   
   If it returns at the same site it could be a Ganglion Cyst

3. Identify the site of the cyst.
   
   Determine if the cyst is recurring over a joint
   Ganglion Cysts are the result of a ruptured nerve sack typically over a joint.
   
   If the cyst is not over a joint but keeps coming back it may be a Ganglion Cyst but could be something else.

4. The medical books all say that you need to rupture the Cyst sack in order to effect a cure.
   
   An old Medical book I have from 1938 says to drop a heavy book on the Cyst!!! Yes, this would be a traumatic rupture of the Cyst but extremely painful for both the joint and the Cyst!
   
   Now I would never recommend that you cause more injury to yourself to remove the cyst.... but even my doctor joked about it when I had one!

5. If you have ruptured the Cyst and it keeps coming back in the same place And is extremely painful... Odds are it is a Ganglion Cyst and you should talk to your doctor about Treatment options.
   
   Removal of the Ganglion Cyst Capsule. This is where they go in and totally remove the Cyst and usually effects a cure in mild to moderate cases.
   
   If the Ganglion Cyst is due to severe Arthritic damage to a joint your doctor may talk to you about a Joint fusion. This is basically where they remove the damaged Cartilage on both sides of the joint and then bind the bones of the joint together. This makes the joint immobile but also removes the Ganglion Cyst permanently.

Tips & Warnings

• Ganglion Cysts are the result of nerve damage typically over a joint.
• Ganglion Cysts if not properly removed Can return
• Ganglion Cysts do cause pain
• Warts typically itch during development but not pain
• Ganglion Cysts typically return once ruptured and normal cysts do not typically return after being ruptured
• Ganglion Cysts can become extremely painful to touch
• Surgery may be necessary to remove a Ganglion Cyst
• Without proper treatment they will Always come back!
• Ganglion Cysts may be caused by Arthritis

Resources

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[GreenMomma]

on 6/5/2009 This is a great article! I love that you added a picture! My mother in law had one of these and it had to be surgically removed.

[mommyhen42]

on 5/29/2009 It is actually pretty painful, the picture is the one that was on my right hand. I had to have that joint fused to fix the problem. The cartilalge was gone from arthritis which is what caused the cyst.

[sonni57]

on 5/29/2009 I've never heard of a ganglion cyst thanks for the good info.

[jenng]

on 5/28/2009 Great article on how to identify a ganglion cyst 5*