Thursday, November 30, 2006

What's this?

I have notice a lump on my wrist recently.
It happens suddenly as far as I can rememeber.
It was a weird lump that is painful only when I press it on a certain angle.
Other than that, it was just a lump.

Initially, I thought it was a dislocation or fracture, yet it was not so painful until I need any treatment.
I ignore for about a week, until my imaginations starts to run wild.

What if it is an alien hand growing out of my wrist?
What if it is cancerous?
What if it is a broken bone, infected?
What if...what if..what if...
What in the world is this?

It feels like a bone, yet not hard enough, but definitely not a growth as it was quite hard for a growth.

I went to a doctor in the end.

It was a ganglion.

Erm...ok...and so what is ganglion?

(http://www.med.und.nodak.edu/users/jwhiting/gangdef.html)

Definition: The ganglion cyst (also known as a wrist cyst, Bible cyst, or dorsal tendon cyst) is the most common soft tissue mass of the hand. It is a fluid filled sac which can be felt below the skin. It is usually attached to a tendon sheath (lining which lubricates the tendon) in the hand or wrist or connected with an underlying joint; however, some have no obvious connection to any structures. These may also occur in the foot. It often occurs when there is a tear in the ligaments overlying the lining of tendons or joints and the lining herniates out of the ligamentous defect causing a bump under the skin. Because there is often inflammation associated, the inflamed tissue produces a jelly-like fluid which fills the protruding sac. They may be rock hard due to a high pressure of the mucous like fluid contained within the cyst, and are often mistaken for a bony prominence.

(http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/BHCV2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Cysts_ganglion_cysts?OpenDocument)

Ganglion cysts used to be treated by slamming them with a heavy book such as a Bible - which explains the term 'Bible therapy'. This isn't a good idea, as you could cause further injury. Medical treatment options include:

Close monitoring - if the ganglion cyst isn't causing pain or interfering with movement, some doctors prefer to wait and see. The cyst may simply disappear on its own. ( good news! 30% of cases disappear on it's own!!!Yeah!)

Needle aspiration - one of the tests to diagnose ganglion cysts involves drawing off the fluid with a fine needle. In many cases (around 75 per cent), this treatment empties the cyst and no further action is needed.

Surgery - the cyst or cysts are surgically removed, usually by a specialist such as an orthopaedic surgeon. Ganglion cysts of the feet will usually require surgery.

And so...my doctor says, I should go home and observe it. It will requires attention if it grows bigger and affect daily activities...
I guess if I won't die from it, I am fine. Though it was a little painful sometimes, which means it could be pressing on some nerves, I think I can still live with it for now.

Fingers cross....