Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Ganglion? Advice please

29 replies

redcarnations · 10/05/2012 10:34

DD (12) has developed a lump on her wrist just below her thumb joint. I've tried to get a GP appointment but the next available non urgent appt is 1st June!

I've googled and it really looks like a ganglion. She's complaining it's sore but has full movement and no other visible swelling.

Anyone have experience of this? Can I treat it with anything meantime?

Thanks in advance :)

OP posts:

nomoreminibreaks · 10/05/2012 10:37

I used to have one as a teenager. My Grandma said the best treatment is to hit it with a bible...

It went away after a while, no special treatment (though I did try hitting it on a wall and could have sworn it improved!).

AgathaFusty · 10/05/2012 10:41

I had one of those years ago, in roughly the same place. The GP sent me to the hospital, who talked about surgery to remove. The consultant also, jokingly, said that 'in the olden days' people used to bash them hard with a bible (usually the only/heaviest book in the house) to get rid of them. Not fancying surgery, I went home and bashed it hard with a heavy DIY book. Hurt like hell for a short while, but it went.

Wouldn't suggest that method of removal until it's been checked out though

Original poster

redcarnations · 10/05/2012 10:42

I did offer to hit it with something and got the "mum you really are weird" response! I'll show her your reply and it might convince her :)

OP posts:

mummytime · 10/05/2012 10:42

If it is then my GP would just say leave it.
However I would change my GP if they couldn't give quicker appointments than basically a month away.

nomoreminibreaks · 10/05/2012 10:42

Agatha I reckon our 100% success rate with a bible is conclusive

Original poster

redcarnations · 10/05/2012 10:49

Mummy time they do always have on the day appointments but I wouldn't consider it an emergency. If it looks inflamed or gets worse I wll try and get one sooner :)

I'm definitely going to show her this as proof I should be allowed to bash her!

OP posts:

AgathaFusty · 10/05/2012 11:24

I would agree with that nomore

teanosugar · 10/05/2012 11:35

I had a HUGE on on the back of my hand just where all the small bones join/converge. I had that taken out by day surgery. A couple of years later it came back and I had it taken out again.
A couple of years later and it came back again, although not as big. I just couldn't face another op, having stitches, not being able to drive and all the other faff involved.
SO.......
Whilst at work one day, I put my hand flat out on a table and my boss dropped a huge printout ledger on it !!!! (can't remember it hurting much, and he was the only one who would do it)
That was about ten / fifteen years ago and its never come back since.

Fiveisenough · 10/05/2012 11:38

I had one on my wrist joint. It was painful. Dr tried to pop it and it was so excruciating I ran out of the surgery in tears. I guess that's the same as hitting it with a bible.

In the end I had mine surgically removed. Wouldn't recommend it though was painful for months after surgery - worse than before. They can go away on their own though.

chrisrobin · 10/05/2012 11:45

I had one on my wrist when I was 14, I was advised by the GP to leave it alone and it would go on its own. When it hurt I used to bandage it fairly tightly and the one day it just disappeared- it did take 4 years to go though!

Elibean · 10/05/2012 16:39

I had one on my foot/ankle. It got mildly infected (no idea how, but apparently this can happen) and was a bit red and sore. GP gave me antibiotics, and the infection went - the ganglion gave up and left a few months later

No bible required (luckily, as not sure I own one).

Whatevertheweather · 10/05/2012 16:42

I had a huge one of my wrist when I was a teen too. They were umming and aahing about surgery when I fell and broke my wrist. When the cast came offend ganglion was gone never to be seen again! Bit extreme as a method though

jeanjeannie · 10/05/2012 20:43

I had one on and off for about 15 years. It would appear over night, stay for a while and go but one day it got HUGE! NOt only was it horrid to look at, it ached and showed no signs of going! I had it removed under a local at the hospital about 12 years ago now and it's never come back.

Tinkerisdead · 10/05/2012 20:54

Another vote for a bible. My ex had a doctor as a bil and over dinner one day asked what can i do about this?

Bil said drop a bible on it and didnt even look up from his plate. We were all sat staring and he just muttered 'honestly, it works'.

I raced home and dropped a massive emclopeadia of the unexplained on him. It worked. Not quite a bible mind you.

sashh · 11/05/2012 04:07

My GP refused to drain it because it wasn't painfull and, in his words, there was 100% chance it would come back. I threatened the bible so he handed me a syringe, needles and swabs told me I risked breaking my hand.

There are videos on youtube of both methods. Do you have a walk in centre near you?

amatuermummy · 12/05/2012 10:22

I've had 4 ganglion cysts and have had them surgically removed. The first one actually popped when I fell up the stairs and grew back around 6 months later. It was much bigger and spread throughout my wrist joint and was a much longer operation than it would have been. The consultant advised that they should not be popped as the fluid leaks out of the cyst and a new one forms, but it will be bigger than the last. Although a few people above have said that it did cure them, I wouldn't recommend it, I would say just wait to see GP.

crazycarol · 18/05/2012 22:19

I had one as a teenager and on several occasions suffered from the book treatment, also a pressure treatment from someone's 2 thumbs. It always came back! After a while my gp referred me to the local hospital where it was drained under local anaesthetic. I was warned that it might come back and if so surgery was the next option. It has never come back thankfully.
Mine never caused me any pain just discomfort at times.

ThePathanKhansWitch · 18/05/2012 22:21

Bible bashing seems to be the way to go then.

whattodoo · 18/05/2012 22:27

I had one on the inside of my thumb, between first and second joints. It grew so big that I couldn't grip a pen. Had it surgically removed 20 odd years ago and its never come back.

clam · 18/05/2012 22:31

I had one of these - a friend who's a GP advised the Bible bashing. I though he was joking, and I suppose he was in a way - he also said it would go away of its own accord. Rather spookily, I woke up the very next morning and it had gone!!

sleepingflower · 19/05/2012 20:54

I had one on the top of my foot, tried bashing it but it had not effect and hurt lots. Ended up havng it removed in day surgery and it hasn't come back.

EssieW · 19/05/2012 21:01

I had one are recently. Arrived a couple Of years ago - about 6 weeks after DD birth. It's just disappeared and she's now 2 and a half. I did nothing - it went by itself in the end. Mine never hurt though so I mostly forgot it was there.

ChablisLover · 19/05/2012 21:03

Yip dh had one and he wouldn't let me bash it but it did go away on its on over time

PeanutButterCupCake · 20/05/2012 19:18

Another fan of the heavy book method, worked on my wrist.

BerylStreep · 24/05/2012 21:46

My physio said never to try bashing it, as there are so many fine bones in your hand they can easily get broken.

I have had them on my joints between my fingers and palms a few times. They get very inflamed and painful, and then pop! When they pop I get really bad flu symptoms for several days. It's been a few years though.

Flip

1 2