I went to the orthopedist today so he could diagnose whatever is wrong with my wrist. He is pretty sure it's a small ganglion cyst.
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| The cyst is the shiny area right next to the boo-boo on my hand. (Gotta love eczema in winter.) |
What is a ganglion cyst?
From Google AI:
A ganglion cyst is a fluid-filled bump that usually appears on the wrist or near a joint or tendon sheath.
Ganglion cysts are round, small, and filled with a jelly-like fluid. They can feel firm or spongy, and can be translucent. They most often appear on the back of the wrist, but can also occur on the front of the wrist, base of a finger, ankle, or foot.Most ganglion cysts are painless and don't cause other symptoms. However, if a cyst presses on a nerve, it can cause tingling or muscle weakness.
The cause is unknown, but they are thought to be caused by repetitive microtrauma. They are more common in younger people and women, and are often found in people who play sports or other activities that involve repeated wrist stress.
Ganglion cysts often go away on their own, but if they are bothersome, they can be treated with a brace or splint, drained with a needle, or surgically removed.
The good news is that it's not arthritis, and it's not a cyst related to cancer. The bad news is that, while it's likely to go away on its own, it could take a year or two. (Or it could pop tomorrow. Who knows.)
What caused my ganglion cyst? Piano? Typing? Pushups? Again, who knows. It looks like I will just need to take time off of piano from time to time whenever the wrist feels particularly painful. I'm not thrilled about that, but things could be worse. I'm thankful that it's not worse!
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