So, just in case you haven't been following my little wrist saga... Here's a very quick recap -
In August my cow trapped my wrist between herself and a metal pole. In November, I went to the Dr because it was still pretty painful. My regular Dr (Well, a nurse practitioner that works in her office) took x-rays (Which looked completely normal) and then referred me to a orthopedic specialist. The specialist immobilized my wrist for 2 weeks. When that didn't help, he gave me a bunch of strengthening exercises and basically told me to use the heck out of it for 2 weeks.
In December, I re-injured it and ended up in Urgent Care (It was a Saturday). They did more x-rays and that Dr thought I had a stress fracture (Which kind of made sense because after the second accident a small bump formed right in the middle of my wrist, which is where the stress fracture appeared to be). That Dr told me to ask my specialist to schedule an MRI for me. The MRI came back completely normal, no stress fracture (Although there was one black spot they couldn't explain. At one point they mentioned a ganglion cyst but then later took that back and said 'No way it could be that'.) The specialist then ordered an EMG to see if there was any nerve damage. That came back completely normal. Then the specialist had the nerve to tell me that the pain was psychosomatic and I was imagining it!
So then in January I decided to visit a chiropractor. He said that there was a lot of scar tissue and that's what was causing me the pain. After I left his office I felt great... Two days later I couldn't use my arm without causing EXTREME pain. My Dr wouldn't see me because I had seen the chiropractor. So I went back to the chiropractor and let him work on me again (Stupid, I know) and needless to say he just made it worse. Then I went to a clinic that my MIL referred me to. When I made the appointment I told them that I needed to see someone for my wrist, but when I got there my appointment was with a hip/leg specialist (Still don't understand that one). The one thing he did tell me was that it was definitely not a cyst. He referred me to the U of M. So I went and saw the best hand surgeon at the U of M (And I triple checked that she was a hand surgeon). She looked over my x-rays and MRI and EMG. She too said that it was definitely not a cyst. She gave me a cortisone injection, which didn't work (Well, it made the pain manageable enough for me to sleep at night but not for me to be able to use it). She referred me a different Dr at the U of M. He was in the same boat with the rest of them and had no clue what was wrong, so he referred me to occupational therapy.
My therapist immediately thought it was a cyst and referred me to another Dr. That Dr also told me that he had no clue, but it wasn't a cyst. So I left, very disappointed. Just as I was about to walk out the door his nurse came running up to me and said that the Dr took another look at my MRI and wanted me to come back into the exam room.
Guess what... It's a cyst! I'm having it removed on May 8th, and am so hoping that this makes all the pain stop. I haven't been able to work since Feb because of this.
I'm still amazed that all of these Drs, who all looked at the SAME MRI, said that there was no way it was a cyst and then it turned out to be a cyst. I can understand 1 Dr missing it because this new Dr showed me the MRI and where the cyst was and I have to admit that the cyst is pretty well hidden... But 4?!
Now, since I have to have a question, have you ever had a ganglion cyst removed from your wrist and how was the surgery/recovery? I have never had surgery before and am getting pretty nervous about it.
I had a ganglion cyst for years on my wrist that periodical was a little sore. I never had the pain you described. Anyway, I slipped on a wet floor while on a cruise ship vacation and went down on my hand. Somehow that fall got rid of the cyst.
My mom used to get these as a kid and she said the treatment was to hit it with a big book. Yikes!!!
Good luck. I am glad you have an answer.
I had one and I am wondering why no one saw it, they can get big. I have a wonderful chiropractor that worked on mine and now it has been gone for a couple of years.
Maybe you should start looking for better doctors.
My husband had one removed last year and while I'm not sure about the pain. As he didn't complain much but did take meds for it. He did seem to recover quickly.
Glad you got some answers, and good luck!
My husband had one in his left wrist that was causing him some horrible pain. Being in the Air Force he had to be able to work so lucky for him he had a great dr off base in Utah. The dr took one look at his ultrasound and told him exactly what he had. He said there were a few ways to deal with them. The old way was hit it with a book. Another way was to have it removed via surgery or they could try to drain it and hope that worked. This dr preferred surgery and said for him he found it worked the best with almost none returning. So that is what my husband did. He was in and out of surgery in less than 30 minutes. I don't recall recovery time other than my husband having a stiff padded brace on his arm and hand for probably 2 to 3 weeks. This was in 2001 or 2002. He has not had any more issues with that wrist. It was great because he hasn't had a single issue since then for that wrist. I will say this my husband recalls very little of the day of that surgery or the 4 days following it. They had him on some great meds to help.
My mom had this surgery twice. Since she's a florist she had to take 6 weeks off to heal, but she said that after the first day all she needed was motrin. Glad you got your anwers! Happy healing!
This is why somethings it's a good thing to go to a new doctor and not going into un-necessary detail...short, simple and to the point can sometimes be the best approach as in this case...the cows had nothing to do with the current problem...but glad they found it.
Had one on my finger. When the dr told me he needed to remove it I held out my hand and said go for it. Oh no, it requires surgery. Silly me. It took about two hours since it involved the tendon. He thought I would need physical therapy to get the motion back in my finger but I didn't. Perfectly fine and what a relief since it was on the part of my ring finger that hit the steering wheel and killed. Glad you kept searching for an answer and found someone to help you!
So glad you found the doctor that finally found the answer to your problem.
The only cyst I've had removed was from my jaw so I don't know if it would be the same. It was done under GA at the hospital.It was extrememly close to some nerves but they were able to remove it and not effect the nerves in any way thankfully. I had some work on my wisdom teeth too. It sucked for a few days. I would imagine a hand would be easier to work around more than a mouth.
All the best for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery.
Holy Batman! That's a lot to go through! I'm so glad they found it and I'll say a prayer for a speedy recovery.
I've not had any surgery other than c-sections (yet) so I don't know...but I hope all goes well!
I had/have one in my left wrist. It bothered me a ton when I was in my 20's when I was working (I was an archaeologist and did a lot of hand work digging). I wore a brace...
Eventually I fell on my hand and it popped on it's own. :) It's only recently started bothering me again (it's been at least 10 years since I popped it).
My doctor at the time said they used to whack them with a bible to make them go away :)
J.
I had one in my late teens but it was a huge bump on my right writst. I had it drained and it grew back. I finally had it surgically removed. I was in college and a waitress at the time so I took two weeks off and wore a brace until I had the sutures removed. It never grew back!
Have a friend who had this, but she had a visible bump on her wrist. She had surgery, recovery when went well. She has a scar, but it is not raised and just a bit pink. She has no pain.
I injured my wrist when I was 12. I have (had/have...it depends) a ganglion cyst where my wrist meets my hand. It comes and goes on it's own. I went to several specialists who all told me the same thing...they aren't dangerous, and there is no way to guarantee when you get them drained/removed, that they won't come back. (Actually, I should say where MINE is located, it's not dangerous.) There is a pretty good success rate, but they don't know why they actually stay, don't stay come back, etc. Yes, they can cause pain. Mine does at times. Usually, it's pretty mild. There are times when it's so excruciating, I can't use my wrist or hand. It depends.
When I looked into removal or draining, the Dr. told me recovery is not that intense. It will hurt the first few days, but it is nothing ibuprofen doesn't help.
Since mine is not causing any harm, I choose not to spend all the money getting it drained. Obviously, it I was in a lot of pain all the time, I'd be doing exactly what you are doing!!
I'm so glad they FINALLY found the problem. I hope it is very successful.
Good luck to you and yours.
My hubby had one removed on the top of his hand last year right inbetween the bones of his middle/ring fingers it was an easy surgery he had to have some bone shaved down also now that made the recovery a little more longer. but his hand feels much better.
I currently have one on the inside of my left wrist taht has gotten bigger over the past year, but I am holding off until after I get my tonsiles out next Thursday. That pain is worse than the wrist pain right now. Good luck you should feel much better really soon.
just wanted to pop in and say, So glad you have a resolution. I"m sure it will be no prob. easily taken care of
I have been following your saga and I'm glad you were able to get a diagnosis finally. I hope that having the cyst removed fixes this for you!!!!
I have had surgeries before, not this kind - but you are better off not stressing about it and keeping calm about everything. Stress is NEVER good for surgery.
No, I haven't but it really makes you lose faith in doctors when you go through something like this doesn't it?
Hope it does the trick!
