Ganglion Cyst

[zoommutt]

I have one on the bottom of my left wrist on the thumb side. Having an operation in 8 days , and I'm a little concerned. Digging around tendons and an artery..Yikes!
Anybody have had this procedure ? How was it? Doctor says I'll need no PT, I'll just be sore. I figure if they mess up, I'm thinking working on my slide or taking up Auto-harp. Three Demensional figured maple topped auto-harp mmmmmmmmmmm yeah.

 

[ch willie]

I have a lot more wrong with mine than you do, but I've read more horror stories than good ones about surgery. Are you willing to get a second opinion? If you can, you should. I have osteo, cysts, carpal tunnel, and and and, so yours might be operable. Still, I'd get a second opinion.

 

[MarcB]

Good luck with the op.. I’m sure you’ll be fine.. if not get in touch and I’ll look after your guitars for you free of charge.

 

[DrewB]

My best friend is a professional guitarist and guitar tech. He had a ganglion cyst in his fretting-hand wrist that was causing a ton of trouble. He had the surgery a couple of years ago and went through PT afterward. He really pushed himself through PT, working with similar items at home and was "back in business" ahead of the expected timeframe. Surgeons who do this kind of surgery do it a lot. Say your prayers for a good outcome and do your part in PT and you'll be glad you went through it all.

 

[jb_abides]

Had the cyst on main articulating joint used for the opposing movement of my fretting hand thumb.

Operated upon as a teen. Post-op rehab, after scar fully sealed was mainly soreness you have to work thru.

I had a good doctor. back in those days when they weren't just assembly line pressure. Then again the imaging tech is better now, and so are some of the tissue cutting tools.

It's a lot about the adhesion of the internal scarring. You need to do all the things to avoid that and soften any scar tissue, assume they don't botch the removal in any way.

Well, decades later it still gives me some restrictions, are more accurately can behave in unexpected ways at random moments. Like subtle mini yips.

The more often you work it constantly the bette it behaves.

Good luck!

 

[jwalker]

I’ve had one on the top of my left wrist for 30 years. When I first noticed it the doctor tried to drain it but the fluid was too thick so he suggested surgery. I read the brochure and the odds were not terrible that it could come back. When I read that the surgery could limit movement I decided not to get it done. The cyst never shrank but after a few years I stopped feeling it in my wrist joint. I think it slightly weakened my grip in my left hand. But strangely I think it improved my playing because it forced me to be more nuanced when fretting a note.

 

[zoommutt]

It is starting to hurt.I've had it for about two years,but it got bigger last summer. They tried to drain it, but that didn't work. My doctor said no P t ,but there would be soreness from the scar. Will I feel it on rainy days? MarcB,that is nice of you to offer. I knew LPF had my back!! Thanks for the advise guys.

 

[MarcB]

You’ll be fine @zoommutt ..

 

[harleytech]

I had a ganglion cyst removed on my left wrist which had wrapped around one of my tendons so that was an ordeal. And a couple months later had carpal tunnel surgeries done on both hands. I'm still waiting for numbness and tingling to go away and this July and august will be a year. Just starting to get back into playing guitar again, but its a slow process and I keep fumbling with chords, I just keep hoping I can play again as I used to.. Been doing PT exercises on my own at home which are helping but not fast enough. Its a long process whenever they cut you open afterwards because nerves take a long time to heal. Not liking this gettin' old stuff.. Lol..
Good Luck...

 

[zoommutt]

Maybe I shouldn't have started this thread . Yikes, harleytech, good luck. My bump is so big, two people thought I had a broken arm!

 

[harleytech]

Thanks... Mine was that big too...

 

[Norton]

I had a small one last year that after a few mo. went away on its own. I felt pretty lucky, but now this thread is going to give me nightmares about it coming back!

 

[ch willie]

Sorry if I was negative. If it's only a ganglion cyst, surgery is probably the way to go. I'm just frustrated. My doc told me that there's so much wrong with my hands and wrists that even 4 surgeries wouldn't help. I tried to stretch and work through the pain. Had a tryout for a band coming up. But after a few days of light prep, my neck hand and wrist were beyond painful. I will get over the disappointment. I'm just grateful that I can play at all. I wish you so much good luck.

 

[zoommutt]

I had it done on Wednesday, had the soft cast off this morning. Nice 2 inch scar. Typing 1 handed. Fingers feel stiff. I can't play guitar for awhile yuck!
Yay, no more bump.

 

[AA00475Bassman]

I have had hand work done I was never to concerned about over all out come - seeing how no one has ever paid me a nickel to play guitar .

 

[MarcB]

I had it done on Wednesday, had the soft cast off this morning. Nice 2 inch scar. Typing 1 handed. Fingers feel stiff. I can't play guitar for awhile yuck!
Yay, no more bump.

Maybe when you get back to playing you can adopt a guitar lesson program to help with correct fingering etc..

 

[charliechitlins]

Band name alert

 

[bluesky636]

I had it done on Wednesday, had the soft cast off this morning. Nice 2 inch scar. Typing 1 handed. Fingers feel stiff. I can't play guitar for awhile yuck!
Yay, no more bump.

You're lucky. Glad surgery worked out.

I had a nasty fall last November. Caught myself before I did a full face plant but I bent the tips of the middle and ring fingers on my right hand backwards about 30 degrees and ripped both tip joints wide open. Tore the arteries, nerves, and tendons in both fingers. Had emergency surgery on my right hand the next day. After 12 weeks of physical therapy on my right hand, both fingers are almost useless. I can still hold a flat pick but can no longer finger pick. I see another hand surgeon this coming Monday to see if anything can be done to regain full use of both fingers.

https://flic.kr/p/2pM6Mrb

 

[charliechitlins]

Good luck, everybody with the hand problems.
They're frawkun scary.
I've had 3 trigger fingers and 2 carpal tunnels done and I'm going in Friday for THREE trigger fingers.
My left hand is basically useless right now.

 

[harleytech]

I am going this morning to see my neurologist about my hands. He took x-rays of my neck last week and today is a more through EMG test..
I hope he can fix my hands.. The x-rays did show reduced disc height in my c-6 and c-7...