Ganglion Cysts Specialist

Central Jersey Hand Surgery

Hand and Upper Extremity Surgeons located in Eatontown, Freehold, & Toms River, NJ

If you have a visible or palpable lump on your wrist that causes numbness or pain, it may be a ganglion cyst. The team of board-certified orthopedic surgeons at Central Jersey Hand Surgery in Eatontown, and Toms River, New Jersey, diagnoses ganglion cysts and offers personalized treatments, including surgical and nonsurgical options. If you’re concerned about pain or numbness in your hands, call Central Jersey Hand Surgery or schedule a consultation online today.

Ganglion Cysts Q & A

What are ganglion cysts?

Ganglion cysts are fluid-filled sacs that originate from a joint or develop along tendons. They’re usually found on the back of the wrist, but you can also have a ganglion cyst on the palm side of your wrist, at the base of your fingers or at the finger joints.

Ganglion cysts are noncancerous and often painless. However, if your cyst compresses a nerve, it can cause pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in your hand. Ganglion cysts may start small and painless, but can become more prominent and cause disruptive symptoms over time.

What causes ganglion cysts?

Ganglion cysts form when fluid accumulates under the sheath that surrounds your tendons or a sac from a joint. The exact cause of ganglion cysts isn’t fully understood, but they may be due to overuse, injury, or other trauma.

Women and those who put consistent stress on their wrists, like gymnasts, are most likely to develop ganglion cysts.

How are ganglion cysts diagnosed?

The team at Central Jersey Hand Surgery diagnoses ganglion cysts with a physical exam and testing. They talk to you about your symptoms and examine your hand and wrist in detail. They may press on your wrist and different parts of your hand to assess the cyst and determine if it’s compressing a nerve.

When necessary, they may also order X-rays, MRIs, or ultrasounds to see your cyst in more detail.

How are ganglion cysts treated?

Your doctor at Central Jersey Hand Surgery provides customized treatments, depending on your specific needs. For example, if your ganglion cyst is small and doesn’t cause symptoms, you may not need treatment or your doctor could recommend that you wear a wrist brace or avoid repetitive hand and wrist motions.

However, if your ganglion cyst grows rapidly, becomes painful, or gets in the way of your regular activities, they may recommend treatments such as aspiration to drain the cyst or a cortisone injection to reduce inflammation.

When conservative treatments don’t effectively treat your cyst, your doctor might suggest a surgical excision to remove the cyst. The team at Central Jersey Hand Surgery performs outpatient ganglion cyst surgery with a local anesthetic. The whole procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes. After they remove your cyst, your doctor applies a bandage.

Call Central Jersey Hand Surgery or make an appointment online today for expert, customized treatment for ganglion cysts.