Wellness

[SoCal Bred]

Years ago I had a ganglion cyst on the first joint of my middle finger, it would not pop, it started to bother me, went to my doctor, he stuck a needle in it to drain it, then put an antibiotic and a band-aid.  He said they're common and they used to call them Bible cysts years ago.  I had another one on a different finger months later, but it seemed to drain on it's own.  Haven't had another one since.  Knock on wood!

[tansy]

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@pupwhipped wrote:

Just wanted to add that the bumps on my index fingers are from osteoarthritis and are called Heberden’s nodes. They are boney, hard, large nodules. There's no fluid, they do not drain, they do not bust, and there's no way I could do anything on my own to get rid of them. I believe surgery is the only option. 

Just wanted to say we may be talking about different problems here.  

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Yes, we are, @pupwhipped.  Both are issues of arthritis in the hands and fingers.  Thanks for pointing that out. 😊

[Kachina624]

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@tansy wrote:

I do know not to jab it with a needle, @Seannie.  Ouch and too much risk of an infection.  I went to urgent care recently because it became infected.

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@tansy    You are absolutely right!  I picked at a growth on an arthritic joint on my finger and ended up with a nasty MRSA infection.  I had to go to an ER every day for week or so for IV antibiotics.  I could have lost my finger.

[tansy]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

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@tansy wrote:

I do know not to jab it with a needle, @Seannie.  Ouch and too much risk of an infection.  I went to urgent care recently because it became infected.

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@tansy    You are absolutely right!  I picked at a growth on an arthritic joint on my finger and ended up with a nasty MRSA infection.  I had to go to an ER every day for week or so for IV antibiotics.  I could have lost my finger.

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Wow, @Kachina624.  I am relieved to see you had a good outcome.  

[SeaMaiden]

My knuckles flare up now and then...both hands, but, mostly the knuckles my right hand and the the toes on my right foot too...I have osteoarthritis. Both hips and both knees have been replaced....so nothing new to me. I just deal with the inflamed knuckles. 

[akaburtonfan]

I have those fluid filled cysts on the 2nd knuckle of every finger except my thumbs. Some are bigger than others. They only bother me if I smack them on something. Some mornings if my hands swell a bit at night they make it hard to close my hand into a fist.  My son pointed out that they look terrible {I thought I raised him better } -- so now I'm self conscious of my hands. 

[tansy]

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@akaburtonfan wrote:

I have those fluid filled cysts on the 2nd knuckle of every finger except my thumbs. Some are bigger than others. They only bother me if I smack them on something. Some mornings if my hands swell a bit at night they make it hard to close my hand into a fist.  My son pointed out that they look terrible {I thought I raised him better } -- so now I'm self conscious of my hands. 

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I'm sorry, @akaburtonfan.  I see people staring at my finger sometimes and my small grandson commented on my "owie".  You are fortunate that they are not painful though.  

[Citrine1]

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@tansy wrote:

Thank you, @Citrine1.  It's on the first joint of my right index finger, a finger that I use a great deal

Every so often it spontaneously drains but then fills up again.  

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So it sounds like surgery might be in order.  If so, I hope yours goes as smoothly as mine did!

[shoesnbags]

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@tansy wrote:

Anyone have experience with treatment for these fluid-filled growths?  I am waiting for an appointment with a hand specialist but would like to hear other people's experience with this surprisingly painful and unattractive condition.  

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@tansy 

Yes, I've had this twice - on the left pointer finger 3 years ago and the left middle finger just 3 weeks ago.  I have bony spurs from arthritis on some knuckles of both hands, but these cysts are an added complication that can develop on the spurs. 

When it happened the first time, I didn't know what it was and ignored the redness and swelling.  A clear fluid would come out at the cuticle if I pressed.  Eventually a deep hole developed in my nail at the top by the cuticle. The hole was getting bigger as the nail grew.  At that point I saw a hand specialist and had outpatient surgery on that finger.  Because it had advanced he had to remove the whole nail, which took over 6 months to grow back and hurt like heck for weeks after the surgery.  But it healed beautifully, no more cyst and no more bone spur. (And a beautiful new fingernail!)

Sorry to say that the same thing started to happen with the next finger over so I ran, not walked to the hand surgeon.  Three weeks ago he removed the spur and cyst at a much earlier stage and healing has been a piece of cake compared to last time. 

For everyone reading this, my cysts were not an external thing with a "head" that could be popped, ugh.  It's a swelling and redness that's sore to the touch and doesn't get better, just worsens. In the case of the first one, it gradually spread from the knuckle to the nail bed.  If you get something like this, see a doctor.

[tansy]

Thanks for that info, @shoesnbags.  Mine does not involve the nail bed.  It is square on the first joint, with a darkish center.  My appointment is October 17.  I might try finding another doctor because of how much difficulty it is causing today.