Questions and Answers

A.L.H Milwaukee, WI writes... I have recently noticed a large ”bump” on the back of my wrist. When I put pressure on the “bump” or move my wrist it is tender and painful. My job requires heavy lifting and I am at my computer several hours per day inputting data. I am wondering if this is a “tumor” or something caused by my long hours on the computer.

Dear A.L.H., What you are describing sounds like a very common condition of the wrist known as a “ganglion cyst”. A ganglion is a benign soft tissue mass, which is most commonly located on the back of the wrist. When the wrist is “flexed” or bent it may become even more prominent. Other sites these cysts can be seen are near the base of the thumb, or the front surface of the wrist crease.

A ganglion cyst may be the result of trauma or another words an injury to the wrist, or degenerative changes in the wrist. An old fashioned method of treatment was to “smash” the cyst with a book. Today we know better and all this does is give you a sore wrist. Many Physicians will choose to treat ganglion cysts conservatively by just leaving them alone. Sometimes if they continue to cause pain and discomfort they are surgically removed. I strongly recommend that you have this looked at by your Physician if it continues to cause problems for you.

 

<< Back to Q&A