Any thoughts on this, people? I have a hard lump on my wrist joint that feels like a bone. It seems to be something like additional bone growth, and I am pretty sure that it should not really be there. Other people don't have this, I think! So what should I do about this? Should I see a doctor?
Lumps on the body are always a reason for worry, particularly those that appear out of nowhere. Sometimes the lumps may appear on arms or wrists. They could be painful or not, but even if painless, they could cause discomfort. There are many causes for a lump on the wrist, most of them being benign. One of the commonest reasons is a broken wrist that didn't heal properly, as the member who replied first suggested. However, the member who started the discussion said that he had never broken his wrist and that he would certainly notice if he had. So he asked again:
Are there any other possible causes of lumps on the wrist?
Although it doesn't necessarily mean broken wrist, the lump may be a result of a previous injury, as one participant noticed. He fell on his wrist about 10 years ago and this bump appeared. He also noted that the lump would go away and then come up again. Many other participants in the discussion also noted this recurring nature of the lump.
It reappears every 2-3 months it seems like and prevents me from doing any pushing actions or repetitive actions in a certain direction.
For others, the lump wouldn't go away. Many described the lump as hard, bony growth, usually the size of a marble or bigger.
I have a hard lump on my wrist joint that feels like a bone.
While many noted the lump felt like a bone, the top of it was soft. One participant described it as a knot that felt like hard rubber. For some, the lump was painful and usually located where the thumb attaches to the wrist joint.
One participant wrote that it could be tendonitis, an inflammation of the tendons around the wrist joint. However, symptoms of tendonitis are a pain in the wrist, swelling around the wrist joint, as well as warmth and redness. Lump on the wrist joint is not a symptom of tendonitis. Rarely tho, the lump in the wrist may indicate arthritis, especially if it's painful.
A lot of participants noted that quite often lump on the wrist can indicate a ganglion cyst. They are very common and can sometimes be painful. Ganglion cysts are typically fluid-filled (doesn't mean they will be soft) and can be caused by overstretching the tendon and so the synovial fluid leaks and forms a pouch. Sometimes ganglion cysts can go away on their own, sometimes they won't.
So what should I do about this?
Many participants mentioned that the most effective and easy way to get rid of a ganglion cyst is to hit the lump (or have someone hit it for you) with a really big, hard book. Even doctors were advising people to whack these lumps with a phone book or a bible, especially in olden days. This method, despite being supported by some clinical evidence, is not recommended because it can cause a great deal of harm, such s infection or even broken wrist. Anyone who is concerned about the lump on the wrist should see a doctor.
What do experts say?
As mentioned in the discussion, the most common cause of a lump on the wrist is a ganglion cyst.
What is a ganglion cyst?
Ganglion cysts are noncancerous lumps that most commonly develop along the tendons or joints of the wrists or hands. The most common locations are:
- the top of the wrist,
- the palm side of the wrist,
- the base of the finger on the palm side, and
- the top of the end joint of the finger (they are then known as mucous cysts).
The ganglion cyst is filled with clear fluid or gel and often resembles a water balloon on a stalk. Depending on the size, ganglion cysts may feel firm or spongy. Small ganglion cysts can be pea-sized, while larger ones can grow to around an inch (2.5 centimeters) in diameter. Ganglion cysts can be painful if they press on a nearby nerve. Their location and size can sometimes interfere with joint movement.
It is not known what causes the formation of ganglion cysts. 70% of ganglion cysts occur in younger people between the ages of 20 and 40 years, and women are more likely to be affected than men.
Diagnosis of a ganglion cyst
Whether you have symptoms such as pain or numbness, or not, your ganglion cyst can benefit from medical evaluation. Moreover, other growths can also present as a ganglion cyst, so the right diagnosis would keep you from worrying and help the doctor decide on the best treatment plan for you.
A physical exam is often all that is needed to diagnose a ganglion cyst. Further tests may be required, such as needle aspiration or ultrasound.
Treatment of a ganglion cyst
Many ganglion cysts require no treatment and will disappear on their own without any intervention. In many cases, these cysts can simply be observed, especially if they are painless. If the cyst becomes painful, limits activity, or becomes a cosmetic problem, several treatment options can be recommended:
- Immobilization with a brace or splint to prevent the growth
- Anti-inflammatory medication can be used for pain
- Aspiration - In this procedure a needle is placed into the cyst to drain the fluid out. This method can be combined with previous two, i.e. the needle can be used to inject a steroid (anti-inflammatory) medication into the cyst, and then the wrist can be immobilized to keep it from moving.
- Surgery - This may be an option if other approaches haven't worked, especially because the cyst usually recurs. During the surgery, the doctor removes the cyst and the stalk that attaches it to the joint or tendon. However, the cyst can recur, even after surgery.
In the past, home care of a ganglion cyst has included many unorthodox methods, one of the most prominent being using a heavy book to physically smash the cyst. A heavy book in question was the Bible, hence the name of this procedure - "Bible therapy," and a colloquial name of the ganglion cysts as "Bible cysts" or "Bible bumps."
Plenty of people are still happy to try this method nowadays, except instead of the Bible, they use any huge book they can lay their hands on, such as phone books or encyclopedias.
Although there have been studies claiming that blunt force may be an effective treatment for ganglion cysts, there are good reasons not to do it. The first reason is that smashing the cyst with a book could cause damage to the surrounding tissue, not only a bad bruising but breaking a bone.
Also, there is a recurrence problem. One study found that in those who tried the bible-bashing method the fluid indeed dissipated and the bump reduced, however, the cyst recurrence rates were between 22% and 64%.
So, how should you deal with a ganglion cyst? The answer is simple - if it doesn't hurt or cause movement problems, you should leave it alone. The good news is that 45% of ganglion cysts disappear by themselves after six years, and after a decade more than half would be gone.
If it's painful, put down the Bible and visit your doctor.
Links:
- https://www.assh.org/handcare/hand-arm-conditions/ganglion-cyst
- https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/ganglion-cyst-of-the-wrist-and-hand/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2682407/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4045351/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4916095/
- https://pmj.bmj.com/content/79/932/329
Discussion highlights
What symptoms have been reported?
- I have a hard lump on my wrist joint that feels like a bone.
- It seems to be something like additional bone growth, and I am pretty sure that it should not really be there.
- But now I flex my wrist back and I can feel and see a hard lump painful lump about where my thumb attaches to my wrist joint.
- But now my wrist is constantly swollen and this ball is huge in my wrist joint.
- It is not on the bottom of my wrist, it is on the top middle so it looks like a bone is sticking out.
What diagnosis has been made?
- My doctor said I had a Boss on my hands from the MCP joint.
- Mine was a ganglian cyst after all, nothing at all to worry about as they go away quickly and easily as mine has done.
- It's very painful, I also got carpal tunnel syndrome.
- I saw a doctor about it and he told me it may not be a ganglion cyst because the ball does not move in my wrist when I move my fingers do and he said it should.
- I was also told I had a ganglia on my wrist.
Verified Claims & Medical Studies
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i think it could be arthritis inthe hand and wrist i have it you should go to te doctor.
https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/osteoarthritis.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2904904/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3527878/
In conclusion
The lump on the wrist is most likely a ganglion cyst - a fluid-filled noncancerous lump that most commonly develops along the tendons or joints of the wrists or hands. If it's not painful or if it doesn't limit the mobility of the wrist, the treatment is usually not required. Almost half of the ganglion cysts would disappear spontaneously. The doctor evaluation may be required if the cyst is painful, too big, or if the doctor wants to exclude other causes.