There was a rather big lump that formed on top of Art's middle finger a few months ago on his left hand. Coincidentally, it was the same finger that he damaged 10 years ago while working on our home renovation project. The doctor who patched him up that time was a resident doctor who'd graduated from West Point.
What a surprise and delight for us to find Dr. Gumboc was now the chief of hand surgery at Tripler.
We were told that what Art had was something like a ganglion cyst.
I found this in Wikipedia:
"A ganglion cyst, or a synovial cyst, also known as Gideon's disease, a Bible cyst, or a Bible bump, is a non-neoplastic soft tissue lump that may occur in any joint, but most often occurs on, around, or near joints and tendons in the hands or feet. These cysts are caused by leakage of fluid from the joint into the surrounding tissue."
Apparently, once they cut the finger open, they discovered the cyst had wrapped around his knuckle into a tendon.
They had to scrape the knuckle to get it out.
Another option was to just drain the lump, but chances were it would return.
The surgery seemed to be the better option.
It's been healing pretty well.
Ever since he had the surgery I've heard of so many people having the same sort of lump in different parts of their hand. They're all watching the progress on his finger to see if they would like to have the same procedure.
We'll see...
POSTSCRIPT:
After a couple of months where Art used Scar Away silicon patches on his finger to minimize keloiding this is what it looks like.
He's very pleased with the outcome, but the doctor did say they discovered when they operated that the cyst was tied to some arthritis so in about five years, it could return.
We'll be keeping our fingers crossed.
What a surprise and delight for us to find Dr. Gumboc was now the chief of hand surgery at Tripler.
We were told that what Art had was something like a ganglion cyst.
I found this in Wikipedia:
"A ganglion cyst, or a synovial cyst, also known as Gideon's disease, a Bible cyst, or a Bible bump, is a non-neoplastic soft tissue lump that may occur in any joint, but most often occurs on, around, or near joints and tendons in the hands or feet. These cysts are caused by leakage of fluid from the joint into the surrounding tissue."
Apparently, once they cut the finger open, they discovered the cyst had wrapped around his knuckle into a tendon.
They had to scrape the knuckle to get it out.
Another option was to just drain the lump, but chances were it would return.
The surgery seemed to be the better option.
It's been healing pretty well.
Ever since he had the surgery I've heard of so many people having the same sort of lump in different parts of their hand. They're all watching the progress on his finger to see if they would like to have the same procedure.
We'll see...
POSTSCRIPT:
After a couple of months where Art used Scar Away silicon patches on his finger to minimize keloiding this is what it looks like.
He's very pleased with the outcome, but the doctor did say they discovered when they operated that the cyst was tied to some arthritis so in about five years, it could return.
We'll be keeping our fingers crossed.
It looks a little battered and bruised but. hopefully, will be fine.
ReplyDeleteLooks pretty good to me! Of course, I've had a failed Bunion surgery so I can appreciate the looks of his finger. My left foot is a catastrophe.
ReplyDeleteHreat recovery
ReplyDeleteForty odd years ago I had a through and through cyst removed. It was a large bump on the bottom of my wrist and a small bump on top. It was growing between bones. Draining didn't work; thumping didn't work. So, I had it removed. Only a scar is left. May Art's be the same.
ReplyDeleteIt's always somehting to deal with as we age...that's the challenge! Hope he continues to heal well.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see how well it healed up. And yes, it's the aging body, we all have one. :-)
ReplyDeleteI must share my story. Thought I had a ganglion cyst and read where you should strike it with a book to pop it. I tried a book. No good. I tried a leather riding crop and beat the heck out of the cyst. Finally went to the doctor who referred me to the orthopedic surgeon who operated and found a damaged tendon. He wondered how I had damaged the tendon and I NEVER told. LOL
ReplyDeleteI showed your comment to Art and he got such a kick out of it. Too funny!
Deletehmmmm...i might have one of these too. i almost cut my thumb off several years ago and recently i noticed a bump on the knuckle next to it. interesting!
ReplyDeletethe surgery sounds pretty intricate, glad it's over and went well.
ReplyDeleteThat surgery looks like an expert action to me. I scar so badly.
ReplyDeleteSo glad it's healing well!!!
ReplyDeleteCutting right to the important stuff...I am glad Art is pleased. It looks good now.
ReplyDeleteIt looks good to me. Hope it stays that way.
ReplyDeleteHope you forget ALL about it soon, Art! Best wishes and Aloha to both of you
ReplyDeleteThe doc did a great job!
ReplyDeleteWow, that looks really good. I also grow keloids. They're the pits.
ReplyDeleteYup another *great* aging problem in a long line of stuff that happens to you as you get older. I've got one on my inside wrist and when discovered it, Web MD'd it and sure enuf doc confirmed it. But it's on the inside and not doing much so now it's something I tool with when I see it. I also get the one right below my nail bed where the fluid leaks and forms a big bump stretching the skin. But doc says it eventually drains and sure enuf it cycles where it swells and then they all deflate. Aging means losing some of your vanity and living with what you can. I'm sure my body has other *wonderful* surprises in store for me. BB
ReplyDeleteNo kidding!!! So very true. It seems lately that it's one thing after another.
DeleteMy sister had one of these, but one of her crazy cats scratched it very badly and that drained it!
ReplyDeleteAlso, my Aunt Gayle had one and the doctor came into the office and WHOMPPED a big thick book down upon her wrist and that was the end of that one for her! Man, you guys need to come to Georgia for medical treatment! LOL. xx
Fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteI had one of these on my finger. When it began to get sore I had surgery to have it removed. That was quite a few years ago. I do have slight bump there again, but so far nothing that needs any attention.
ReplyDeleteArt's hand looks wonderful now. So glad everything healed so well. May that be the last of the problem.
ReplyDeleteKay, I hope Art keeps healing nicely! Hopefully it won't ever return!!
ReplyDeleteIt healed beautifully! I had one years ago on my wrist. It was not painful and did not limit my range of motion. It went away on its own eventually.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post. Tell Art I just had a ganglion cyst removed from a middle toe. I had a skin cancer removed, then when it wouldn't heal my foot doctor said there was a cyst with a bone spur under the cancer. All from aging skin and bone.
ReplyDeleteI've been hearing a lot from friends now who are showing me their cysts. Sigh... I guess these are all things that happen as we age.
DeleteOh my, new to me. Glad Art is healing well....
ReplyDeleteLooks like Art had great success --when removing the cyst. I hope it doesn't come back --but if it does, he knows what good doctor to go to, doesn't he?
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
Glad to hear all is well, for now!
ReplyDeleteLooking good! It's not a life and death thing but I know how worrisome a ganglion cyst can be! All good for your hubby now, thank goodness!
ReplyDelete