lidia09

Hi Trisha
I had a on my face when I read where you live because I live in Bonnyrigg I don't know too much about ganglions so did a bit of research & found that they can indeed be painful. Where exactly is yours? I know that if a ganglion grows on the palm side of the wrist (and in other places) it can cause pressure on a nerve therefore you'd experience symptoms of pain, tingling & numbness. If you've injured your elbow there could be a problem with the ulnar nerve. Have you done a search on Cubital Tunnel Syndrome? The median nerve is the one affected by carpal tunnel syndrome. This nerve serves the thumb, index, middle & part of the ring finger. The ulnar nerve serves part of the ring finger & the pinky. If you have tingling, pain or numbness in the fingers, you'll know which nerve is affected.

Strangely enough I've never taken pain killers for my hands. I've had plenty of tingling & some shooting pains up my wrist but have never found I really had a lot of actual pain, even before surgery. I'd say the surgery was reasonably successful in that I can carry on a 'normal' life. I'll admit to not looking after my hands by overdoing stuff like gardening, computer use & crafts but I put up with the consequences rather than giving up what I love doing. I wear a 'cock-up' splint at night which rests my dominant hand & keeps it straight. I also have a bit of muscle wasting in my thumb which I'm exercising when I remember & wearing a great wee thumb splint for hitting the space bar (splints came from local health centre physio.) I take vitamin b6 daily too which is something supposedly lacking in cts sufferers.

Did you know that in bygone days they used to hit ganglions with a bible or mallet to get rid of them? Fortunately it was discovered that 50% grew back after this 'treatment' & the practice died out.

I hope you find out the cause of your problem soon & get it treated quickly. Keep posting to let us all know how you are.

Lidia