Question About Ganglion Cysts and Working Out

[Shelbygirl]

Hello Gang.

I've had a painful ganglion cyst on my right wrist that has prevented me from doing pushups, tricep dips and stability ball pikes for the last several months. Just recently, however, it seems as though the cyst is shrinking, and it's definitely a lot less painful. For those of you who have experienced this, do you think it's safe to try pushups and pikes again? As I write this, I'm thinking "duh, wait to see if it shrinks more), but I do so miss those pikes! (I did KP&C this morning, and when I had to skip the stability ball pikes, I was bummed).

Thanks in advance for your advice.
Shelbygirl

 

[Madonna]

I have a ganglion cyst on the inside of my wrist from playing too much tennis. My husband has one on the top of his wrist and has had fluid pulled from it because it was so large.

Right now both of my wrists are sore. I think it is because I have been doing a lot of weights lately. I cannot do even one pushup or one tricep dip because it is too painful. I have been substituting flys and kickbacks until they get better.


Love,

Madonna

 

[endorphin_junkie]

I have a ganglion cyst on the inside of my right wrist, every once in a while it will flare up and subsequently I'll modify my workouts until it settles down. I have found that wearing weight gloves with a wide velcro cuff really helps to support my wrist and keep the cyst from flaring up and decreases the feeling of pressure build up while I workout. No matter what I do tricep dips always aggravate my wrist.

My guess is that if you rest it a bit longer you will be able to get on the ball and dig into your pikes again. For many people ganglion cysts disappear as mysteriously as they appeared, just don't be whacking it with a bible as many people advised me to do when mine first appeared. Hope it gets feeling better soon.

Take Care
Laurie

 

[WD]

I had one on my knee. I had it removed last March. It was caused from a car accident. From the time of the accident till a couple of months later it grew to a fairly large size. It took three different doctors to figure out what it was because of the unusual location. I worked out up till time for the surgury and was back at light cardio and leg work 2 weeks after. It hurt some before the surgury. It is still numb because I think a nerve was damaged. I feel some sensitivity around the area as well. From what I understand they are usually caused by an injury. They can go away on their own. They can also return. If one breaks you have to watch for signs of infection. I don't think working out on it can hurt it, but I would check with a doctor.
Diane Sue

 

[Shelbygirl]

I've heard about the "bible treatment". How crazy is that? I'd think the broken bones would be even more painful than the cyst!

 

[Cruncholi]

Shelbygirl:

I acutally used to do the "Bible smash" on my right wrist ganglion. In fact, my mother would do it for me! How crazy! But, it actually would cause the cyst to break up and after a day and a half of much pain due to the Bible smashing, it would relieve the pain for as long as 2 weeks while they cyst grew back.

However, I do not recommend doing that. Eventually, I had it surgically removed in 1992 and it has not grown back and I am almost pain free since I healed.

Enough war stories. You should listen to your wrist and if it hurts, do not do it. It's a vicious cycle, because once you start up again, your cyst will probably flare up again pretty quickly.

Allison on this form also had a ganglion cyst removed a few years back, so she might chime in with some assistance.

Good luck.

 

[bobbisey]

I actually had an appointment with a specialist today for this exact problem, but I had to postpone it until November. I have ganglion cysts on both wrists. One is bigger than the other and both "come and go". When they are at their worst, I can barely bend my left wrist. Although I did not use a Bible, I was able to "pop" the smaller one on my right wrist. It was purely by accident, and it didn't hurt. My family doctor who referred me to the specialist said they can be drained but sometimes fill back up, but he thinks the larger one will need to be removed.
Overall I have to modify pushups and anything else that I put my full body weight on my hands. It may sound weird, but it seems to be less painful if I am up on my fingertips when I do pushups. I have yet to find a more comfortable way to do tricep pushups.
I wish I was more helpful. I feel your pain - literally! When i see the specialist, I'll share any new insight.
Bobbi