ganglion cyst (skier's thumb area)?

A friend just got this diagnosis. I have not seen it mentioned here.

No specific or significant skiing-related trauma, at least within her recall.

Any chance just "normal" pole plant use could trigger this? The poles are soft-grip Smiths with a usual strap.

If I remember correctly from my father (a surgeon) explaining ganglions, it's an inflammation of the sheathing the tendons run in. Usually caused by a lot of repetitive motion. So if it's on a tendon that runs a thumb function, and if the friend continually tightens and loosens the grip on the pole, it could be related to that action. Doesn't require a trauma. Left alone, I think ganglions can be reabsorbed by the body. If they're removed surgically, they sometimes reoccur. The most common ones occur on the back of the wrist.

Thanks, KB!

ganglion

actually a ganglion is a weakness in a joint capsule which fills with joint fluid. they sometimes go away, but usually dont. they can happen without any known trauma. they can be left alone, aspirated, injected, cut out, or hit with a bible(previously the heaviest book in a household)

Everytime one of my friends (especially the kids) get's one of these I reach for the bible (we have a huge pulpit bible) and tell the to hold out their hand. The always look at me in shock!

The early thinking (Pre-modern medicine) was that these were caused by the devil and a bible would "excise" the demon.. Since the mechanics of it worked most of the time (being struck and ruptured), the people of old believed that this was the cure.

It's always fun to see the faces of kids : when they don't know any better. Then we explain it to them and we all have a laugh. They learn a little history and we all have a little fun with it.

DC

My mother got one of these on her wrist once. Went to the doctor and asked him what it was and what should she do. He said he could wack it with a medical hammer and bill her for it or she could go home and wack it with a book...... He was a great doc with a good sense of humor.

Mom, just let it go down on its own. I think it was called "when" or "wen." I don't know the correct spelling.

Not a ganglion

A ganglion is not a wen. The description above is essentially correct. Whacking it with a book will cause it to rupture expelling its contents. It can, however recur, unless it is thoroughly, surgically excised.