Comments on: Acupuncture Cures a Ganglion Cyst

by: Kathryn

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:02:28 +0000

I have a large cyst on my hand, which was removed surgically two years ago. It has grown back, larger than ever. When accidentally hit, it is excruciatingly painful. Recently, a friend informed me that she had had hers drained, with a touch of cortisone inserted, which closed off the sac’s ability to absorb more fluid. The literature I’ve come across indicates that cysts can go away on their own - and what I’ve noticed with mine is that is grows with the amount of stress in my life - so it’s like a stress indicator. Given the fact that my father was abusive, this is no surprise to me, even all these years later. A couple of people mention hitting a cyst with a heavy book - yes, well that “worked” back when there was no penicillin, and when people were completely in the dark about root causes of most illnesses. It would be a cruel thing to do to anybody. Do those people drown their kittens as well?

by: Peter

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 01:59:39 +0000

Yes, I agree with the critical thinking issue. Just this week thre was research published which showed anti-depressant medications (SSRI’s) to be no more effective than placebo in the treatment of depression. Some in the medical establishment immediately jumped to the defence of antidepressant meds citing their “clinical experience”. So much for “evidence based medicine.

by: Laura

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 02:33:14 +0000

Judy, the version of that story I have heard is that ganglion cysts are the one thing cured with faith healing: hit them with a family Bible.

by: Dean

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:08:03 +0000

Hi Ami, Sorry I haven’t been by your blog in a while. Hope to get back to reading other people’s posts very soon.

And I agree with you wholeheartedly. A little training in critical thinking never hurt anybody.

by: Ami

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:06:45 +0000

Don’t worry about the people you can’t ‘convert’ away from alternative medicine, but the younger people coming into the world.

I think a course in critical thinking and logic should be a high school requirement. It shouldn’t be something stuck in one of the science courses, especially the more advanced ones, but a class all its own.

by: Dean

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:48:50 +0000

Hi Judy and elizabeth, Thanks for the comments and for confirming that these cysts do in fact, disappear on their own over time.

by: elizabeth

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:31:32 +0000

i had a ganglion cyst a few years ago. after about a year i went to to a dr since i didn’t know what it was. the dr i saw said i had 3 choices: 1) surgery 2) have it suctioned or 3) leave it. it should go away on it’s own.
i went with the 3rd option. since i have 2 young kids the recovery time for the first 2 choices was something i didn’t have the luxury to take. it eventually did go away after 2 years. it sucked tho. those things can make workouts really challenging and a real pain when they’re at the base of the hand/wrist area.

by: Judy

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:08:42 +0000

There’s a very old joke that the best treatment for a ganglion cyst is a medical book — preferably a very large one. You smack the cyst with the book and it goes away.

That probably works, although I can’t recommend it.

I inadvertently “cured” my ganglion cyst (which my hand surgeon had declined to remove, citing significant pain and potential for it to simply go away on it’s own). What he had done - about 7 days prior to my incident - was a laparoscopic carpal tunnel release. The power went out in our house so I was trying to get something out of the freezer without warming it too much. I opened and closed the door rather too quickly, slamming my wrist in the process. I saw stars for several minutes, but the cyst was gone, never to return. Much less expensive than acupuncture, too.