Hand osteoarthritis with mucous cysts

Hi, @bonnieh218 -- thanks for sharing a bit about the mucous cysts you are seeing on your finger related to your osteoarthritis. I thought I'd introduce you to other members on Connect who have talked about osteoarthritis they or a loved one have experienced to see if they are familiar with this situation and what type of doctor they'd recommend seeing for this issue, like @gailb @ees1 @jeannegordon4 @suzie2017 @darlia @danybegood1. @johnbishop may also have some thoughts.

Is this something you've been dealing with for some time, @bonnieh218, or is this new for you?

Hi @bonnieh218 -- I did find some information on Mayo Clinic's website that may be helpful. I believe an orthopedic surgeon does the procedures when needed. I have no medical training or background but from reading about them, the doctors normally take a wait and see approach. Then if there's pain or interference with the joint movement, they decide what the best plan of action is with your input (with your input would be important to me).

Ganglion cyst - Diagnosis & Treatment:
-- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ganglion-cyst/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351160

Hoping others who have experienced this condition can offer more information.

John

Last year I saw a PA in my internal medicine office for a lump between the nail and joint of my left index finger for about a year. I had thought it was caused by a foreign body as there was a tiny speck in the center of it. They did x-rays and I was told it was a mucus cyst and that it could be surgically removed or just observed. I decided to soak it in Epsom salt solution and after that it nearly disappeared and has not come back. BTW I do have swelling on my other index finger but it is from osteoarthritis and it was not helped with the Epsom salt soak.

I’ve had osteoarthritis for several years. The cysts only started about 9 months ago.

Thank you for your information. Would you explain what your epsom salt solution is? How much water and salt? How often did you soak? I appreciate any information. These cysts are painful the bigger they get. Then they burst open and drain and that relieves the pain but they just regrow again.

Hi John and @bonnieh218 ~
I've been scanning the Mayo connect tonight and looking at my past posts, etc.. I saw this and decided I can contribute because I just had a diagnosis last week of a cyst on my left hand middle finger which is just below the nail and cuticle . I had been noticing it as a depression at first and it looked also like the skin was shiny, and it was like the skn is irritated there and just not right... So I think this was many many months ago. My recollection isn't good on this but okay, so I have some ointment for when I get any open spot for me to put on to avoid infections. It's called Mupirocin. My dermatologist is the Dr who I showed it to and he said it is a cyst. I don't recall the name of it though. But he did use a type of syringe to extract the clear gel that was in it. Then he put some kind of steroid in it to help. He wants to recheck in a month..then after another couple times of extracting the gel, he says he will be referring me to a HAND surgeon. John, its not a gangleon cyst, the dermatologist told me this when I asked about my finger. But i cant remember what he called it...However, I did have a Gangleon cyst on my right wrist that got so large I had to have it removed by a hand surgeon and that was in 2003. That was not ever conveyed to me at all that either one was related to the Osteoarthritis in my hands. At the time of the wrist cyst I hadn't been diagnosed yet with osteoarthritis. So.the Hand Surgeon just told me that some people get them and are prone to cysts more than others. Gangleon cysts are not malignant and are also filled with a clear gel just like this one I have on myfinger now. Hope that you get some help. If you find out more about this finger cyst then please post it here Thanks.
Darla

Good information, thank you for sharing @darlia!

I have a mucous cyst on my finger near my last joint. It is not near the fingernail at all. The cyst just pops on its own when it gets to a larger size, I've never had it popped by anyone. The clear gel drains out and I am left with raw skin where I put a little Neosporin on it and a Band-Aid for a couple days. Then the cyst starts growing again and the process repeats itself. Last month, after the cyst had popped and drained on its own, I started using Dr. Teals Lotion with Epson salts in it on my hands for my osteoporosis. This last week I noticed my cyst is gone and hasn't started regrowing at all. Going to keep up with this lotion and closely follow whatever happens with this cyst. Maybe this might be of some help to you. All the best!

I've got this problem.. It's on my left middle finger, just below the nail and part of the cycts formation is occurring over the top of my nail. Mine does the same exact thing! I would like to know how epson salts relieved or "cures" this cyst? I can't use them because I only have one kidney and magnesium is a no-no. My dermatologist drains it and puts steroid in it. He says to come back in a month( that's Monday now)its been painful too. Drains, gets red, one time something sharp pricked it. It hurt, clear gel came out, it now has a spot that's a scab. So he says he is going to refer me to a hand surgeon. I'm guessing that's because there's a root that's the source to causing it and unless you remove the source it will continue to come back.
Any advice I get is appreciated from those who have already had a positive outcome. Thanks in advance!
Darlia

I am scheduled to see a hand surgeon Wed. In the mean time...I have some new ones starting on at least 2 other fingers!! Help!