Salocin

Needles and Ganglions

A while ago, I had a ganglion cyst in my right wrist, and a doctor in the US, at immense cost to my insurance, spent 5 minutes sticking a needle into my wrist and drawing out some jelly-like fluid - it was over faster than you would have thought, and when I took the bandage off the next day, my wrist was all better.

Unfortunately, aspiration isn't the most reliable method of getting rid of ganglions, as they have this annoying tendency to come back. By and large, they wax and wane and can safely be left alone, but the one I currently have in my left wrist is blocking the movement, getting in the way of my doing sport, or yoga.

And it hurts. All the damn time.

So tomorrow, after jumping through the countless hoops designed to dissuade you and which make it as complicated as bureaucratically possible, I will be going to see a consultant at a nearby clinic. I'm hoping he aspirates at the very least. The last time I saw a consultant, he told me to not do any sport for a month and wait for it to go away, which is a really sub-standard solution as far as I'm concerned. After all, a month is a long time to not be able to do yoga or go to the gym, and to be saying "ouch" every time I flex my wrist.

I will be going there armed with an insurance membership number, an insurance authorisation code and a GP referral letter. It's taken me a week and a couple of hours off work to get those three items - what a waste of time - but hopefully the road is now clear.