Therapy

If a ganglion does not cause any discomfort, it usually does not need to be treated – in many cases it even recedes on its own.However, if pain occurs or the ganglion presses on nerves or blood vessels, therapy becomes necessary. Then the following treatment options are possible:

Conservative therapy: If a ganglion has newly appeared, temporary immobilization and protection of the joint in combination with the intake of anti-inflammatory painkillers or cortisone can lead to regression.
Surgical removal: If the ganglion has existed for a long time, conservative treatment often does not lead to success. In such cases, the therapy of choice is the removal of the ganglion in one operation, usually under local anesthesia.
As a rule, the joint can then be moved again immediately after the operation. If the patient wishes, surgery can also be performed for aesthetic reasons.
Puncture: The doctor punctures the ganglion to drain the fluid it contains. Cortisone is then injected into the resulting cavity to reduce the probability of the ganglion forming again.
Nevertheless, the risk of relapse is relatively high with this therapy.

Ointments are not medicines that can cure a ganglion and its cause. Analgesic ointments can be used when a ganglion causes pain by putting pressure on joints. Products such as horse ointment and arnica products are often used.

These can relieve any inflammatory processes, but do not lead to healing or shrinkage of the ganglion. Voltaren-Emulgel® is also frequently recommended to counteract the irritation. Unfortunately, we have not been able to research any data regarding the effectiveness of Voltaren-Emulgel®.

A ganglion is a benign soft tissue tumor filled with fluid. If a ganglion causes discomfort, the patient’s family doctor should be consulted and possibly a referral to a surgeon should be made. You should never crush a ganglion yourself.

It is not a simple pimple, but a more complex form of a cyst. If a ganglion is to be removed, this must be done under sterile conditions, i.e. surgically, otherwise inflammation in the affected area may occur. If you discover a nodular change under the skin on your hand or foot, you should first consult your family doctor to have the structure examined in advance.

If the general practitioner suspects or confirms the presence of a ganglion, an orthopedist and surgeon may be considered as specialists. The general practitioner makes the appropriate referrals to the specialists. Especially if the patient wishes to have the ganglion removed, a presentation to a surgeon is indicated.