Lump of bone

[fiona82]

Hi Guys, wonder if anyone can help me with this.

I\'ve had a round lump of extra bone on the back of my left hand (about the size of a small marble, just above the wrist joint) for years, i used to think it was a ganglion, but it doesnt move, it just feels like part of the bone on my hand, rock hard..it never used to bother me, now over the past few months it\'s really aching, it makes my fingers ache, and it hurts when i type for a long time. It also seems to ache more when it\'s cold and when i settle into bed at night, which is a right nuisence. Ive been \'googling\' and it seems as though i\'ve got something called a \'carpal boss\' , i was wondering if anyone could shed any light on this? im 27 and it sems this condition may be linked to arthritus and it quite common in the over 50\'s! im confused...

thanks

[Sqad]

Carpal boss is only one possible diagnosis......you need an X-ray to be specific.

[Doolallygirl]

It could be a combination of things, i.e. repetitive strain injury, arthritis, etc etc. Go to your doctors and ask for a diagnosis.

[fiona82]

ok thanks sqad, i'll make an appt to see my GP, can you think of anything else it might be? thanks

[fiona82]

i've been putting it off to be honest Doolally, i better go, it really hurts :0(

[Sqad]

Yes....it could be an Osteoma (benign tumour of bone) it could be an osteophyte (unlikely in one so young) and it could be an excess of ossification of the styloid process of the wrist.

An X-Ray should sort that out and whatever the diagnosis it is not serious.......no big deal.

[fiona82]

thank you very much for that!
i'll make an appt asap, hopefully i can get the bloody thing sorted out!

[LoftyLottie]

Mr LL has one in the same place. It is rock solid and doesn't move about but it has been medically confirmed as a ganglion and ganglions can certainly ache.

http://hcd2.bupa.co.u...ets/html/ganglia.html

[zzxxee]

dont know if im spelling it right but it maybe a ganglian??

[fiona82]

aaah so it could still be a ganglion then? i was told by a friend that she had a ganglion, but it was softer and she could move it slightly under her skin! mines rock hard, just like a bit of round bone sticking out from my hand.. nice..

[LoftyLottie]

Mr LL's is just like yours. It came up a couple of months ago and it feels just like bone and definitely doesn't move about. His too is just above the wrist joint on the back of his hand. He has been advised to leave it alone unless it gives him pain.

Years ago they used to tell you to get someone to bash them for you with a heavy book!!!

[LoftyLottie]

Still see the doctor though. It may not be a ganglion.

[Sqad]

Lofty....I hesitate to dispute the diagnosis, but ganglions are full of fluid......i.e soft and squiggy.

[fiona82]

My word.. i wouldnt dare bang mine with a book! haha.. i'd pass out with the pain! and i think it would break the bone, there's nowhere for it to go, it feels like it's directly on top of another bone in my hand.

[LoftyLottie]

Not always Sqad. Generally but not always. Mr LL's has been examined by a qualified practitioner.

See my link it says they are firm and rubbery, not soft and squishy and they 'can 'move about under the skin. I wouldn't have posted here if Mr LL hadn't had a medical diagnosis as recently as this week!!

[LoftyLottie]

And Mr LL thought it was something to do with the bone on the back of his hand. But Fiona is going to the GP anyway. Interesting to know what he/she says.

I do trust our GP though Sqad - As the senior bloke in the practice with years of experience.

[Sqad]

fiona describes it as "rock hard"

I have read your link.

[LoftyLottie]

Read this Sqad. The person describes her Ganglion as being as 'hard as bone'. I have found other links too indicating the same thing.

http://caloriecount.a...wrist-painful-ft60634

I think it better be left to fiona's doc to make the diagnosis though.

[Sqad]

Lofty....for some unknown reason, I can't open the link. Never mind.

[LoftyLottie]

Not to worry. It actually talks as well about how painful ganglions can be. I had a Myxoid Cyst/Mucous Cyst that was rock hard on a finger joint (quite common I believe for arthritics) It disappeared as if by magic almost immediately after I got a hospital appointment to have it removed!!

I have just learned a lot about cysts. How very interesting.

[fiona82]

I've just read that link Lofty, and it does sound similar to what i've got, im also finding it really painful to lift things with my left hand lately too... i actually dropped my laptop yesterday because my hand hurt so much! weird little boney lump!! i hate it! Gonna try and see GP tomorrow i think..