For the last 6 months I have had a problem with a lump on my middle finger left hand between joint and nail that just won't go away. It gets very large and weeps a clear liquid, shrinks a bit and then starts the process all over again and my nail is damaged, but no pain. When I had my last blood test the Doctor gave me antibiotic cream to use for 10 days which didn't help at all so today I asked for antibiotic tablets. Luckily the Nurse recognised what it is and was able to tell me its not an infection, I have a myxoid cyst which is apparently common in people with osteoarthritis. I had been blaming the steroids for not allowing an infection to heal. Interestingly Google said steroid ointment could help. It seems like the same thing is also starting on my right hand middle finger. Keen to know if anyone else has had this, whether steroids and autoimmune conditions are a factor and how best to manage it. It looks horrible and Im worried about it becoming infected as its unlikely to go away. The nurse said the only cure is a 20 minute operation usually carried out by a dermatologist - no chance of that at present I am sure!
Myxoid Cysts on fingers: For the last 6 months I... - PMRGCAuk
Myxoid Cysts on fingers
I bet the NHS do not offer the op any more, like so many things, and will suggest you go privately. My grandmother got rid of one by pressing it very firmly all the time and using a sterile needle.
I think you are right. Looks like Im going to have more than one so it could prove expensive to go privately, so pressing it firmly it will have to be.😀
Worth a try anyway. I had trigger thumb for months, the NHS don’t want to know about that either and I thought I would have to get it done privately, I tried all sorts of things and exercises and recently it has subsided a bit thank goodness!
I have a myxoidal cyst on each hand (both middle fingers). One is very painful to the touch. I just tried using compression on the painful one. The next morning it was VERY, VERY painful and "tight". When I bent the finger it felt like someone was cutting off my finger at the knuckle! I soaked it in Bactine to kill the pain, which somewhat worked. Now my finger feels like it's "asleep" (tingly, like when you've slept on your arm all night!). Please be careful if you go that route. I wouldn't recommend it...
Thank you for the warning. Mine seems to be improving after getting very large and weeping it now appears to be much smaller and nowhere near so angry looking. Hope your painful one improves for you and its not infected.
bad.org.uk/shared/get-file.....
healthline.com/health/myxoi...
Both include some self-help tips.
Thank you, should have asked here instead of asking my GP could have saved some time applying topical antibiotics.
Hello ,Yes I had one of these on my index finger for about 4months ,weeping the white sticky liquid and quite painful ,by my nail , diagnosed a ganglion cyst .I just put up with it until one day I was washing up in very hot water with no gloves on ,put on clean dressing and in the morning no sticky liquid and no pain but since then top of finger a little fat and bent.nomore problems .This was a long time before PMR and steroids .
Thank you, glad you managed to sort yours.
This sounds very like something I have although I don’t have OE - so far! Just take care that it doesn’t get infected. I had a Paronychia. it’s an infection of the skin around a fingernail, gets swollen, red, and acutely painful. GP started me off on antibiotics but pus-filled blisters formed (hope you’re not reading this over breakfast!) and I had to go to Minor Injuries to have it sorted. Antibiotics don’t work for this. I’m going to this detail because it was so very painful. So wear those gardening gloves, try not to knock the cyst and keep it well disinfected 😅. Our bloomin ’ steroids make us vulnerable to the escalation of minor stuff. Isn’t it interesting that the cyst appears on the middle fingers? I wonder why - hope it’s a mystical magical reason! 🌺
Thank you for your advice, the last thing I want is an infection in it as well. Just one more minor thing to remind me I'm getting on a bit and need to be careful.
I have a very large one on the outside of the joint in my right thumb. I also have Osteoarthritis. Scissors get caught in it - ouch! I have been in remission from PMR for 5 years, so no steroids for quite awhile.
Sounds horrid. Will they get rid of it for you?
I have been referred for an, at times, rather painful Ganglion Cyst, which my GP said could take up to 2 years. When I asked her if the specialist would do anything about the thumb cyst, she said well you can ask him! So I doubt it. I pushed on it today and it made a pop sound, but it hasn’t made much of a difference in the size. Thanks for asking. The first finger cyst that I had was small and it went away on it’s own after some time.
I had a cyst on my neck excised in hospital last January but it is already growing back! Bless our body for keeping us but if only it could sort out these petty and painful annoyances!
Always something as we grow older, it seems, eh?
Yes - privilege to have this lovely extra time but we do pay a price! 😀
I have the same thing and as Thelmarina . it got infected and the pharmacist gave me some “ drawing ointment” which did nothing. I saw the doc about something else and he gave the same diagnosis as you had and said the op would be very difficult as the roots go deep and it’s not a good area to have an op . He advised against it. Maybe trying to save money for the NHS. It seems to flare up at times and then settle down for a while but it is painful in the awkward place on a finger which you need to use all the time. Just another inconvenient side effect then, I didn’t know it could be steroid or arthritis related.
Yes I fear it getting infected. Nurse told me to put sudocreme on it and wear gloves when gardening etc. Fingers crossed.
This finger bandage can be useful - it is a bit like a condom (!) but if you’re going out, have children around or you need to remind yourself to take care it’s good. Not for permanent wear obv. Can be a talking/ laughing point..😅
This illustrates 6 finger bandages in a box, available from Boots and other pharmacies.
Thank you for the suggestion, wish I could give you 2 Likes, 1 for the recommendation and 1 for the laugh 😀
👍😅
I developed a liquid filled cyst on my little finger that sounds pretty similar. I also had a slight low ridge developed on the finger nail. As you say, no pain. I googled them and also found that they could well be a sign of impending arthritis. The joys of ageing! The article also advised not, in any circumstance, to burst it - that would lead to regrowth.. The only DIY suggestion it had was to put pressure on it and over time it might disperse.
When I was sitting reading or watching television I did that, just holding my little finger and pressing hard for a few moments on the swelling with my thumb. (Cyst on L hand, holding and applying thumb pressure from R hand).
Took weeks but it has dispersed and no sign as yet of regrowth.
As to the ‘impending arthritis’ well, I’ve had a couple of swollen knuckles for ages so it’s obviously on its way - just hope it takes its time.
By the way, the article said arthritis, not osteoarthritis, which is one positive.
Don’t know if this helps, but it’s worked for me (so far). Good luck
ps: no link, as far as I am aware, to PMR and/or steroids. I get the impression it’s just bad luck and coincidence
Going to try that thank you. Hope yours stays away, its pretty ugly isn't it? I don't have arthritis either but like you have some swollen knuckles.
Hi HD. Not sure if this will help. I had a sort of wart/corn on my left hand. It appeared between my little fingernail and the finger. Sometimes it was dry and hard, sometimes inflamed and swollen. Doctors and pharmacist offered various solutions, to no avail. I bought some Medihoney for a separate skin issue & thought what have I got to lose? After 6 or 7 months it vanished within a week.
Thank you for the suggestion. I have never heard of Medihoney but after looking it up decided to order from Amazon, it has a very good write up and well worth a try. Will let you know how I get on.
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