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Where do Ganglion Cysts Develop?

Understanding what a ganglion cyst is and the symptoms associated with the condition should put your mind at ease about the lump. A ganglion cyst is a lump that’s non-cancerous, and will usually develop on your hands or feet along the joints and tendons in the area, or they may also develop on the ankles or wrists.

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Treatment Options for Ganglion Cysts

Even though ganglion cysts can dissipate on their own, there are a range of treatment options that are available for treatment including growth factor therapy and pre-constituted stem cell injections. Although patients may believe that their treatment will span weeks or months and often assume they must undergo invasive remedies like surgery or painful steroid injections, podiatrists increasingly prefer to use cutting-edge injectables to treat people with ankle and feet conditions. 

Using Growth Factors

This specialized technique uses base cells that have the capability of growing into specialized cells. They are considered to be foundation material because of their potential to transform into specialized cells and their ability to adapt to bone, tissue, organs, and blood into which they are injected.

Patients who receive injectable treatments also recover faster and can get back to their normal lives sooner (however, they may still need to use crutches or wear casts even while receiving their therapy until their podiatric injury or illness is fully healed).

How are Growth Factors Obtained?

Podiatrists harvest growth factors directly from a patient’s own blood. As the name implies, growth factors promote the new creation of tissue in the ankle and feet. The cells are taken from fat deposits in the thighs, abdomen, buttocks, arid other locations deemed safe for use. After the growth factors have been obtained, the doctor will create a concentrated amount of growth factors to be injected directly into the area being treated. 

Most patients can go home within a few hours after their treatment. Patients also only need to rest a few days after the injections before they can return to their normal routines. It is important that they follow their doctor’s post-treatment instructions to ensure the proper healing of their podiatric illness or injury.

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Advantage of Injectable Therapy in Podiatry

Podiatrists continue to prefer injectable therapy for patients because these methods are non-invasive, pain-free, and faster from which to heal. However, they also use growth factors when possible in treating ankle and foot conditions because they have a low rejection rate and can be safer to use than other remedies such as surgery or steroids.

Moreover, growth factors contain materials that can encourage the healing and growth of new and healthy bone, ligaments, and tendons. For example, they naturally consist of a material called cytokine.

Cytokines are natural anti-inflammatory agents and reduce the swelling in the foot or ankle afflicted by the injury or illness. They also contain hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is commonly used in cosmetic medical procedures like eyebrow lifts. However, when used in podiatric medicine, it lubricates and encourages the new growth of cartilage.

These therapies have advanced podiatric medicine and now allow doctors to treat injuries and illnesses for which surgery or steroids were once the only available remedies. Patients can avoid invasive treatments as well as prolonged pain and limited mobility, and can get back to their normal routines faster without undergoing prolonged medical care.

Ganglion Treatment at Foot & Ankle Specialty Group

If you have — or think you may have — a ganglion cyst and are interested in treatment, we welcome you to contact our office to see how we can help. Foot & Ankle Specialty Group is a podiatry office in Rancho Santa Margarita and Newport Beach that has been serving the community since 2001, providing both in-office treatments and surgery for foot and ankle conditions and injuries of all kinds. Dr. Salma Aziz, Dr. Petrina Yokay, and Dr. Jessica Arneson have created a nurturing female doctor group that provides patients with exceptional patient care and follow-up. Our practice has been built on time-tested practices. To learn more about how we can help you, please contact us. 

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FAQ

What does a ganglion cyst look and feel like?

How painful are ganglion cysts?

What does a ganglion cyst look and feel like?

When you touch a ganglion cyst, it can feel either spongy or firm. They are typically an oval or round shape, and are comprised of a fluid that has the consistency of jelly. They can vary substantially in size — from as small as a pea to as large as one inch in diameter. While there will likely only be one cyst that develops in the area, it’s possible for several smaller ones to appear on your body in a close formation. If you notice a large lump on your foot, it’s possible that this lump is a ganglion cyst.

How painful are ganglion cysts?

The pain that you can experience with a ganglion cyst depends on where the cyst is located. If it’s situated near a nerve, the pain level will likely be higher than usual. The location of a ganglion cyst can also adversely affect the movement of your joints.

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