Ganglion cysts on your foot are benign soft tissue masses that can lead to serious pain and aching. If you notice a lump or are experiencing foot pain, schedule a ganglion cyst evaluation with Susan Yeager, DPM, and the team at Yeager Foot and Ankle Center. You can schedule an appointment by calling the office in Redding, California, or requesting one online today.
A ganglion cyst is a knotlike, fluid-filled sac that develops in the protective sheaths around your tendons. These cysts can also form in your joint capsules.
While ganglion cysts most commonly occur in your wrist, these painful masses can also form on the top of your foot due to repetitive stress or trauma. You can develop ganglion cysts anywhere in your feet or ankles.
The most obvious sign that you have a ganglion cyst is a visible mass. You may find that this mass grows in size, then shrinks, then swells up again. It may even disappear for a while before returning again. Depending on the severity of your ganglion cyst, you may also experience:
You may also find that it becomes unbearably painful to slip on a pair of shoes or walk around because of pressure on your ganglion cyst.
If you’re experiencing any of these ganglion cyst-related symptoms, or if your discomfort is starting to affect your work, daily activities, or exercise routine, schedule an evaluation at Yeager Foot and Ankle Center as soon as possible.
Possibly, depending on the severity of your symptoms.
When you come in to Yeager Foot and Ankle Center for your ganglion cyst evaluation, Dr. Yeager thoroughly examines your feet and ankles and gathers any necessary imaging (like an X-ray) to rule out related conditions.
For minor ganglion cyst issues, Dr. Yeager may recommend taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain or using padding or orthotics to relieve pressure on the cyst and then observing it to see if it progresses.
If your ganglion cyst is starting to lower your quality of life, though, Dr. Yeager could recommend treating the cyst directly through an in-office procedure known as aspiration and injection.
This ganglion cyst treatment involves draining the fluid from your cyst and injecting a steroid medication into mass tissue to prevent future growth. You may need more than one session to treat a more complex ganglion cyst.
In more severe cases, if your ganglion cyst keeps returning or causing agonizing pain, Dr. Yeager could recommend surgical removal through an outpatient procedure.
Book your ganglion cyst evaluation at Yeager Foot and Ankle Center. Call the office or request an appointment online today.