ACTIVITIES: You may drive when you are no longer taking narcotic pain medication and have recovered from anesthesia. Follow any specific activity instructions given by your surgeon.
For 1 to 2 weeks after surgery on your hand or wrist, avoid activities that involve repeated arm or hand movements. These may include typing, using a computer mouse, vacuuming, or carrying things in the affected hand.
What is the aftercare and recovery following a cyst removal? For stitched wounds, the wound will take 10-14 days to heal. We ask you to be generally restful through this period by avoiding heavy exercise or anything strenuous. People can usually return to an office job the next day.
Most women feel better within the first week following surgery; however, do not lift, push or pull any heavy objects for a few weeks. Do not resume sexual intercourse until your doctor says it is OK. Full recovery takes about four to six weeks to allow for internal healing.
Depending on your job and where the ganglion cyst has been removed, you may have to take some time off while it heals. You can typically start driving again once it feels safe (check with your doctor how long they recommend). You must keep your bandages and wounds clean to prevent infection.
If you have had cyst removal surgery, you may need up to 24 days off from work. The average is around 2 weeks. You may need occupational therapy to make a full recovery.
Depending on the location of the ganglion cyst and the type of treatment used to remove or shrink it, full recovery can take two to eight weeks. During this time, your NYU Langone doctor may advise you to use the affected wrist, hand, ankle, or foot lightly and avoid any activities that may irritate the affected area.
After surgery
After a laparoscopy or a laparotomy, it may take as long as 12 weeks before you can resume normal activities. If the cyst is sent off for testing, the results should come back in a few weeks and your consultant will discuss with you whether you need any further treatment.
Cyst removal is a minimally-invasive procedure that can be performed for cosmetic or medical reasons.
Does a Cyst Removal Hurt? If you can handle the small sting of a shot, you can handle a cyst removal. The doctor first topically numbs the cyst area and then injects Lidocaine. You may feel a slight sting, but that's the worst part.
o Ointment and Nonstick Gauze Dressing secured it with paper tape applied today: You can shower 12-24 hours after your procedure. Do not allow the shower stream to directly wet your wound. Do not use your towel to dry your wound. Pat it with a fresh gauze pad instead.
After the surgery, you should be able to walk using a post-operative shoe. You should rest as much as possible, and keep your foot elevated as often as possible for two weeks post-surgery. At that time, the sutures will be removed.
One of the best sleeping position after going through any surgery is resting straight on your back. If you have had surgery on your legs, hips, spine, and arms, this position will benefit you the most. Moreover, if you add a pillow underneath your body areas, it provides more support and comfort.
There are some foods that can slow down your recovery or increase your risk of complications after surgery. These include alcohol, processed foods, caffeine, and foods that are high in sugar.
A cyst is a sac that may be filled with air, fluid or other material. A cyst can form in any part of the body, including bones, organs and soft tissues. Most cysts are noncancerous (benign), but sometimes cancer can cause a cyst.
How do I prepare for my procedure? Please shower and wash with an antibacterial soap before the procedure. Do not shave the skin around the lipoma or cyst. If you are having sedation, you need to come in with an empty stomach, which means nothing to eat or drink for 6 hours or more.
Minor surgery.
Your doctor can remove the entire cyst. You may need to return to the doctor's office to have stitches removed. Minor surgery is safe and effective and usually prevents cysts from recurring. If your cyst is inflamed, your doctor may delay the surgery.
Depending on the type of procedure performed, most patients can return to their normal activities within 1-2 weeks after their laparoscopy. Typically patients may return to driving 1-2 weeks after their procedure.
You will have a moderate amount of pain for the first 3-4 days; this should be adequately addressed by the oral narcotic pain medication that was prescribed when you left the day surgery suite (Vicodin or Oxycodone).
WOUND CARE:
Keep the bandage dry for 48 hours and then you may remove the bandage and shower over the incision. If you see tape strips across the incision, leave these in place and shower over them. You may remove them after two weeks if desired or allow them to fall off. It is not necessary to reapply a bandage.
Surgery to remove the cyst is usually done as a day-case procedure under a general anaesthetic (being put to sleep) or a regional anaesthetic (having the whole arm numbed with anaesthetic injections but you remain awake).
You may be given a sedative along with a local or regional anesthetic to relax you and reduce anxiety. A general anesthetic relaxes your muscles and puts you to sleep. All three types of anesthesia should keep you from feeling pain during the operation. Your health care provider will cut around the cyst and remove it.
After surgery, your hand and wrist will be covered by a dressing (bandage) and placed in a plaster splint that you will wear for five days. The splint helps protect the incision site and lessen the swelling.
Dressings will fall off in 24 to 48 hours. You may shower. Sutures will dissolve in approximate 3 to 4 weeks from surgery.