Ganglion cyst
A ganglion cyst is a smooth, fluid-filled lump that most often appears on the back of the wrist or hand. Read more about ganglion cyst →
If symptoms are sudden, severe or getting worse, contact your GP or NHS 111.
Where are you up to?
The NHS reports waiting times by specialty, not by individual condition, so this is the orthopaedics wait (not specific to ganglion cyst), updated August 2026. Enter a postcode to see the hospitals near you.
orthopaedics waiting times by hospital
| Trust | Location | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | Reading | 5 weeks |
| Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust | Bath and North East Somerset | 12 weeks |
| Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Liverpool | 13 weeks |
| George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | Nuneaton and Bedworth | 13 weeks |
| South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | Warwick | 14 weeks |
| University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | Birmingham | 15 weeks |
| South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Middlesbrough | 15 weeks |
| University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Camden | 16 weeks |
About ganglion cyst
A ganglion cyst is a sac of jelly-like fluid that forms near a joint or tendon, most commonly on the back of the wrist. The lump can be soft or firm, may change size, and is usually harmless. Some cause no trouble at all; others ache or get in the way of movement if they press on a nearby nerve.
How it is treated
Many ganglion cysts need no treatment and some disappear on their own, so the usual first step is simply to leave it alone and keep an eye on it. If a cyst is painful or limits movement, the fluid can be drawn out with a needle (aspiration), though it often comes back, or it can be removed with a small operation. Surgery has a better chance of stopping it returning but is usually only offered when the cyst is causing real problems.
After treatment
If a cyst is aspirated, you can usually carry on as normal straight away, accepting it may return. After surgical removal, the wrist or hand may be sore and a little stiff for a few weeks, and hand exercises help movement come back; recurrence is less likely than after aspiration but still possible.
Sources: NHS: Ganglion cyst. Last updated October 2026.
When the NHS will and will not treat it
Removing a ganglion cyst is on NHS England’s Evidence-Based Interventions list, which means the NHS does not routinely fund removal of a cyst that is not causing symptoms, because it is often harmless and can return.
The NHS will usually consider treatment when the cyst is painful, is affecting the use of your hand, or a diagnosis needs confirming. If it is not bothering you, the NHS position is that it is safe to leave.
If you want a troublesome or cosmetic cyst dealt with and it does not meet NHS criteria, private removal is available, typically as a day-case hand procedure.
General information only, not medical advice. Wait or Pay is independent and is not the NHS. Your GP decides what care, if any, you need.