What would you do? (surgery related)

[phorsenuf]

First, let me start off by saying this is NOT a debate, nor is it a "if 50 people agree, I'll do it" thread. This is just a mom asking a question to other moms (or dads) to get their thoughts. So if you don't want to add your thoughts on the situation, please hit your back button. Yes, I know this sounds harsh, but I'm not in the mood to hear about asking for medical advice on a message board...I just want to deal with the matter at hand. Thanks!!

That being said, here is the situation....

For over 4 years my son(12) has had a bakers cyst on the back of his knee. It is a fluid filled sac that protrudes out the back of his knee and sometimes (when he is real active or stretching) it tends to bother him. We were initially told it would go away. We just had another MRI done of it and it is the same as it has been since the last one 2 years ago.

So, now we have options. We can wait and see if it goes away or aspirate it and then inject cortisone into it or have it surgically removed.

Waiting...well, we are tired of waiting and it hasn't changed any in over 4 years (they originally said it would be gone in 6-12 months). It could get better or it could get worse.

Aspiration...well he could have that procedure done which may or may not work. From what I've read they usually tend to just come back. When I asked the Dr. about it coming back he said he didn't know if it would or wouldn't. So, is it worth it if it isn't a foolproof fix??

Surgery...will take care of it once and for all, but would be a more intense procedure with a 6 week recovery time.

I thought to aspirate it and if it comes back then have surgery. My DH thinks we should just have the surgery, my DS just wants it to go away and be done and over with before basesball season rolls around again! LOL

My other thought too, is I would hate for him to be in the middle of some sport or activity that he may have to drop out of because it starts to bother him.

So, I'm just curious if you were faced with this situation, how would you deal with it? Would you wait, aspirate or have surgery?

 

[NMAmy]

Well, I have no experience with this kind of thing but I think if it were my child, I'd try the aspiration first. Then if it came back, go with the surgery. I think I'd want to try the less invasive procedure first because there are always risks from surgery.

 

[liznboys]

Originally posted by NMAmy
Well, I have no experience with this kind of thing but I think if it were my child, I'd try the aspiration first. Then if it came back, go with the surgery. I think I'd want to try the less invasive procedure first because there are always risks from surgery.

Ditto.

 

[phorsenuf]

I should add that with the aspiration, they will put him under because of his age.

 

[piglet too]

I too would go with aspirating it.

However, one question first, how much does it bother him? I ask that because of a ganglion cyst I had on my hand back in high school. I too had to wait and see (not as long as your son) and then the choice of aspirating or surgery. Since it was starting to interfere with simple things like holding a cup from time to time, my parents and I decided to go the surgical route. If it it really starting to interfere, even on occasion, then I would say go for surgery.

 

[mickeyboat]

I think I would try to aspirate it at least once before surgery.

A friend of mine had a ganglion cyst on her wrist. She had it aspirated several times but it kept coming back. She finally had surgery and has been pain free and cyst free ever since. She knew within a couple of weeks of having it aspirated that it was coming back. I think it would be worth a shot.

Denae

 

[piglet too]

Originally posted by phorsenuf
I should add that with the aspiration, they will put him under because of his age.

Well, in that case go ahead with the surgery. I would assume that they can probally do a local then too, so if your son is willing to do the rehab, why not.

 

[Hillbeans]

I fell and tore my ACL last winter (03) and I know a lot about Knees and knee doctors.

With that being said, i'd probably aspirate first. Since it hasn't grown in the 2 year period, it may be easily taken care of by aspiration. If down the road he needs Knee surgery, at least you'll know you tried this way first. Once they make a "cut" into your knee muscles, they never do quite respond the same. It'd be nice to see if this can be taken care of the easier way first.

Hugs to you.

 

[phorsenuf]

Originally posted by piglet too
I too would go with aspirating it.

However, one question first, how much does it bother him? I ask that because of a ganglion cyst I had on my hand back in high school. I too had to wait and see (not as long as your son) and then the choice of aspirating or surgery. Since it was starting to interfere with simple things like holding a cup from time to time, my parents and I decided to go the surgical route. If it it really starting to interfere, even on occasion, then I would say go for surgery.

Well, when he's active (like playing baseball) or stretches (when running or even sitting a certain way), then it bothers him. It hasn't as much lately because he's not participating in any sports at the moment. He's kinda been a slug lately. He did mention today tho that sometimes his knee feels week. I don't know if that is related or not, but the Dr. didn't comment about it.

 

[my3kids]

I think you've done the prudent thing by taking the conservative wait and see attitude. That has not worked. I would have the surgery. There will be some recovery time even from the aspiration, along with the whole general anestesia thing. I'd opt for a one time sure fire cure. You are eliminating the possibility of curing it with aspiration, but to date this cyst seems to have a mind of its own, defying the 6 month thing. I would do the surgery and know you won't have to worry with it again.

 

[minniecarousel]

Having a son who played a lot of sports (he's 22 now) I would probably do the aspiration thing first. It does bother me that they want to put him under though. No chance for a local, with a heavy "groggy" thing instead of general anesthesia?

 

[mt2]

Since you tried the waiting game, and they would put him under anyway to aspiriate it then I would vote for surgery. I would hate for him to have to undergo going under (say that three times fast LOL) twice.

Had to go thru a surgery decision with DD#2. Tried to correct the situation with the pait and see for 1 3/4 years. Ended up having surgery the second time anyway. It was harder on her the second time around with the anistestia (sp).

I will pray for you and your family during this time of decision. It is hard on us parents to know what the best choice will be.

mt2

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Wow, I cant believe I am reading this, why you might ask, I posted this exact question a few months ago and guess what, no one answered me. DS 16 had the mri and it showed the cyst. He has also had problems before. Well dh and I talked about it and we said if they suggested surgery then he would have it since he had the problem a few years., well we took him to the orthopaedist for a consult and he said he just thought he had his usual chrondomyalacia or whatever it is. He thought his mri films didnt show a good image etc. Gee, this was after I took him to an emergency clinic. He had to quit gym and have complete no activity , sports, for like 6 weeks. that was about the time I got the appt. with the dr. We went to disney during all this and I planned to get him a wheelchair if need be, he also had to take alot of aleve. Good luck and do what you think is best for your son.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am in agreement that you have waited more than enough time. I would go ahead and have the surgery. That way he only has to go under once and be done.

 

[tar heel]

I would aspirate b/c it's a relatively minor procedure which has a chance of working. I would avoid the much more major surgery if possible.

My son developed a Baker's cyst at about the same age in pretty much the same spot. His didn't go away and didnt' grow but doesn't really bother him either. He's 20 and still has it! My aunt worked for a doc that treated them (dermatologist, maybe -- I'm not sure since we never consulted with anyone other than our ped) for several years, and she recommended not doing the surgery unless it was absolutely necessary.

 

[LisaSt]

Get it fixed properly the first time and then you will not have to worry about it again later.

 

[iamsorcerermickey]

You mentioned that he hasn't been doing much lately and that his knee feels weak.

I'm wondering if this is bothering him to a point where it is now interfering with his daily activities.

My brother had one, the aspiration didn't work, so he had it surgically removed. No problems since then.

Why have him go through surgery twice (if they put him under for the aspiration, it would be considered a surgery from your insurances standpoint)----besides then he would have to recouperate from surgery twice.

He is young and will have a quick recovery

Have the surgery----get it over and done with like your son wants----so that it doesn't interfere with his baseball or his daily activities.

 

[JayBee]

I thought to aspirate it and if it comes back then have surgery.

I like to avoid surgery, if possible.

 

[wishuponastarforever]

How long is the recovery from aspiration? That would factor in if I were confronted with this decision. Since school is just starting, I would opt to do the aspiration if the recovery was a short time.

This would give a chance that it would work and not interfere with school and/or sports as much. That would buy time and if it didn't work, I'd have the surgery during Christmas break or next summer.

If the recovery is not much different than surgery - I'd definitely have the surgery.

Best of luck with your decision - It's so hard to make these choices for our children.

 

[phorsenuf]

Originally posted by wishuponastarforever
How long is the recovery from aspiration? That would factor in if I were confronted with this decision. Since school is just starting, I would opt to do the aspiration if the recovery was a short time.

The aspiration recovery time is minimal. Its just like getting a shot.

This would give a chance that it would work and not interfere with school and/or sports as much. That would buy time and if it didn't work, I'd have the surgery during Christmas break or next summer.

Since he is on the fence about running cross country, this actually would be a good time for surgery since I don't want him on crutches on ice and snow. I don't want to wait until next summer because if it gets worse, now its interfering with baseball and that won't do! LOL

If the recovery is not much different than surgery - I'd definitely have the surgery.

Best of luck with your decision - It's so hard to make these choices for our children.

There's just so many if's and what if's and stuff its hard to decide. My Dh had a lot of problems with his feet after a major accident. He had all these "little" procedures done and it really didn't do anything for himexcept give temporary relief. He finally had the surgery and has had no problems. I guess that his line of thinking. Just do it and be done with it.

Even tho the aspiration may or may not work, the question is if it does come back when will it be and what could it interfere with? It could come back at a bad time, like our )hopefully) visit to Disny or as sports start back up.

It really is a tough choice. I did ask the Drs opinion, but he really was no help! LOL