Ganglion cyst on wrist - painful!!

I have had a ganglion on my wrist now for 12+ years - it appeared in college (probably when I started typing papers etc).

If you don't know what a ganglion is here is the about.com page on them:

http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/handwristsurg ery/a/wristganglion.htm

It occasionally would hurt a tad but it would go away in short time. It never impeded my life. Until about 3 weeks ago when it got a bit larger and now is so painful. It is hard as a bone.

Sometimes I am unable to even hold a can of soda or pick up my coffee mug with my left hand. I am popping ibuprofen to deal with it when the pain flares. The lump itself is still small but the pain radiates into my ring finger on occasion which is unpleasant.  However, it is by no means totally terrible, in the grand scheme of pain it's fairly minor.

However, my friend recently had hers surgically removed, I am going to call her about it. She had it for the same length as I did. I think I need to see an orthopedist but I am afraid they will laugh at me (when it first appeared 12 years ago I saw one and he brushed it off as if "no biggie").

Does anyone have one and if so, have you had it removed? Do you live with it? Thoughts, suggestions, advice?

omg...all the wackijng and slamming and pain....ah! stupid ganglions!