Lypoma Tumor on Upper Back

runner

I had surgery 6 weeks ago for the removal of an "osteoid osteoma" on my upper back -- T4. This is a benign bone tumor. I had it for 7-10 years before it was finally found and it caused me a lot of upper body pain. Two of the main signs are that is worse at night and anti-inflammatories usually relieve it. I was treated for everything before it was found by accident. I was training for a marathon in Nov. I rode my bike for 26 miles and the next day went to run 12 miles (which at that point was a short run). I started having spasms so badly my husband took me to the emergency room. They referred me to an ortho who gave me an MRI (very hard to see on this), bone scan (very evident on this), and cat scan (to confirm what they saw in the bone scan). They took it out 6 weeks ago and I'm starting to feel much better! Make sure you get a bone scan and keep me up to date <IMG SRC="http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif"> Kate

Shell6678

Thanks for the info Kate! I go to the doctor on Friday, so I guess I'll find out if my doctor agrees with my Ob/gyn or not. My upper back only bothers me when I'm awake, not at night. Usually when I'm sitting at my desk or standing still for long periods of time. And definitely when I try to pick up something from the floor. I've had the lump for a few years but always assumed I was just fat there, or had bad posture. Just recently it has bothered me. But not like a normal backache. It's different somehow. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again. Good luck with your recovery!

Shelly

runner

Shelly,
Good luck on Friday. In the mean time, try this simple stretch and see if it offers any temporary relief. Put your hands behind your back, interlace your fingers with your palms toward your back. Pull your hands down toward the floor pressing your shoulders back at the same time. If your neck gets stiff, drop your chin towards your chest as you do this stretch. I never had any visible lump, so I don't know if yours is different. Could the doctor have said you have kyphosis? This is just a condition a lot of people who have to sit (ie. at your desk or in the car) have where their shoulders hunch forward and their upper back kind of sticks out (hunchback like -- you mentioned this). If so, that is just a postural thing that can be changed with stretching and exercising. Make sure they find a tumor with a bone scan & cat scan before they operate. Best of luck--Kate

Shell6678

Hey Kate! Well I went to the doctor and she wasn't sure if it was a Lypoma or not. So she did refer me to a surgeon to see what they think. She said it wasn't hard or on the bone so a bonescan was not needed. It feels like "fatty tissue". She also mentioned it could be a Buffalo Hump! Ugh! Now I feel kind of silly going to a surgeon if it's nothing. But I don't like it, I think it's ugly. My husband doesn't think it's that noticable, but he doesn't understand how embarassed I feel if I want to wear my hair up in the summer time. I'll keep you posted after I go to the surgeon. Thanks!
Shel

runner

Shel:

It sounds like you're on the right track, keep going and you'll have an answer. Good luck at the surgeons!
Kate