Hard, Soft, Painful Lump on Shoulder, Under Skin, Muscle, Bone, Spine

Perhaps one of the minimally studied locations regarding bodily lumps underneath the skin, shoulder lumps are in fact proportionately common. As with virtually any supposed skin bump that’s aberrant, it’s a wholeheartedly natural reaction for people to become scared or dismayed imagining the worst case scenario.

But many shoulder lumps are altogether harmless, not propositioning serious liability to comprehensive health whatsoever. With panic often being totally redundant and unnecessary, chances are the lump on your shoulder isn’t anything extreme to worry about. Nevertheless, potentially cutting causes could still be an option, with cancer always being a gloomy possibility. So even though your shoulder lump is likely innocent, it’s paramount to get checked out by a professional doctor to receive a confirmed diagnosis and treatment plan.

Why Do I Have a Lump on My Shoulder?

One of the first diagnostic methods essential to inaugurate a shoulder lump’s root cause is to recollect any potential injury or trauma that may have happened. The most common source of abnormal shoulder lumps are typically dislocations or even fractures, meaning if you’ve newly fallen or been in a calamity it could have contributed.

It’s likely such causes will result in painful sensations and difficult unrestrained movement. So if your lump is accompanied by such symptoms, an injury-related cause is highly credible. Obviously the only means of being 100% sure is to withstand an x-ray scan in which a professional will verify any fracturing or dislocation present. Visit your doctor promptly, or if demanding take a trip to the emergency room.

Other Causes for a Lump on The Top of Shoulder

If you’re undividedly convinced you’ve not experienced any incident of trauma to your shoulder and can unequivocally rule-out the culprit of injury, it’s time to explore other substitutes. One of the most popular types of shoulder bumps are lumpy collections of excess fat cells known as lipomas.

Almost always considered unoffensively safe and very unlikely to develop into anything perverse, lipomas are characterized as soft, spongy lumps that can be moved under the skin upon being touched. Popularly painless and posing no danger to health, lipomas typically don’t require any form of medical therapy. However, if your lipoma is principally large and causing pain due to being stationed close to nerves, surgical removal may be offered.

What’s the Cause of a Red, Painful Shoulder Lump?

If provoking tenderness and noticeably red in shade, we can disregard the concept of lipomas instantly as they’re banal and flesh colored. If sore and causing discomfort, your lump is likely to be one of two options: an infected cyst or a skin abscess. If a cyst becomes infectious, its existing liquid becomes mixed with pus and displays a distinguishing red color. This is a sign of recurring inflammation. Cysts can become infected for a variety of different reasons, but it’s essential you visit your doctor and seek treatment to avoid the infection widening.

Skin abscesses are marginally different, as they arrive solely from infection. Typically caused by unwanted bacteria pushing its way underneath the skin via an exposed route like a miniscule scratch, abscesses develop as the body’s way of fighting the infection. Saturated with pus and often very swollen and sore, skin abscesses can occur virtually anywhere – shoulders included. If teeny it may heal alone via the body’s natural immune operation, but if notably large and accompanied with feverish symptoms and chills, it’s essential you seek professional treatment. A doctor will usually drain the abscess as a first stride, then prescribe a sufficient course of antibiotics to erase present infection.

Why Do I Have a Lump on My Shoulder Blade?

Whether on the top of your shoulders or on shoulder blades directly, there’s rarely a difference in the class of lump that can appear. Earlier mentioned lipomas, cysts and skin abscesses can still occur, meaning there’s little variance based on shoulder location. However, if detecting a noticeable lump situated on your spinal cord, it could be something alternative like an osteophyte (harmless jutting bone lumps extending from the central spine due to osteoarthritis) or even a spinal tumor.

Spinal tumors are notoriously wearisome to diagnose, simply because they’re not the easiest to spot and often mistaken for back pain. But if you feel a noticeable lump and are experiencing symptoms such as numbness, tingling sensations, lacking spatial awareness and even lessened bowel or bladder function, it could signal you have a spinal tumor.

As always, visit your doctor for a whole examination if feeling this could relate to your circumstance.

Is a Hard Lump on Shoulder Always Dangerous?

People generally assume the harder the lesion, the more deadly it could be. But this isn’t exclusively true. The earlier mentioned osteophytes are rock solid pieces of bone, yet are often utterly harmless with the only noticeable symptom being uncomfortable stiffness. Cysts can also feel hard to touch without being infected, simply because of the volume of fluid they’re carrying.

So if you feel a hardened lump or bump within your shoulders or spinal area, don’t rapidly jump to negative conclusions. As with virtually any ailment or concern, the safest route to take is simply visiting your doctor for examination, further clarification and eventual diagnosis with viable treatment options if necessary.



Article References:

  1. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/dislocated-shoulder/
  2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17470-shoulder-fractures
  3. https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/what-is-a-lipoma
  4. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/160821.php
  5. https://www.verywellhealth.com/draining-an-abscess-1124138