I have a lipoma on my left leg and its been causing me pain sometimes its a dull ache sometimes it sharp jabbing pains.

Question

I was diagnosted with a lipoma on my left leg last week I noticed it 4 months ago and didn't do anything about it till a month ago, And two weeks later it started to cause me pain. My doctor didn't tell me what to do about the swelling and anything like that. She thinks there might be more there, so she wants to check my cholesterol, Im confused what should I do about the pain and the swelling should I get a second opinion?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Lipomas are benign fatty tumors that occur under the skin and less commonly within the muscle. They are associated with mild discomfort and a lump underneath the skin. It is always best to talk to an expert plastic surgeon to determine whether the lipoma is possibly a cyst or a tumor or hernia. We would have to remove the lipoma to be sure that it is not something else and we usually do this by sending it to a pathologist for evaluation. If a lipoma is painful, then an exam is needed to make sure it is not compressing on a nerve or whether the diagnosis is different. Aftercare for a lipoma includes gentle compression and Plato’s Scar Serum twice daily on the wound.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Robert M. Lowen, MD · Answer

You don't know if this is a lipoma or not.. Most lipomas do not cause pain. You should know if this growth is under the skin, under the fascia, in muscle, between muscles or if it is something completely different. There are many malignant soft tissue tumors that could mimic the common lipoma. It would be prudent to get an MRI and get some information about it.  If it is a typical lipoma it can be removed.  But if there is anything suspicious about it, go to a regional center that specializes in soft tissue and bone tumor treatment for biopsy and treatment.The Hazards of the Biopsy, RevisitedFOR THE MEMBERS OF THE MUSCULOSKELETAL TUMOR SOCIETY*BY HENRY J. MANKIN, M.D.F, CAROLE J. MANKIN, M.S.L.S.T, AND MICHAEL A. SIMON, M.D.I, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTSInvestigation performed at Massachusetts General Hospital, BostonABSTRACT: In 1982, members of the MusculoskeletalTumor Society, representing sixteen centers forthe treatment of bone and soft-tissue cancer, compileddata regarding the hazards associated with 329 biopsiesof primary malignant musculoskeletal sarcomas.The investigation showed troubling rates of errorsin diagnosis and technique, which resulted in complicationsand also adversely affected the care of thepatients. These data were quite different when thebiopsy had been carried out in a treatment centerrather than in a referring institution. On the basis ofthese observations, the Society made a series of recommendationsabout the technical aspects of the biopsyand stated that, whenever possible, the procedureshould be done in a treatment center rather than in areferring institution.In 1992, the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society decidedto perform a similar study to determine whetherthe rates of complications, errors, and deleterious effectsrelated to biopsy had changed. Twenty-five surgeonsfrom twenty-one institutions submitted the casesof 597 patients. The results were essentially the sameas those in the earlier study. The rate of diagnosticerror for the total series (in which cases from referringinstitutions and treatment centers were combined) was17.8 per cent. There was no significant difference inthe rate of patients for whom a problem with the biopsyforced the surgeon to carry out a different andoften more complex operation or to use adjunctiveirradiation or chemotherapy (19.3 per cent in the currentstudy, compared with 18 per cent in the previousone). There was also no significant difference in thepercentage of patients who had a change in the outcome,such as the need for a more complex resectionthat resulted in disability, loss of function, local recurrence,or death, attributable to problems related tothe biopsy (10.1 per cent in the current study, comparedwith 8.5 per cent in the 1982 study). Eighteen*No benefits in any form have been received or will be receivedfrom a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subjectof this article. No funds were received in support of this study.tOrthopaedic Service GR606, Massachusetts General Hospital,Boston, Massachusetts 02114. Please address requests for reprints toDr. Mankin.tSection of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine,Mail Code 3079, The University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics,5841 South Maryland Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637.patients in the current study had an unnecessary amputationas a result of the biopsy, compared with fifteenin the previous study.Errors, complications, and changes in the course andoutcome were two to twelve times greater (p < 0.001)when the biopsy was done in a referring institution insteadof in a treatment center.The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

I recommend an evaluation with ultrasound to see the location of this lesion and follow that up with an MRI. If it is a superficial lesion in the medial leg, it could involve the sapehenous nerve and cause pain.Symptomatic lesions should be excised surgically for biopsy evaluation.Dr Karamanoukian

Alan M. Engler, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

In general, you should not hesitate to get a second opinion if you're uncomfortable with what you've been told, with how things are progressing, etc.It sounds like there is some confusion with the diagnosis - checking cholesterol is not usually necessary for the treatment of a lipoma.Ask your doctor for a more specific description of what he or she thinks the problem is, and what to do next.  And you may then need a second opinion...I hope that this helps and good luck,Dr. Alan EnglerMember of #RealSelf100

I have a lipoma on my left leg and its been causing me pain sometimes its a dull ache sometimes it sharp jabbing pains.

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Answer: #Lipoma - lipoma on my left leg

Answer: #Lipoma - lipoma on my left leg

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I have a lipoma on my left leg and its been causing me pain sometimes its a dull ache sometimes it sharp jabbing pains.

Answers (4)

Answer: #Lipoma - lipoma on my left leg

Answer: #Lipoma - lipoma on my left leg

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Everything you need to know about Lipoma Removal

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