Lipoma on my ankle causing acute pain. (photos)

Question

Do you think this could be causing this pressure. It is not really big. The pain radiates from exactly the area under the lipoma. I don't have diabetes but have osteoarthritis. I do recall within the last 3 months when walking, out of no where, this pain presented in this area. I noted it but discounted it and didn't give it a thought. It was like an electric shock. What do you think? I asked my Dr. For a surgical referral. I don't have the pain now. I did have a total knee replacement 2012 at HSS/NYC

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

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and photograph.  Though lipomas are benign fat tumors that are largely asymptomatic, they can grow enough to supply pressure to surrounding nerves causing intermittent episodes of pain.  If you pain has resolved, there is no need for surgical removal, but if the pain returns, or if the cosmetic appearance troubles you, you can have the lipoma removed, typically with a small in-office procedure.

Leslie Memsic, MD, FACS · Answer

Sorry about your uncomfortable lipoma. Most lipomas do not cause pain but some do and this is generally thought to be due to pressure on muscles or nerves. Removal should eliminate the pain; however pain is a complicated issue. It is possible that removal of the lipoma may NOT eliminate the pain. Most likely it should since the pain is directly under the mass, but rarely, the pain persists after lipoma removal. It is felt that the pain must be caused by something else in those cases but the source of the pain may not be identifiable.Good luck and take care.

Lipoma on my ankle causing acute pain. (photos)

Answers (3)

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