Painful burning sensation at left shoulder blade with lipoma.

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

Thank you for sharing your question and I am sorry to hear of your lipoma symptoms.  It is possible that with continued growth your lipoma may impinge upon a surrounding nerve or muscle to cause you discomfort.  It is unlikely to cause you shortness of breath but see an ASPS board certified plastic surgeon in consultation to discuss. 

A symptomatic mass in the shoulder area should be resected. If it is not subcutaneous, it may be muscular and an MRI or ultrasound will help guidance for further work up prior to resection.H Karamanoukian MD FACS