I Have A Lump In My Arm, Maybe A Lipoma

Posted on Thu, 6 Jun 2019

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 6 Jun 2019 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : I have a lump in my arm, maybe a lipoma. I don't like it so I pinched it to try to "pop" it. Afterwards I felt headaches I never get and very fatigued for a few days. I also felt something in my heart area open up and strange feelings in my scalp. I don't have a primary care doctor and the waiting list for one is long, is there some specialist I should go to? I'm worried about it being something more serious. Any time I mess with it, which is I know a bad habit, those feelings return to a lesser degree. I don't know if lumps can be attached to veins or not but maybe it caused hypertension briefly when I pressed on it? No idea but I know it's not normal or healthy.

Answered by Dr. Hari Charan Perigela (41 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Pinching of Lipoma doesn't cause headache.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Lipoma is common over arm.It is nothing but fat tissue.You cannot let out the contents by pinching or squeezing.It has to be removed surgically after giving Anaesthesia.
Some swellings like Sebaceous cyst will have paste like material and may come out by squeezing.But,it should not be done.It should be removed surgically.
So, accurate Diagnosis can be made by Clinical examination by a Surgeon or by Biopsy, where the removed swelling is sent for histopathological examination.
Swellings may arise from nerve which are sometimes painful.
But, squeezing any swelling doesn't cause the symptoms that you have described above.They are related to Anxiety.
Please be relaxed and Consult a Surgeon.
Do not pinch or squeeze any swelling.
Nothing to worry.
Hope I answered your query.
If you have any questions,I will clarify further.
Wish you good health.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana