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I Have A Lump On My Lower Leg That I%E2%80%99m
Posted on
Wed, 4 Sep 2019
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 4 Sep 2019
Answered on
Last reviewed on
Question : I have a lump on my lower leg that I%E2%80%99m worried about. It%E2%80%99s under my knee, oval in shape.
So last Saturday, 8/24, my knee felt uncomfortable. Then on Sunday, I had excruciating pain on the outside of my knee and couldn%E2%80%99t even put weight on it. I went to urgent care, they did an X-ray that turned out normal and the doctor suspected tendonitis. After I got home I noticed a lump. The pain went away after a few days. It%E2%80%99s been over a week and the lump is still there, but I do not know if I just didn%E2%80%99t notice the lump before. I%E2%80%99m worried that it could be unrelated to my knee pain. Is swelling consistent with tendinitis? The swelling location is not the same place where the pain is. The pain is on the outside of my knee, the swelling is on the outer top of my shin. I have attached pictures for your review. Thank you!
So last Saturday, 8/24, my knee felt uncomfortable. Then on Sunday, I had excruciating pain on the outside of my knee and couldn%E2%80%99t even put weight on it. I went to urgent care, they did an X-ray that turned out normal and the doctor suspected tendonitis. After I got home I noticed a lump. The pain went away after a few days. It%E2%80%99s been over a week and the lump is still there, but I do not know if I just didn%E2%80%99t notice the lump before. I%E2%80%99m worried that it could be unrelated to my knee pain. Is swelling consistent with tendinitis? The swelling location is not the same place where the pain is. The pain is on the outside of my knee, the swelling is on the outer top of my shin. I have attached pictures for your review. Thank you!
Brief Answer:
Most probably bursitis with extension on tibia
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
Noted the history, seen the photos and understood your concerns well.
My thoughts:
Its almost 2 weeks that you have got the problems with the knee and below knee area, Excruciating pain to start with - Urgent care - Normal X-ray hence suspected tendonitis - lump as noted but the pain does not correspond with its place.
This looks more of a bursitis of the knee joint secondary to some knee problem, and the bursa might have extended to the position as you have pointed in the photo.
High Resolution Ultrasonography for the lumps - FNAC if needed and preferably MRI of the knee joint and around should give the best possible diagnosis.
Please request your Doctors for these an surely will help to pinpoint the diagnosis and thus have effective treatment.
Does not seem tendonitis as first differential diagnosis.
Please give feedback.
Feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
Dr T Chandrakant.
General Surgeon.
Most probably bursitis with extension on tibia
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
Noted the history, seen the photos and understood your concerns well.
My thoughts:
Its almost 2 weeks that you have got the problems with the knee and below knee area, Excruciating pain to start with - Urgent care - Normal X-ray hence suspected tendonitis - lump as noted but the pain does not correspond with its place.
This looks more of a bursitis of the knee joint secondary to some knee problem, and the bursa might have extended to the position as you have pointed in the photo.
High Resolution Ultrasonography for the lumps - FNAC if needed and preferably MRI of the knee joint and around should give the best possible diagnosis.
Please request your Doctors for these an surely will help to pinpoint the diagnosis and thus have effective treatment.
Does not seem tendonitis as first differential diagnosis.
Please give feedback.
Feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
Dr T Chandrakant.
General Surgeon.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thank you doctor. The lump is firm to touch, its not soft but not hard as a rock either. it feels like muscle.
I also noticed that all the veins around that area and in that leg are much more pronounced and visible than my other leg. Is this related?
I also noticed that all the veins around that area and in that leg are much more pronounced and visible than my other leg. Is this related?
Brief Answer:
As detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your feedback.
Noted that the lump is firm and feels like muscle.
Hence other possibilities are:
Tibialis anterior muscle edema/spasm or so. This is the area as indicated in the photo for tibialis anterior muscle.
I would advise you the following in such a situation.
Give rest to the affected knee and muscles.
Take Ibuprofen if it suits you.
Clinical evaluation and examination.
Investigations like Ultrasound and MRI to confirm.
This will give the best possible diagnosis.
I hope this answer helps you further.
Dr T Chandrakant.
As detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your feedback.
Noted that the lump is firm and feels like muscle.
Hence other possibilities are:
Tibialis anterior muscle edema/spasm or so. This is the area as indicated in the photo for tibialis anterior muscle.
I would advise you the following in such a situation.
Give rest to the affected knee and muscles.
Take Ibuprofen if it suits you.
Clinical evaluation and examination.
Investigations like Ultrasound and MRI to confirm.
This will give the best possible diagnosis.
I hope this answer helps you further.
Dr T Chandrakant.
Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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