{"id":5436,"date":"2019-04-11T12:03:02","date_gmt":"2019-04-11T12:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=5436"},"modified":"2021-06-02T12:49:07","modified_gmt":"2021-06-02T12:49:07","slug":"14-early-signs-of-osteochondroma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-early-signs-of-osteochondroma\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Early Signs of Osteochondroma"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Osteochondroma is an incredibly long and complicated word. A diagnosis of a condition with such a confusing combination of syllables and phonemes as this can make the condition sound a lot worse than it actually is. A more simple way of referring to it, that is just as accurate, is by using the term benign bone tumor. Remember, benign means that it is not the dreaded C-word: cancer.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These benign tumors are actually deposited collections of unusual or abnormal cells that accumulate or bunch together in one part of the body. These cells do not travel to other parts of the body but remain fixed in situ.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Osteochondromas most commonly tend to form on the surface of the bone that is nearest to the growth plate, where all the bone growing action occurs. To the touch, they are likely to feel like hard bumps and they may appear as raised lumps on or near joints.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8 early signs of the presence of osteochondromas are detailed and described below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. \tPainless bump near joints<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The appearance of unexplained painless bumps at or near joint sites can be an indicator of the presence of an osteochondroma, though the sheer number of other types of painless bumps that can affect a person can cloud judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes callouses <\/a>can be painless, as can friction blisters or insect bites and allergic reactions, meaning that it is often very difficult in the early stages to confirm that a painless bump is in fact confirmation of the presence of osteochondroma.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst symptoms on their own can be shrugged off, it is the combination of several of these early signs which might be more of an effective predictor for osteochondroma and its subsequent development. Having 8 early signs, listed together like this, could serve as a tick sheet to either help confirm or rule out the presence of osteochondroma, but as with all suspected illnesses and conditions, seeking the advice of professionals is always the best practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. \tPain with activity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Experiencing joint pain<\/a> when exercising, or as part of the performance of everyday functional movements can be an indicator of osteochondroma, particularly when this pain is unexplainable after every other avenue has been explored. Athletes who are affected may find that they pick up on the condition earlier than non-athletes, given the nature of their daily activities, whether they\u2019re training or receiving treatment. Those who spend a lot of time on the massage table may find that it is the masseur who notices the mass, long before they themselves had even noticed it was there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many cases, people are able to go about their business by gritting their teeth and working through the pain barrier, in the hope that it will go away eventually with time or through self-medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of osteochondroma though, the pain will persist or worsen if the cause is not properly identified. This is because without understanding the cause of the pain, it is difficult to plan activities and movements to avoid aggravating it further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. \tNumbness or tingling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Numbness <\/a>is a difficult sensation to compare from one person to the next, as the experience can be completely different depending on a person\u2019s nervous system. The loss of sensation in one of the limbs, or in a particular section of a limb can be an early sign of osteochondroma, as blood flow can be limited by the growth of the benign tumor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The numbness that people experience can differ significantly, from pins and needles like sensations, right through to a total loss of sensation altogether, the latter of the two examples being much more of a cause for concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obviously, given that many people can be prone to occasional numbness for a huge variety of reasons, this early sign of osteochondroma can be particularly challenging to determine accurately, especially if the person affected already experiences occasional or frequent spells of numbness and tingling, either in the affected area or elsewhere on the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. \tChanges in blood flow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Discoloration or partial discoloration of parts of the body can be an indicator of a change in blood flow<\/a>, which in turn can be an indicator of the presence of an osteochondroma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raynaud’s disease type coloration and pigmentation, where the hands and feet turn to a purple or a blue, can indicate that changes in blood flow are happening for one reason or another. If the weather is cold, it could just be that the extremities aren\u2019t receiving as much blood as they\u2019d like, but if there are no external factors which can explain away the change in blood flow, this could be a telltale sign of the early development of osteochondroma.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nervous feelings or hunches shouldn\u2019t always be ignored or attributed to overactive imaginations. Sometimes, going with your gut can be the right thing to do.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lump is not always cancer though, and even when it is, it is not always terminal cancer. Knowledge is power, get it checked out if symptoms like this one are present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. \tBone pain or tenderness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tenderness <\/a>or bone pain that cannot be explained by recent accident or historic injury could be an early sign of osteochondroma, as the formation of the tumor could cause the bone to feel sore with the added pressure. Underlying conditions like arthritis or tendonitis should also be ruled out if possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a person cannot remember any incident or accident which may have left their arm or leg feeling sore, it could be the result of the new formation of a benign tumor at a joint site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is an early sign that is easy to overlook or discount, particularly as most people will attest to regularly picking up bumps and bruises as part of their everyday lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s just what happens at the end of the day, and thankfully, nine times out of ten, these things clear up just as quickly as they came about in the first place. When this happens, there should be no reason to suspect osteochondroma, however persistent bone pain or tenderness that cannot be explained, could well be an early indicator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6. \tA mass that can be felt through the skin (tumor)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Everybody\u2019s worst nightmare is that moment where they feel a lump. It\u2019s the stereotypical way that society has become accustomed to suspecting cancer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a million and one other reasons why a bump could occur under the skin, yet social media scare stories and good old Doctor Google mean that most people immediately jump to the worst-case scenario, cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a tumor is eventually confirmed, the important thing to do is to establish whether it is benign or malignant. Even if it is benign though, as, with osteochondromas, it can still be a cause for great distress, discomfort, and pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best advice is simple, if you feel a lump, get it checked out. A good piece of advice for anyone who finds a mass or lump under the skin is to not panic. It could be something or it could be nothing, and the only thing to do when faced with this situation is to seek medical advice in order to determine which it is. Armed with a correct diagnosis, appropriate action can be taken to address the situation at hand, whatever that happens to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

7. \tSwelling and redness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Swelling and redness <\/a>are unpleasant things to experience, no matter where they happen to appear on the body. The face, the limbs, the intimate areas, they can all be affected from time to time. Parents often jump to conclusions with redness and rashes on their children, whilst many adults tend to ignore swollen parts of their bodies. Neither of these approaches is a safe bet.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swelling and redness around the joint on a limb or near to a joint can be an early sign of an osteochondroma developing, especially if nothing else can explain the cause of that particular swelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It could be an insect bite or an allergic reaction, but usually, people are well aware if they have been bitten, stung or have ingested something they shouldn’t have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swelling and redness together can be cause for alarm, but just as with the discovery of a tumor-like mass, calmness is advised in order to begin to establish the cause of the symptom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

8. \tIncreased pain when lifting (arm) or limping (leg)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If an osteochondroma is developing on a person\u2019s arm, they may experience awkwardness and increased pain when lifting the affected arm, as the tumor site is aggravated or irritated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the person is developing an osteochondroma on their leg, they may develop an otherwise unexplainable limp. In both examples, osteochondroma might be suspected if there are no other plausible explanations for the worsening pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Muscle pulls, overuse or repetitive strain <\/a>injuries are a few examples of things that might explain the pain, but if these have been ruled out, increased pain when raising an arm, or the development of a limp when walking, could well be early warning signs of the development of an osteochondroma.

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In isolation then, as they are listed above, most of these symptoms would most likely be seen as inconclusive in terms of ascertaining any self-diagnosis of osteochondroma, given the sheer number of other factors that they could be attributed to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

<\/div>