Is it a cyst? Is this something to worry about? (MRI, cysts)

[NJDevil]

Hi, my husband has a small bump in the middle of his back, right on the spine. I believe it's attached to the skin, not the spine though. It's been there a few months, has not gotten any bigger since I first noticed it. He of course does not want to go to the doctor, and I agree I don't want him to pay $70 just to find out it is a harmless cyst. Is it odd for a cyst to form in this location? As long as it doesn't get larger or cause him any discomfort, does it need to get looked at?
Thanks.

[Paula Lynn]

My DIL had a boil or cyst below her back area. It got sore - turned out to be a staph infection. I'd get it checked out - $70.00 is nothing.

[hey teach]

My husband had three "bumps" in his back that didn't have any change in them for a long time. Suddenly, almost over night they began to grow. Turned out they were growing all along, growing inside his back. They were fatty tumors. Not really dangerous except that they got so big. One was the size of a soft ball. The surgeon who removed it said it was like a soft ball burried in sand with only the top showing. Another one was about as long as your thumb. Removal of these was a major surgerical procedure and the thumb sized one caused a major blood loss.

I would get it checked out now. $70 is nothing compared to the cost of surgery or cancer.

[NJDevil]

Thanks very much. I might just make the appt for him, I think he will go.

[tilli]

I am prone to epidermal cysts and have had several over the years.

The first one was fairly small and didn't grow or bother me for many years, it just sat under the skin and the doctor said to ignore it. Then one day it was irritated by a change in laundry detergent or something and blew up to the size of a softball. The procedure to drain it was extremely painful, and it never closed up all the way and still bothers me sometimes.

Since then, if I get one, I go the dermatologist and have it removed ASAP. It is so much easier to remove and heals so much better if it is removed when it is not inflamed. Avoid inflammation by not doing anything to irritate it, including not trying to move it around under the skin or applying anything topically.

[Roselvr]

Originally Posted by NJDevil

Hi, my husband has a small bump in the middle of his back, right on the spine. I believe it's attached to the skin, not the spine though. It's been there a few months, has not gotten any bigger since I first noticed it. He of course does not want to go to the doctor, and I agree I don't want him to pay $70 just to find out it is a harmless cyst. Is it odd for a cyst to form in this location? As long as it doesn't get larger or cause him any discomfort, does it need to get looked at?
Thanks.

I would have it checked just in case. It's probably a Lipoma. I have one on my right arm, then 5 near my lower spine, around where the sacrum is. 3 on one side, 2 on the other. Mine are painful, they start throbbing with my muscle spasms. I was going to get them removed a few years ago but didn't like the hospital the Dr I saw was affiliated with.

I know someone at another forum that had one on the spine, but it ended up being cancerous and was actually attached to the vertebrae. They had to remove them and fuse his back, not sure how he is doing.

$70 is nothing compared to what it could cost and the outcome if it is serious.

Get it checked.

[Hasdrubal]

Originally Posted by NJDevil

Hi, my husband has a small bump in the middle of his back, right on the spine. I believe it's attached to the skin, not the spine though. It's been there a few months, has not gotten any bigger since I first noticed it. He of course does not want to go to the doctor, and I agree I don't want him to pay $70 just to find out it is a harmless cyst. Is it odd for a cyst to form in this location? As long as it doesn't get larger or cause him any discomfort, does it need to get looked at?
Thanks.

posts like this reinforce my firm believe in UHC

[annerk]

I had a lipoma that grew down around my vertabra and became tangled up in my spinal column. Removal was a major surgery. I'd have him get it looked at.

By the way, the total out of pocket cost for the sugery, MRI, and doctors visits was $28. Glad I wasn't covered under UHC, I'd probably still be waiting for the MRI 10 years later.

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by NJDevil

Hi, my husband has a small bump in the middle of his back, right on the spine. I believe it's attached to the skin, not the spine though. It's been there a few months, has not gotten any bigger since I first noticed it. He of course does not want to go to the doctor, and I agree I don't want him to pay $70 just to find out it is a harmless cyst. Is it odd for a cyst to form in this location? As long as it doesn't get larger or cause him any discomfort, does it need to get looked at?
Thanks.

Does he do sit-ups or crunches at the gym? On the mat? Was he on his back in the garage doing an oil change recently?

That's actually a pretty common place to get a big, nasty cyst (or knuckle-zit). Can you move it back and forth with your fingers? Is it painful to touch? Localized redness and heat? If so, its a big zit.

When it gets really bad you understand that it is a wife's duty to pop that sucker for her husband, right? You may have to sterilize a needle to get it. This will be a good way to find out how tough your husband is. Most guys are pretty good about broken bones, gunshot wounds and other grievous injury but zits on the back are a common achilles heel.

[cjma79]

Originally Posted by NJDevil

Hi, my husband has a small bump in the middle of his back, right on the spine. I believe it's attached to the skin, not the spine though. It's been there a few months, has not gotten any bigger since I first noticed it. He of course does not want to go to the doctor, and I agree I don't want him to pay $70 just to find out it is a harmless cyst. Is it odd for a cyst to form in this location? As long as it doesn't get larger or cause him any discomfort, does it need to get looked at?
Thanks.

Only by visiting a doctor and having him look at it he can determine if it is a cyst or a simple lipoma.
Also you can know if it is attached to bone or it is part of the skin by simply moving the skin, if you move the skin and it moves with the skin then is part of the skin, if you move the skin but the bump doesn't then is not part of the skin.