My 11 Year Old Son Has a Small Firm Lump on His Right Leg Kind of over His Shin

They would be negligent if they sent you away without doing more tests. Even if it's just to rule out something unlikely - or to just get a different image of the area - it's worth doing. If they were concerned, you'd know. Doesn't sound like they are. I'd just wait and see.

Sometimes lumps are harmless.
They are doing tests and finding nothing to get alarmed about so far.
So relax a little and take a deep breath.
Sounds like your son is fine.

Yes, they are probably doing the ultrasound to reassure you.

Wait for the ultrasound. I know that's tough to do, but we can't diagnose him online. You did exactly the right thing to ask his regular doctor to review those first test results. So now, stay assertive and say clearly that you expect to see the doctor in person so she or he can explain the ultrasound results when those are ready. Ask questions if they find something-- what is the next step, etc. And be open to the idea that your son may be fine and the lump may be harmless! You are getting additional testing and being assertive, which is good; just be sure also to stay calm and collected when dealing with doctors about this. They will respond better to that than to nerves and emotion. Not saying here that you should not own your feelings -- of course you're worried and that's natural. But doctors too often brush off parents who are really emotional in front of them. Just push firmly but coolly if you feel your son needs more attention.

under the circumstances i understand your worry and desire to internet diagnose, but try to resist. it will not under any circumstances alleviate your worry, and will instead give you dozens and dozens of new terrors to fret about.
they might be doing the ultrasound to reassure you. probably not. expensive unnecessary tests are coming under fire. but if they are, that's okay, right? you need some reassurance. if it comes back as nothing to worry about, what then? will you actually stop worrying or find new things over which to agonize?
(not slamming you, just pointing out how it works when we're biting our nails over our kids.)
the absolute best thing you can do is to put your confidence in your doctor- you've spoken to two now- and if you're still not convinced, by all means go to an orthopedic doc and get a third opinion.
but stop compulsively googling symptoms. you will make yourself crazy, and that won't help your son.
khairete
S.

I have a calcification just above my right knee. Discovering the hard lump, I was prepared for the worst but the doctor said it was no big deal. It's been there for years now and doesn't do anything -- no pain, no growth, etc.

No hard in having the ultrasound just to be sure. I'm sure they're not doing it to reassure you ... it's expensive and I'm sure they're doing it for a reason.

My husband has had a hard bump on his shin just under his knee. It is about the size of a golf ball. His is called osgood schlatters disease (which really isn't a disease). I can not imagine that a doctor would not be familiar with this very common condition but my family doctor has made a few mistakes too. (I had a small lump on my finger, he told me it was a wart and attempted to freeze it off twice. Turns out it is a mucus cysts (ganglion cyst of the finger). Another doctor also misdiagnosed my trigger finger and sent me to PT. The physical therapist said if he treated me with exercise it would cause serious damage. He told me to go to a hand surgeon who diagnosed the condition in about a minute. Within 24 hours of the cortisone injection I was healed.)

Also, it has been my experience that if doctors are worried they don't mess around. You would go to a children's hospital immediately if they thought this was really serious.

Good luck!

I'd consult with an orthopedic surgeon. Good luck and hope it turns out to be "nothing".

There is soft tissue calcification, tho I've not heard of that. HITTING a bone hard can cause calcification from the bone's injury. HAVE you gotten an in depth explanation.of.the difference? I ask this question because you said your son is involved in sports as a reason for him to not have a bone injury. I suggest that it's more likely that someone who plays sports to have a bone injury than a child with less activity. SOME of what you describe doesn't make sense when looking at the whole picture.

Yes, it is possible that his doctor is trying to reassure you by giving another test. I'm surprised that after the tests were normal, they are willing to do more testing/imaging. MY numerous doctors over years spend time wit me being sure I understand why they're not concerned without taking further action. PERHAPS it's because once I understand what they are saying I accept their answer. But then I've trusted my doctors. I had a bump on my shin. Doctor suggested it was caused by an injury, even so slight I didn't remember hitting my shin. He said wait and see. HE didn't do any tests. SEVERAL years later the bump is gone.

A friend has a large lump on his forehead. DOCTOR was not concerned. It's been 25 years, the bump is still there. HE hasn't had any other symptoms.

IF you haven't asked what is the worst that this could be when all tests were normal, I suggest you ask. Is there danger in a wait and see situation?

I would also directly ask if he is ordering an ultrasound to reassure you. WE have the best medical care when we ask questions and are willing to accept their advice based on their training and experience.

You are right! DR. Google only scares us. I ask when I want information about a condition that I and my friends have already received a diagnosis. I know that Dr Google can not make a diagnoses based only on words.

BTW since mamapedia has added dozens more pop ups, my phone turns letters into caps. WHEN I try to correct them, the computer garbled up the words by changing the letters I type into something different that may not even be a word. I've quit trying.

Hi A.,
I think if you feel the lump anteriorly, then I think it would be more likely to be related to an injury, but if it's posterior then I would wonder if it's under the skin or if it's in the muscle. I think an MRI would be more appropriate than an ultrasound and I agree that you should ask an orthopedist-

It could be nothing. When I did competitive swimming in high school I had a small lump on my shin. Right in the spot where I always braced my leg on the side of the pool when I was climbing out. It never hurt and eventually disappeared. I always wondered if it was a small bone chip or something. It's a good idea to get another look at it.

Sounds like you need to go to an Ortho doc. One that treats bone issues.

A couple of thoughts came too my mind, neither of which aren't a big deal. It could very well be a mild bone calcification that hasn't shown up yet an x-ray. I have a few calcifications on my fingers and wrists where I've broken bones. These are not soft tissue injuries, they are calcium build-ups rthart are going to be hard, similar to what you are describing. My doctor has said there is nothing to be done about them and they aren't dangerous, which I believe. at times, they do get a little sore, like when the weather changes, but otherwise, they don't bother mw.

Another thought is that it could a fluid cyst that has developed. The ones I've had haven't been an issue and have reabsorbed themselves. I'm not sure why they develop, but they do...possibly from an injury. Some cyst need to be drained, but again aren't a big beal.

I suggest you not worry, and check with you own doctor. Ask the doctor about a bone cyst and say what they say. Good luck.!

if the bloodwork and exray didn't give an answer then no, they are not doing the ultrasound to reassure you, they are doing it to find out that this lump is. they have not actually given a diagnosis other than a "i think" which is not a confirmed diagnosis. i would wait till after the ultrasound and see what they say then.

Thanks everyone for the opinions and advice. Some of you have eased my mind and some of you have made me worry more...lol! I will worry no matter what. Newname did you have an an injury that caused yours? My Son plays basketball, baseball and football but I do not remember him ever injuring that area very badly other than bruising. I kind of wondered why they chose to do an ultra sound at this point, although I feel that there is really no other test to do at this point but a ultra sound, right? Would they biopsy if they do not know what it is?

I can tell you that a yeAr or so ago, my arm banged right into our sliding glass door. Right below my wrist. I had my dog on a leash, and when I went to open the door, he ran right out after a squirrel. I still had the leash on that arm so it banged right on the door. Ouch!!!

A tiny fragment of bone formed a little lump under my skin.( apparently a little bone chipped away and caused the lump to form) that's how I describe it anyways..

It went away a few months afterwards. I did bandaged the arm up real good. So not sure if that happened, but if he is a boy, they are prone to get banged up.. I have a bone lump on my shin from where I was kicked bad by a soccer ball as a kid too.. I'm pretty sure it is nothing to worry about. But I agree, if you want to have another test, you could always do an MRI..