14 Early Signs of Osteochondroma

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.

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.

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.

8 early signs of the presence of osteochondromas are detailed and described below.

1. Painless bump near joints

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.

Sometimes callouses 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.

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.