O/T lump on back of neck

I have become increasingly aware that at the bottom of my neck where is should be straight, there is quite a pronounced lump or hump. I am now so conscious of it that i will not wear my hair up unless i have a collared shirt on, and wouldnever have my hair cut short.

ALthough there is some fat on the lump (so i therefore hope that as i lose weight the lump will come less pronounced), when i touch it, it is very obviously bone. I am only 22 and am really worried i am developing a 'hunch back'. otherwise i consider myself to have wuite good posture.

Does anyone have a similar problem? or any suggestions as to what i can do to minimise it?

thank you

Thu. Apr 24, 3:40am

I have had one for as long as I can remember, my mother has one too.
I have heard from someone else that had one it was an extra vertabre?
I have no idea if that has any truth to it though.
I feel the same way about the hair. I keep mine long too.
I have been a cosmetologist for 25 years and have seen quite a few people with this same lump. I personally don't think it is anything to be concerned of. But if you are maybe bring it up to your dr next time you go.

I personally always assumed that it came from being large breasted.
The added strain it puts on your neck and back. I don't know though.
I don't remember ever seeing a man with it.
curious.

If anyone has ideas as how to minimize it I would love to hear them as well.

Thursday, April 24, 2008, 5:17 AM

HI, OP here. Maybe you're right about the large breasted thing, i also have a large chest. my mum does also have a smaller lump so maybe its a cross between gentics and breasts.

ITs nice to hear you've seen them on other people, i always try and look and havn't really noticed it. I

Thursday, April 24, 2008, 5:49 AM

see a medical professional....

Thursday, April 24, 2008, 7:38 AM

It's not an extra vertebra, or anything abnormal. It's the spine of the seventh cervical vertebra, which is called in Latin "vertebra prominens," just because it makes that prominent bump in everyone!

If you have been carrying extra weight across your shoulders or on the back of your neck, you are probably just noticing this for the first time as you lose weight.

neon

Thursday, April 24, 2008, 7:59 AM

Dowager's hump

I have the same problem and I went to see my doctor concerning it. He said it is called Dowager's hump: An abnormal outward curvature of the vertebrae of upper back. Compression of the front (anterior) portion of the involved vertebrae leads to forward bending of the spine (kyphosis) and creates a hump at the upper back. We got to talking about other problems and he did not offer any solutions. I need to go back to him concerning this. I still feel it might be due to having large breast. I am going to start losing weight and if at the end of the weight lose I still have large breast I plan on getting a reduction. Also, I think the fact that I was on thyroid medication that kept my body from absorbing calcium the way it should have was a contributor. I don't know if any of this applies to your situation.

Thursday, April 24, 2008, 10:24 AM

I have never taken thyroid meds but I take a ton of others including a massive amount of diuretics.
I don't know that everyone has this problem. You don't see it on everyone. Not prominently anyway.
Curious what more your dr would say.
keep us updated if you can.

Friday, April 25, 2008, 12:00 AM

OP here, i'm suprised that others have the problem, as it is something i havn't really noticed mych in others. IT is not something i feel everyone had to this degree. It is nice to have a name for it now. it's a shame the Dr didnt offer a solution.

Friday, April 25, 2008, 2:09 AM

I have been doing some 'googling' and what worries me slightly is that i am only 22 and the dowagers humo seems to go hand in hand with osteoporosis

Friday, April 25, 2008, 2:18 AM

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