Hump behind the shoulders

Alternative names:

buffalo hump

Home care:

If a buffalo hump is due to medication, ask your health care provider about discontinuing, changing, or reducing the medication dosage. NEVER CHANGE MEDICATION WITHOUT CONSULTING YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

For extreme obesity, diet and exercise can help you to lose weight.

Call your health care provider if:

• there is an unexplained buffalo hump.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting your symptom in detail may include:

• What medications are you taking?
• Are you overweight?
• Are you female?
• How old are you?
• Have you been evaluated for osteoporosis?
• What other symptoms are present?

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

• arteriography
• blood tests (such as CBC, or blood differential)
• urine tests (such as urinalysis)
• bronchography
• CT scan of the skull
• CT scan of the abdomen and adrenal glands
• endocrine studies
• cortisol level
• dexamethasone suppression test
• ultrasonography
• visual field testing
• X-rays of the chest

After seeing your health care provider:
If a diagnosis was made by your health care provider related to a buffalo hump, you may want to note that diagnosis in your personal medical record.