Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesTreatmentsComplicationsCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Treatments
Complications
Coping
A buffalo hump—also known as adorsocervical fat pad—is an accumulation of fatty adipose tissue on the back of the neck in between your shoulder blades. This fat pad creates the look of a hump behind the shoulders.
This article will detail the potential origins of this condition and will outline how to get rid of a buffalo hump.
Why Do People Have a Buffalo Hump?
Several different medical diagnoses and medications can lead to a dorsocervical fat pad. Among the most common buffalo hump causes are:
Buffalo Hump vs. Dowager’s Hump
Common Treatment Methods for Buffalo Humps
The first step in treating a buffalo hump is to identify the root cause of the issue.
Your healthcare provider will commonly orderlaboratory teststo analyze cortisol levels in your body. They will also evaluate your current medication regimen to check for drugs that may lead to excessive fatty deposits.
Ineffective Treatments
Once your healthcare provider’s examination is complete, they will outline the steps needed to treat your buffalo hump.
In some cases, treatment may include:
These changes may help reduce fatty accumulations in the body and may trigger your buffalo hump to diminish in size.
It is important to note that many buffalo hump treatments can take time to work, and it is not possible to reduce the size of the hump in every situation.
Medication Adjustments to Treat Buffalo Hump
One of the primary treatments for a buffalo hump is adjusting (or eliminating) the medications that are causing the issue in the first place.
Your healthcare provider will work with you to modify the dosage or type of medication you are taking or to identify alternatives to your current regimen.
In the case of Cushing’s syndrome, they may also prescribe an additional medication to lower the system levels of cortisol in your body.It is important, however, to only stop or reduce your medications under the direction of your healthcare provider.
Cushing’s Syndrome Resulting From Corticosteroids
Buffalo Hump Complications
Depending on the size of the fatty deposit, a buffalo hump can lead to a number of complications. Larger fat deposits may restrict movement in the neck or upper back and impede functional tasks like driving, dressing, or sleeping. In rarer cases, a hump may also press down on a nerve in the region and cause pain or numbness.
Surgical Hump Removal
In addition, the conditions that cause a buffalo hump can lead to a variety of other symptoms.
Cushing’s disease may cause facial roundness, thinning or fragile skin, extreme fatigue,hypertension (high blood pressure), excess facial or body hair growth, irritability, anddepression.
In the case of Madelung’s disease,peripheral neuropathy, difficulty speaking or swallowing, andsleep apneamay also be present.
Coping and Body Acceptance With a Buffalo Hump
It can be frustrating to deal with a newly developed buffalo hump, especially if it is large or significantly limits your ability to function.
Focusing on the things that are within your control can help you cope with this condition. This includes:
Summary
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
University of Florida Health.Hump on upper back (dorsocervical fat pad).
National Organization for Rare Diseases.Madelung’s disease.
Chen S, Gui X en, Cao Q, Routy JP.Clinical outcome after lipectomy in the management of patients with human immunodeficiency virus-associated dorsocervical fat accumulation: An observational cohort study.Medicine. 2019;98(25):e16112. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000016112
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Cushing’s syndrome.
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