Can you feel calcium deposits? An expert guide to symptoms and detection

September 26, 2025 •

4 min read

It's a fact that calcium is essential for bones and teeth, but what about calcium in soft tissues? The answer to the question, can you feel calcium deposits?, is complex and highly dependent on their location and size. While many are completely undetectable, others can become a source of significant discomfort.

Quick Summary

The ability to feel calcium deposits varies widely, as many internal calcifications are asymptomatic and are only discovered via medical imaging. However, deposits in specific areas like tendons or under the skin can cause localized pain, tenderness, visible bumps, or restricted movement.

Key Points

Not Always Felt: Many internal calcium deposits, like those in breast tissue or arteries, are asymptomatic and not detectable by touch.
Painful Tendons: Calcific tendonitis, where deposits form in tendons, can cause severe, sharp, or chronic pain, especially during the body's reabsorption phase.
Visible Lumps: Calcium deposits under the skin (calcinosis cutis) can be seen and felt as firm, whitish or yellowish nodules.
Painful Inflammation: The sensation experienced from calcific tendonitis is often due to the surrounding inflammation and pressure, not the deposit itself.
Associated Symptoms: Indirect symptoms like restricted movement, stiffness, or signs of underlying conditions like poor circulation can indicate calcification.
Diagnosis is Key: Medical imaging, such as X-rays, CT scans, or mammograms, is necessary to accurately diagnose and locate calcium deposits.

Understanding Calcium Deposits

Calcification, or the formation of calcium deposits, is a process where calcium builds up in the body's soft tissues, rather than in the bones where it belongs. While the body typically regulates calcium levels effectively, various factors can disrupt this balance, leading to mineral deposits in different areas. The presence of these deposits is not always a cause for concern, but they can sometimes lead to noticeable symptoms or more serious health issues, depending on their location.

Can You Feel Deposits in Your Tendons?

One of the most common locations for symptomatic calcium deposits is in the tendons, a condition known as calcific tendonitis. This frequently affects the shoulder's rotator cuff but can also occur in the hip, wrist, and ankle. The sensation from these deposits is not the result of feeling the mineral itself, but rather the inflammation and pressure it causes. Many people with calcific tendonitis don't experience any symptoms during the initial build-up phase. The pain often becomes most intense during the 'resorptive' stage, when the body begins to reabsorb the deposits, causing significant inflammation and discomfort. Symptoms may include:

Sudden or chronic, severe pain
Pain that worsens with movement
Reduced range of motion
Intense pain that interferes with sleep
A pinching or catching sensation in the joint

Calcium Deposits You Can See and Touch: Calcinosis Cutis

Unlike internal deposits, calcium deposits on or under the skin, a condition called calcinosis cutis, can be both felt and seen. These deposits often appear as firm, white or yellowish bumps or nodules. The primary symptoms include:

Visible lumps of varying sizes, which may appear individually or in clusters
Tenderness or pain in the affected area
Joint stiffness if deposits form near a joint
The discharge of a chalky, white, paste-like substance if a nodule is punctured

These visible and palpable deposits most commonly occur on the fingers, elbows, and shins but can appear anywhere on the body.

Silent Calcium Deposits in Arteries and Breast Tissue

Many types of calcification go completely undetected by touch. Calcification of the arteries, known as vascular calcification, is often a sign of underlying cardiovascular disease. Similarly, breast calcifications are common, especially in older women. These deposits are typically too small or deep within the tissue to be felt and are discovered incidentally during a mammogram or other imaging test. While mostly benign, certain patterns of microcalcifications in the breast may warrant further investigation. The effects of arterial calcification may be felt indirectly, but the deposits themselves are not palpable.

Diagnosing Calcium Deposits

If you suspect you have calcium deposits, a healthcare provider will use a variety of diagnostic tools to confirm their presence and location. The diagnostic process often includes:

Physical Examination: A doctor can often feel deposits on the skin or check for tenderness and restricted movement in joints.
X-rays: This is one of the most common ways to visualize calcifications, as calcium shows up clearly on X-ray images.
Mammography: Specific imaging is used to detect microcalcifications in breast tissue.
CT Scan: A CT scan can provide more detailed cross-sectional images, especially for vascular or deep-tissue calcifications.
Biopsy: For suspicious deposits, particularly in breast tissue, a biopsy may be performed to determine if the calcification is benign or malignant.

Symptomatic vs. Asymptomatic Calcium Deposits

To better understand the difference, consider the following comparison of two types of deposits:


Feature	Calcinosis Cutis (Visible)	Arterial Calcification (Silent)
Location	On or under the skin, often in extremities	Within the walls of blood vessels
Symptoms	Visible lumps, pain, tenderness, joint stiffness	No direct symptoms; indirectly linked to symptoms of cardiovascular disease	n	Palpable?	Yes, feels like hard, firm bumps or nodules	No, not palpable by touch
Detection	Can be self-detected, confirmed by physical exam and X-ray	Discovered via imaging (e.g., CT scan, X-ray)	n	Pain	Often associated with localized pain and discomfort	Pain is not from the deposit itself, but from related issues like restricted blood flow

Treating and Managing Calcium Deposits

The treatment for calcification depends on the location, underlying cause, and severity of symptoms. For calcific tendonitis, treatment options range from non-invasive therapies to surgical removal. In the case of calcinosis cutis, treatment may not be necessary unless the deposits cause pain or become infected. For arterial calcification, the focus shifts to managing the underlying cardiovascular risks.

Non-Surgical Treatments: Many musculoskeletal calcifications can be treated with rest, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, or injections to manage pain. Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is also an option that uses sound waves to break down calcium deposits.
Surgical Intervention: If non-surgical methods fail, or if the deposits are causing severe complications, a surgeon may remove the deposit arthroscopically.
Underlying Condition Management: For conditions like vascular calcification, the primary treatment involves managing the associated health risks through lifestyle changes and medication.

Conclusion

While many people with calcium deposits never know they have them, a notable number of individuals experience symptoms related to their presence. The key to answering 'Can you feel calcium deposits?' lies in recognizing that sensation is a result of location and associated inflammation rather than direct palpation of the mineral. Whether a deposit is painful or silent, a proper diagnosis through medical imaging is essential for determining the correct course of action. If you notice any unusual lumps or persistent pain, especially near joints or tendons, it is important to consult a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but only in specific cases. Deposits located just under the skin (calcinosis cutis) can be felt as firm, palpable lumps. However, internal deposits in organs or arteries are not detectable by touch.

Calcific tendonitis often feels like a sharp, intense, or pinching pain, especially with movement. It can also cause a dull, nagging ache and limit your range of motion, particularly in the shoulder.

Pain is typically not from the calcium itself, but from the inflammation and pressure it creates. In tendons, the most painful stage is often when the body begins to break down and reabsorb the deposits, causing a strong inflammatory reaction.

No. Many calcifications are harmless and are simply a byproduct of normal biological processes or injury. However, some deposits, like those in heart arteries or brain tissue, can indicate a serious underlying condition and carry health risks.

It is a common misconception that dietary calcium causes these deposits. The formation of unwanted calcification is often due to inflammation, metabolic disorders, or injury. A healthy diet and lifestyle can help with overall health but does not directly prevent calcification.

Doctors diagnose internal calcifications using medical imaging techniques. X-rays can reveal deposits in joints, tendons, and arteries. CT scans provide more detail, and mammograms are specifically used for breast calcifications.

You should see a doctor if you experience persistent or severe pain, swelling, or reduced mobility in or around a joint. Also, if you notice any new, unexplained lumps on or under your skin, a medical evaluation is warranted.