You've Got A Bump On The Foot. Now What?

As a foot and ankle specialist, I spend a lot of time explaining common conditions to my patients. One question I field rather frequently is "why do I have a bump on my foot?"

Bump on the foot? Get it looked at.

Of course, a bump on the foot can be a sign of several different conditions, some of them rather benign, and some of them quite serious.

So if you are googling this question to get an answer to the question of "should I see a surgeon for this bump on my foot", my answer to you is yes! If you have a bump on your foot, it's always good to get it looked at by a trained specialist to find out what the next step should be.

Does Size Indicate Anything? #bumponfoot

Foot bumps can be big or small, ranging from golfball-sized on the large end to pea-sized on the small end. We see foot bumps on all parts of the foot— the ankle, the arch, the toe area. Often times the bump will cause some discomfort, though they aren't always painful.

Although we can sometimes ascertain a condition by the size of the bump, it's not always a sure sign of a certain condition.

Common Causes of Bumps On The Foot

The Ganglion Cyst #bumponfoot

A ganglion cyst is a benign condition that can be found on both joints and tendons of the foot. When the capsule surrounding the joint or tendon leaks a jelly-like fluid, the result may be a formation of a cyst of this type. The cyst itself may feel firm or spongy, and may cause a moderate amount of pain.

Although these cysts are non-cancerous in nature, we often need to remove it surgically. Why? Because even after being drained, these tend to return.

Plantar Fibromas #bumponfoot

Plantar Fibromas are also benign (non-cancerous) and usually painless. Plantar fibromas are hard and fibrous nodules that we commonly see on the bottom of the foot (arch area).

Treatment for Plantar Fibromas

We may treat this condition using our usual bag of non-surgical tricks, such as:

Steroid injections
Orthotics
Physical Therapy

Our non-surgical approaches may help to alleviate any discomfort from this condition, but they don't always completely dissipate the fibroma. When this is true, we may perform surgery to remove the fibroma.

Bunions

WHAT IS A BUNION?

A bunion is a "bony bump at the base of the big toe". Bunions can be painful and downright bothersome. They can hamper your ability to enjoy your favorite activities, in a big way.

If you have pain from bunions, you definitely are not alone. Almost 3 million people per year suffer from bunions.

Although that won't give you consolation, it is good to know that we treat this condition on a regular basis.

HOW DO BUNIONS FORM?

Bunions form as the big toe presses against its neighbor toe. Other factors that may cause bunions:

Shoes that are too tight or that do not fit well
Undue stress upon the foot
Arthritis in the foot

For more on bunions, click here.

Can A Foot Bump Be Cancerous? #bumponfoot

If there is concern that the bump is cancerous, your surgeon will perform a biopsy of the area in question.

Then we'll ship the sample to a lab to have them test it.

If the bump is cancerous, your foot and ankle surgeon will work with an oncologist and remove the bump in tandem with their expertise.

Can I Wait For the Foot Bump To Go Away on Its Own?

Unfortunately, bumps of the feet don't often go away on their own. That's why we recommend visiting a trained foot & ankle specialist as soon as possible.

That way we can evaluate and treat your condition immediately and get you on a plan to get back to doing what you want to do, with no further issues.

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For Facebook:

Unfortunately, bumps of the feet don't often go away on their own. That's why we recommend visiting a trained foot & ankle specialist as soon as possible. That way we can evaluate and treat your condition immediately and get you on a plan to get back to doing what you want to do, with no further issues.

For Twitter:

Why do I have a bump on my foot? That's a common question, and Harvard-trained foot and ankle specialist Dr. JP Elton has the answer.

#bumpsonfeet, #ganglioncystcauses, #bumponbottomoffoot, #cystonfoot, #bumpontoe, #ganglioncystankle

For Linkedin:

If you have a bump on your foot, it's always good to get it looked at by a trained specialist to find out what the next step should be.

Why Do You Have a Bump On Your Foot?