If you sprain your ankle, you may notice a little swelling or bruising in the area, but what happens if you notice a bump or a lump on your foot and there was no obvious trauma to the area? In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the common causes of lumps on your feet without significant trauma to the area.
Lumps On Your Feet
Here’s a look at some of the more common causes of a bony prominence or visible lumps on your feet that can develop without direct trauma to the area.
Bunions – One of the most common causes of lumps on your feet is the result of a bunion. A bunion occurs when your big toe joint shifts, leading to the formation of a lump on the side of your big toe. This is typically brought on by wearing shoes that are too tight, and it tends to develop gradually over time. Switching to a wider shoe can help to alleviate symptoms, but more serious bunions may require surgery in order to shift the joint back into the correct location.
Ganglion Cyst – A ganglion cyst is a non-cancerous lump that tends to develop on the tops of a person’s foot. These fluid-filled growths may be more unsightly than painful, but if they cause discomfort, your foot specialist may drain them. These cysts form as a result of fluid leaking out of a joint, oftentimes as a result of arthritis or trauma to the area.
Plantar Fibroma – Similar to a ganglion cyst, these growths are usually a little harder to the touch and are more common on the underside of your foot along the plantar fascia. There’s no known cause for why these nodules develop, but they are typically asymptomatic. If they become painful or uncomfortable to walk with, a surgeon can use minimally invasive techniques to remove them.
Bursitis – Your bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that help aid in joint movement, but if they are subjected to trauma or repetitive stress, they can swell and inflame. Bursitis tends to respond well to conservative treatments like rest, icing, stretching and orthotic inserts, but surgery can also address the issue if need be.
Tumor – A final possibility is that the bump on your foot is a small tumor. Many tumors in the foot region end up being benign, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore it. Have the growth examined by a foot specialist and have a biopsy taken to determine that it is a non-cancerous growth. Cancerous tumors will need to be actively treated, while benign growths may only need to be monitored and treated if they start to cause discomfort or other issues.
For help diagnosing and treating a bump on your foot, contact Dr. Silverman and the team at Silverman Ankle & Foot today at (952) 224-8500.
