Bump on foot

introduction

A bulge on the foot is colloquially all visible or palpable protrusions that can basically appear anywhere on the foot. In most cases, it is a build-up of fluid in or under the skin, which can have various causes. In some cases, however, the bump on the foot comes from the bone. In general, in most cases there is a harmless cause and no special treatment is required. A doctor's visit and, if necessary, targeted therapy is only required under certain circumstances.

causes

A bump on the foot can have various causes. For example, water retention can occur due to a weak vein or heart, whereby the ankle area is mostly affected. In addition, bumps can be caused by an insect bite, for example if you step into a bee or wasp.

Shoes that are too tight or incorrectly worn under heavy loads can lead to the formation of swelling and thus a bump on the foot. Another typical cause of bumps in the foot is what is known as an over-leg. This emanates from the joints or tendon sheaths and is harmless, but can sometimes cause discomfort when walking. In addition, bumps can develop on the foot due to bone overgrowth. As a rule, these are benign tumors that do not necessarily require treatment. However, if a bump on the foot causes symptoms such as pain or numbness, an examination by your family doctor is recommended. In some cases, surgical removal of the bump is required. Most of the time, however, you can wait, as many bumps recede on their own or at least do not enlarge.

Bump on the outer edge of the foot

A bump on the outer edge of the foot can have various causes. In addition to the generally possible triggers of bumps that can arise in any area of ​​the foot, possible special diseases should also be considered when localizing them on the lateral foot. On the outside of the metatarsus, for example, runs the fifth metatarsal bone, which connects the tarsus with the first phalanx of the little toe. The fifth metatarsal bone (often referred to as MFK V) is most commonly affected in a broken foot. This can happen on the one hand through direct injury and on the other hand through overload. The latter is a fatigue fracture, which is also known as a marching fracture and can occur, for example, after running a particularly long distance. If the fifth metatarsal bone is broken, this can manifest itself as a bump on the outer edge of the foot and usually severe pain when the foot is put under pressure.

Another possible cause of a bulge on the side of the foot is a gout attack, which usually affects not the outer but the inner side of the foot in the area of ​​the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe. The accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints results in an extremely painful, overheated and reddened bump on the outer foot.

Also read: Symptoms of a metatarsal fracture

Bump on the sole of the foot

Bumps on the foot occur more often under the foot, i.e. in the area of ​​the sole of the foot. A common cause is what is known as heel spur. This is a bony extension of the heel bone that grows like a donut in the area of ​​the sole of the foot. This can be palpable as a bump and lead to an inflammatory reaction in the surrounding tissue, which manifests itself as a painful swelling.

In addition to the calcaneus, the flat tendon that stretches deep over the sole of the foot can also be the place of origin, a bump under the foot. A rather rare disease that should be considered in the case of bumps on the soles of the feet is Ledderhose's disease (named after the doctor and discoverer of the disease Georg Ledderhose). This causes growths of connective tissue in the sole of the foot, which, in addition to bumps, often cause pain and a restriction in the mobility of the foot. In the case of pronounced symptoms, treatment can be carried out by surgery or radiation of the sole of the foot. Other possible causes of bumps under the foot are benign growths that originate from adipose tissue and are known as lipomas, as well as hardening of muscle strands due to incorrect loading.

More on this: Therapy of a calcaneal spur

Bump on the heel

In the case of a bump on the heel, in addition to the generally possible causes of the bump, such as an insect bite, special triggers can also be considered for this foot region. The attachment of the calf muscles via the Achilles tendon on the heel bone is often affected, as this area is subject to high stress when walking and standing. Among other things, this can lead to a bursitis (Bursitis). This tissue, which serves as a shock absorber, can become inflamed in the event of excessive or incorrect loading, which manifests itself in a bulge between the Achilles tendon and ankle, which causes pain, especially when the foot is pulled up.

Another possible cause of a bump on the heel is a special type of heel spur called Haglund's heel. This is a bony extension (medicinally as Exostosis next to the insertion of the Achilles tendon. This bulge on the heel can be triggered by high running loads, misaligned feet or incorrect footwear. If this bump is causing symptoms such as pain or reduced mobility, it may need to be removed.

More information on this topic: Therapy of Haglund's heel

Bump on the foot after twisting it

If you twist your foot, the lateral ligaments of the ankle are particularly affected. These can be overstretched or compressed and possibly even tear. The body reacts to such an injury with a response from the immune system. Increased blood flow and increased permeability of the blood vessels for immune cells leads to fluid storage in the tissue of the ankle. The result is a usually visible and palpable bump below the outer or inner ankle on the foot.

If a bump arises after an ankle twist, a doctor should be examined. A possible injury to ligaments or even bone parts can thus be excluded or, if necessary, recognized and treated in good time. In general, bumps on the foot should be treated after twisting ankle by lying up, protecting and cooling. In some cases, wearing an orthosis to support the stability of the joint is indicated.

Read more about this:

• Ankle twisted - what to do?
• Sprained foot

Concomitant symptoms

A bump on the foot is often accompanied by symptoms, which can then give clues to the cause of the swelling. In the case of an inflammatory reaction, for example due to a gout attack, the accompanying symptoms typically include severe pain, redness and significant overheating of the bump when compared to the side. Inflammation caused by bacteria can also lead to a discharge of pus.

In contrast, if a bone fracture is the cause of a bump on the foot, pain usually only occurs when the foot is put under pressure. For example, if a bump originates from bony structures and presses them on a nerve, accompanying symptoms can be abnormal sensations such as tingling or numbness, for example on the toes.

However, bumps often appear on the foot that do not cause any accompanying symptoms, such as a lipoma (benign growth that originates from fatty tissue). In the vast majority of cases, these have a harmless cause and do not need to be removed or treated. A one-off medical evaluation or, if necessary, a follow-up observation are usually sufficient, provided there are no additional symptoms.

treatment

How a bump on the foot should be treated depends primarily on what is causing the swelling. In many cases, therapy is not required at all, as the bump will recede on its own or at least no further change is to be expected. In the case of a bump as a result of an injury, the body can be supported to regress the bump by cooling, elevating and protecting the foot. If a gout attack is the cause, short-term anti-inflammatory medication should be taken. In addition, it is important to only eat gout-causing foods such as meat or alcohol in moderation in the future. If bone overgrowth is the cause of a bump on the foot, treatment is usually not necessary. Surgical removal may only be indicated if there is an impairment, for example because the bump compresses a nerve and thus causes paresthesia. If a rheumatic disease triggers bumps in the area of ​​the small joints on the foot, therapy for the underlying disease is most important.

You may also be interested in this topic:

• Therapy of gout
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Duration

No general information can be given about the duration of a bump on the foot, as this depends primarily on the cause and can also vary from person to person. Inflammatory reactions, for example due to an insect bite, as well as bumps after overloading or an injury on the foot usually last a few days to a few weeks. A ganglion and bony growth as the cause of a bump on the foot, on the other hand, can persist in the long term, provided that no surgical removal takes place. Even if bumps on the foot are harmless in most cases and do not require special treatment, this should be clarified by a doctor if they continue to grow, persist for more than two weeks or cause severe symptoms such as pain.

diagnosis

For the diagnosis of a bump on the foot, the findings from the medical interview and the physical examination are often sufficient or at least decisive for the further procedure. First, the doctor asks questions about a possible cause of the bump on the foot, accompanying complaints such as pain, and the use of medication. When examined, its appearance and consistency can provide clues as to the cause of the bump.

Most of the measures mentioned are sufficient to make a diagnosis and, if necessary, to initiate treatment. Only in a small number of cases are additional diagnostic measures indicated to get to the bottom of the cause of the bump on the foot. Depending on the circumstances, it may make sense to have an X-ray of the foot taken or to have a blood test in the laboratory. Elaborate procedures such as CT or MRT are reserved for absolutely exceptional cases and in most cases do not produce any further results that have a consequence.