If you have ever been in traffic due to construction, your frustrations are often dismissed when you are once again able to drive over a smooth road without the kind of bumps that make your teeth chatter. Lumps and bumps can be annoying but when one appears somewhere in your body, it can often be cause for concern. If one appears on your foot, it could be a harmless ganglion cyst but it is always worth having it checked out.
A ganglion cyst is a non-cancerous lump that develops on top of a joint or along a tendon. Small ones are usually the size of a pea but they can be as large as an inch in diameter. They are usually round in shape and are filled with a jelly-like substance. In addition to the top of the foot, harmless cysts can also develop in the hand, and the outside of the knee and ankle. The only time ganglion cysts usually cause discomfort is when they press on a nerve or are in a position where they limit joint movement. It isn’t totally clear what exactly causes these bumps to appear. Trauma or a problem within the joint capsule are the most likely causes.
In many cases, this condition appears over time and you may experience the bump get larger, smaller, and even disappear for a while. Treatment is not usually necessary if you have no pain or symptoms. Simply monitor the cyst for any changes. If it is causing pain or interfering with your mobility, then Dr. Kevin Powers may recommend a period of immobilization or aspiration, which is when a needle is used to drain the fluid from the cyst. While rare, surgery is an option if these methods fail to improve your foot health.
It is always a good idea to have any lump or bump diagnosed in the case that it is harmful to your health and requires immediate treatment. If you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Kevin Powers in Bloomington, IN. You can reach our office by calling (812) 333-4422 or using the “Contact Us” option online.
Photo Credit: BudAdams via FreeImages.com
Lumps and bumps are generally annoyances that we have to deal with. Feeling your teeth chatter as you drive down a bumpy road or a sore back after a night on a lumpy mattress can’t always be avoided. Seeing a lump or bump on your body, however, can be alarming, and you should find out what has caused it. It could simply be swollen tissue from getting hit by something, but in your feet it could be a condition called a ganglion cyst.
A ganglion cyst is a fluid-filled, non-cancerous lump that forms along the joints or tendons in your feet. They are also often seen in the wrist and hands. They are usually round in shape and mostly around the size of pea although larger ones can be up to an inch in diameter. If they are pressing on a nerve they can be painful, and if located in the right spot, they can interfere with the natural movement of a joint. Unfortunately, ganglion cyst causes cannot usually be identified; they are often “idiopathic,” which means we don’t know why they form. They develop and grow out of a joint or from the lining of a tendon and seem to occur when trauma damages the tissue of a joint or tendon or in association with the presence of osteoarthritis. It is also believed that they may develop when there is a structural flaw in the joint capsule. They commonly occur in those between the ages of 20-30.
Dr. Kevin Powers will be able to use imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis of this type of cyst, and fortunately a ganglion cyst tends to rupture naturally and go away on its own without treatment. If it is painful, immobilization, aspiration (draining fluid), or surgery to remove the cyst may be necessary. If you have any concerns about a bump on your foot, contact Kevin J. Powers, DPM for treatment. Call our office in Bloomington, IN at (812) 333-4422.
Photo Credit: Alexis via Pixabay.com
