Patients usually panic when they find a lump in their foot (or anywhere else on their body for that matter). At Superior Foot & Ankle Care Center we urge patients to arrange an appointment with one of our podiatrists, Dr. Victoria Foley or Dr. Constance Ornelas to get any unusual growths checked out promptly. One that we can put your mind at ease about, however, is a plantar fibroma.

Benign but Challenging

Plantar fibromas are benign fibrous tumors that develop in the arch of your foot. They are embedded in the plantar fascia, the long ligament that stretches along the bottom of your foot. The first and most obvious sign of a plantar fibroma is being able to feel a hard lump in the arch of your foot, which may or may not be painful, at least initially. This lump may stay the same size or grow over time, and additional fibromas may also grow. The condition may occur in one or both of your feet. Because of their location, plantar fibromas can cause pain and pressure in multiple areas of the foot.

Treatment Options

If you find a lump in the arch of your foot, the podiatrist will examine your foot and also order x-rays or an MRI to confirm the diagnosis. Non-surgical treatment options are aimed at reducing pain but cannot eliminate the fibroma. Corticosteroid injections may be recommended in an attempt to reduce pain and inflammation and shrink the fibroma, but the results are often temporary. Traditional surgery has the risk of nerve damage. A new development in the treatment of fibromas is cryosurgery. This procedure, done on an outpatient basis, freezes the tumor and shrinks it with little to no post-surgical pain or complications.

To learn more about this condition, contact our Long Beach office by calling: (562) 420-9800.