A fibrous knot in the arch of the foot is called a plantar fibroma. This knot is embedded in the plantar fascia which is the tendon that extends from the heel to the forefoot.
The condition of having plantar fibromas is diagnosed as plantar fibromatosis. Plantar fibromatosis is often caused by an injury to the plantar fascia such as a puncture wound or injury from repetitive impact that may occur from running or other activity that puts repeated pressure on the arch of the foot. The injury can cause a tear in the plantar fascia which can cause a plantar fibroma to form.
Feeling a small, firm lump in the arch of the foot is often the first sign of a plantar fibroma. A plantar fibroma can be painless or the person may experience pain when there is pressure on the arch the foot from shoes or while walking.
A plantar fibroma is not cancerous. Many plantar fibromas will go away without treatment.
A physician is likely to press on the lump when diagnosing a plantar fibroma. Pressing on the lump can cause pain that may radiate down to the toes. The physician may order an MRI or biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
If the plantar fibroma is not causing any pain, the physician may recommend no treatment to see if the lump disappears on its own. There are several treatment options for a plantar fibroma that is causing pain.
Orthotics devices such as shoe inserts may be used to help relieve pressure on the plantar fibroma and reduce pain that is caused by this pressure. Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication is often used for pain associated with plantar fibromas.
Other treatment options include physical therapy, steroid injections, and cryoablation if the primary noninvasive treatment methods fail to provide relief. For treatment with steroid injections, the physician may inject corticosteroids into the fibroma to shrink it.
Cryoablation is a surgical procedure that uses a probe inserted into the arch of the foot to freeze the area around the plantar fibroma. When the tissue around the fibroma is frozen, the freezing damages the nerves which prevents the person from feeling pain in that area. Cryoablation is also a treatment method for plantar fasciitis.
Surgical removal of the plantar fibroma is one treatment option. However, it is often not recommended because surgical removal can cause complications such as a flattening of the arch of the foot.
Please pay lots of attention to your foot care if you are having problems. And please seek any podiatrist for help if you have any foot problems. We have a free forum full of podiatrists, that give free foot health advice.
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