A lump of tissue loose in the ball of my foot - clueless here

BFwillie_g · Feb 13, 2011

Hi guys - long time no write (haven't been active on the internet at all 'cept at facebook once in a while)

I have a weird problem that I haven't seen mentioned anywhere. I wrote quite a while ago about my self-diagnosis of metatarsalgia as described on this webpage: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/metatarsalgia/DS00496

Well, something else is going on down there, and has been for a while now. There's a bit of loose tissue under the ball of my foot, I can move it around with my fingers. When I step on it, it feels like a pillow. Then I can kind of grind my foot into the ground and slip in into place so I don't feel it.

What the heck is it?

I'm thinking scar tissue but maybe it's, I dunno, the remain of the joint capsule? A broken-off ligament? (I guess that'd be extremely painful, but I really don't know). It doesn't really hurt hurt, but it feels very uncomfortable and has me worried about barefooting on anything but soft surfaces, which'd suck.

Anybody else experience this or read about someone who has? I hate the idea of going to the Orthopaedist but I might end up doing that.

I'm going to experiement with lot's of deep massage to see if I can break it up. But I'd sure as heck like to know what it is all the same!

TYIA for any tips,

signed,

Concerned in Bavaria

Barefoot TJ · Feb 13, 2011

Can you run on it, barefoot

Can you run on it, barefoot or otherwise? Is it painful when you run? Is it painful when you walk? Is it hard or soft? Does it feel lumpy?

That's very odd, Willie. I hope you get answers and that it goes away.

BFwillie_g · Feb 13, 2011

Hi TJ It seems soft yet

Hi TJ

It seems soft yet solid and it's one specific lump, I can push it around with my thumbs a little. The balls of my feet are tough (like all the rest of you) and it's not so easy to push through the thick skin. It's not exactly painful but it is uncomfortable, and I can walk/run on it, but don't know if I should or not.

I was hoping you'd maybe heard of something similar but, with me, when I do get sick or injured, it's usually something exotic. Seems like this is more of the same, lol.

Maybe the good Doc N. would have a suggestion or be interested in the case?

Barefoot TJ · Feb 13, 2011

That is weird! I'll send him

That is weird! I'll send him the link to this thread and ask him to comment.

Barefoot TJ · Feb 13, 2011

Done. I'm sure he'll respond

Done. I'm sure he'll respond here soon.

Deleted member 217 · Feb 13, 2011

I am not sure what you

I am not sure what you have.

We do see some folks with a plantar fibromatosis, which it might be. These are benign masses that form in the plantar fascia and sometimes cause pain and I need to cut them out. If they don't hurt, you can ignore them. I do not think it is a broken piece of cartilage or bone. It could be, but unlikely.

I hope this helps. Keep me posted!

Barefoot TJ · Feb 13, 2011

Thanks, Doc! Would an x-ray

Thanks, Doc! Would an x-ray reveal exactly what it is, or an MRI?

BFwillie_g · Feb 14, 2011

Yes, thank you, that was

Yes, thank you, that was certainly quick!

I wiki'd the term and this sounds like it may apply:

"Although the origin of the disease is unknown, there is speculation that it is an aggressive healing response to small tears in the plantar fascia, almost as if the fascia over-repairs itself following an injury.[class="Apple-style-span"]"[/class]

But it seems to occur almost exclusively further up the foot, direction of the arch, and also seems to be typically closer to the surface, really attached to the skin to the skin itself. My lump is directly under the pad and feels like it's related somehow to the joint. There's no visual evidence of it, either.

TJ - wanna see some ugly pics? Check these out:

Plantar Fibromatosis

I think I'll go see my friendly local sports orthopedist... sigh.

PS - I'm certain that this is related to the toe numbness problem I wrote about a while ago.

Deleted member 217 · Feb 14, 2011

It may be worth getting an

It may be worth getting an MRI. Or can you send a pic of your foot?

Barefoot Mary · Feb 14, 2011

Could it be a calcium

Could it be a calcium deposit?

Just throwing into the discussion with an untried opinion :S

BFwillie_g · Feb 14, 2011

@Doc - there's nothing to

@Doc - there's nothing to see, but I could still send a pic for fun

@Barefoot Mary - Do mean calcium deposit like you'd get from a healed fracture? Hmm.... no, that's doesn't really seem likely, but thank you for the different angle on it. Maybe that's what it'll turn out to be...

Barefoot TJ · Feb 14, 2011

Eeeewwww! Thanks for that,

Eeeewwww! Thanks for that, Willie! Yikes! I've never seen stuff like that before. Grodie! Do you suppose that whatever fiberous growth that is, it could be pressing on the nerve/s in your foot, and that's why you've been having that numbness? When did you first notice the numbness in your foot, and when did you first notice this lump, meaning, how long did it take to get as big as it is now and as big as it was when you first noticed it?

Doc, is the only way to get rid of plantar fibromatosis by cutting it out?

ggarrett · May 1, 2014

Hey @BFwillie_g ,

Did you ever get to the bottom of the mysterious tissue? I seem to have a similar issue, small, BB sized tissue, feels a little softer than cartilage, under my 5th metatarsal joint. It seems to have developed after a case of metatarsalgia/capsulitis. The bottom of the joint is still sore, and this weird tissue came out of nowhere. Any pointers?

Barefoot TJ · May 2, 2014

ggarrett said:
Hey @BFwillie_g ,

Did you ever get to the bottom of the mysterious tissue? I seem to have a similar issue, small, BB sized tissue, feels a little softer than cartilage, under my 5th metatarsal joint. It seems to have developed after a case of metatarsalgia/capsulitis. The bottom of the joint is still sore, and this weird tissue came out of nowhere. Any pointers?

Willie hasn't posted in a little while, so you might want to send him a PM on the site.

Ahcuah · May 2, 2014

Could it be a Ganglion cyst?

ggarrett · May 2, 2014

Ya know, it could be. Unlike the examples photos though, mine is pretty small and doesn't cause any bump to appear on the outer skin. The description fits pretty well with what I'm experiencing.

barefootn · May 2, 2014

Have you ruled out sesamoiditis. The small bone (like your knee cap) which is located under the ball of the foot. As I remember, not everyone has these bones.