photo credit: Shenandoah Podiatry

Do you have plantar fibroma?

Plantar Fibroma - it presents as a hard lump or nodule under the skin in the arch of your foot. It may be a cause of pain. With information available here you may learn how to handle it easily and permanently!

What is a plantar fibroma?

A plantar fibroma is a relatively non-dangerous condition; but it can become extremely painful. A plantar fibroma is the development of what feels like a “pebble” of connective tissue. It could even feel like a much larger thickening of the cords at the bottom of your foot.
These nodules are extremely slow growing. It could take months to years before they even begin to irritate you. They eventually lead to more and more irritation. Eventually causing your toes to bend and stiffen because you adapt your biomechanics and walk improperly.

Do you have plantar fibroma symptoms?

• usually on the inside bottom of the foot, near the highest point of the arch
• the lump itself is usually pretty painless
• only the pressure of the floor creates pain
• only 1/4 people show it in both feet

Plantar fibroma risk factors:

• family history
• associated lumps in hands as well
• associated with Ledderhose disease: nodules in the hand
• associated with Peyronie’s disease:  nodules on penis shaft
• diabetes mellitus.

Plantar fibroma treatment:

Treatment of the plantar fibroma depends on whether your goal is to make the pain go away, or to focus on making it disappear. The unfortunate news is that usually invasive means are the only way to make it go away permanently.

  If the nodule is small:

Treat this like plantar fasciitis to see if the symptoms get better, we have developed a 4 stage guide that will take you through the complete treatment of bottom of the foot pain. Use this only if the nodule is small!
Non-invasive options:

• anti-inflammatory medication
• accommodative orthoses
• offloading padding
• physical therapy
• massage techniques
• corticosteroid shots can relieve the pain

If the nodule is large:

These techniques should be reserved for the end stage of this disease. The consequences of surgery must be balanced; while the fibroma is gone, worse problems may develop.

• corticosteroid shots can relieve the pain
• surgical resection of the plantar fibroma - this is a very rough option, as a part of your plantar fascia would need to be removed to permanently get rid of it, so this may eventually impact your biomechanices and lead to flat foot.

For more information and advice on home and professional treatment options see this link.

Also for plantar fibroma four stage treatment guide - see this link.