Introduction
A bump on the foot is colloquially defined as all visible or palpable protrusions that can basically occur at all points of the foot. In most cases it is an accumulation of fluid in or under the skin, which can have various causes. In some cases, however, the bump on the foot also originates from the bone. In general, in most cases the cause is harmless and no special treatment is necessary. Only under certain circumstances is a visit to a doctor and, if necessary, a specific therapy necessary.
Causes
A bump on the foot can have various causes. For example, water retention can occur due to a weakness of the veins or heart, whereby the ankle area is usually the most affected. In addition, bumps can be caused by an insect bite, for example when you step on a bee or wasp.
Shoes that are too tight or wrong when under heavy strain can also lead to the formation of a swelling and thus a bump on the foot. Another typical cause of bumps on the foot is a so-called ganglion. This originates from the joints or tendon sheaths and is harmless, but can sometimes cause walking discomfort.
In addition, bumps on the foot can be caused by a bone proliferation. As a rule, these are benign tumours that do not necessarily need to be treated. However, if a bump on the foot causes discomfort such as pain or numbness, an examination by your family doctor is recommended.
In some cases, surgical removal of the bump is necessary. In most cases, however, it is possible to wait and see, as many bumps recede by themselves or at least do not become larger. A bump on the outer edge of the foot can have various causes.
In addition to the generally possible causes of bumps, which can occur in any area of the foot, possible special diseases should also be considered when localising the bumps on the lateral foot. For example, the fifth metatarsal bone, which connects the tarsal with the first limb of the little toe, runs along the outside of the metatarsus. The fifth metatarsal bone (often called MFK V) is most often affected when the foot is broken.
This can be caused by a direct injury on the one hand and by overloading on the other. The latter is a fatigue fracture, also known as marching fracture, which can occur, for example, after a run over a particularly long distance. If the fifth metatarsal bone is broken, this can manifest itself by a bump on the outer edge of the foot and usually severe pain when the foot is strained.
Another possible cause of a bump on the side of the foot is a gout attack, whereby usually not the outer but the inner side of the foot in the area of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe is affected. The accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints results in an extremely painful, overheated and reddened bump on the outer foot. Bumps on the foot occur more frequently under the foot, i.e. in the area of the sole of the foot.
A frequent cause is the so-called heel spur. This is a bony extension of the heel bone that grows in a thunderous shape in the area of the sole of the foot. This can be palpable as a bump and can lead to an inflammatory reaction in the surrounding tissue, which is manifested by a painful swelling.
In addition to the heel bone, the flat tendon, which stretches deep over the sole of the foot, can also be the source of a bump under the foot. Ledderhose disease (named after the physician and discoverer of the disease Georg Ledderhose) is a rather rare disease that should be remembered in case of bumps on the soles of the feet. In this case, growths of connective tissue form on the sole of the foot, which, in addition to dents, often cause pain and a restriction of the foot’s mobility.
If the symptoms are pronounced, treatment can be carried out by surgery or radiation of the sole of the foot. Other possible causes of bumps under the foot are benign tumours that originate from the fatty tissue and are called lipomas, as well as hardening of muscle strands due to incorrect strain. In the case of a bump on the heel, in addition to the generally possible causes of bumps, such as an insect bite, special triggers for this region of the foot are also possible.
In this case, the calf muscles are often affected via the Achilles tendon on the heel bone, since this area is subject to high stress when walking and standing. Among other things, an inflammation of the bursa (bursitits) can occur here. This tissue, which serves as a shock absorber, can become inflamed when over- or incorrectly loaded.
This is manifested by a bump between the Achilles tendon and the ankle, which causes pain especially when the foot is pulled up. Another possible cause of a bump on the heel is a special form of heel spur, the so-called Haglund heel. This is a bony extension (medically called exostosis) next to the insertion of the Achilles tendon.
The cause of this bump on the heel can be high walking loads as well as foot malpositions or incorrect footwear. If this bump causes complaints such as pain or a restriction of mobility, it may have to be removed. If you twist your foot, the lateral ligaments of the ankle joint are particularly affected.
These can be overstretched or compressed and may even tear. The body reacts to such an injury with a reaction of the defence system. Increased blood circulation and increased permeability of the blood vessels for defence cells lead to fluid retention in the tissue of the ankle joint.
The result is a mostly visible and palpable bump below the outer or inner ankle of the foot. If a bump occurs after the foot has been bent, you should have a medical examination. A possible injury to ligaments or even parts of the bone can thus be excluded or, if necessary, detected and treated in time. In general, bumps on the foot after twisting should be treated by elevating, sparing and cooling. In some cases, wearing an orthosis to support the stability of the joint is indicated.
