Pieced means “triggered by pressure”. And so are pieced nodules: nodules consisting of fatty tissue that form in parts of the body that are exposed to high pressure over a long period of time. They have no disease value, but are often disturbing for those affected.
They occur mainly between the ages of 20 and 30 years. In addition, men and women are affected by them with approximately equal frequency. Lipomas are clearly distinguishable from pieced nodules. You can read about what these are and how they develop in our article: Lipomas – All you need to know
What are the causes of pieced nodules?
The cause of the pieced nodules is pressure on the tissue over a longer period of time. The pressure probably causes the fatty tissue to bulge out, the so-called fatty tissue hernias. These bulge outwards towards the skin.
The pressure can be triggered by various causes. Furthermore, overweight probably plays an important role in the development of the nodules. However, they can also occur in athletes of normal weight.
Sportsmen and women are particularly affected by pietrached nodules, where a high load is placed on the feet. These include endurance athletes, for example. Standing jobs can also promote the development of the nodules. Wearing shoes that are too tight or shoes with too hard a sole can also contribute to the development of nodules.
How do you treat a piecemeal nodule?
Treatment is not necessary in most cases due to the absence of symptoms. However, if symptoms or pain occur, various things can be tried to relieve the pressure on the affected areas. If overweight is a possible cause, weight reduction should be carried out.
This will reduce the pressure and the complaints can disappear. Gel insoles that are placed in the shoes can also improve the complaints. Compression socks or bandages that prevent the fatty tissue from escaping when pressure is applied can also be worn.
If these measures do not bring any improvement, the nodules – even several at once – can be removed by a minor operation. For this purpose, a small incision is made into the subcutis (i.e. the area under the skin where the fatty tissue is located) and the nodules are removed. After about two weeks, the stitches are removed. Full weight bearing is then possible again approximately one week after suture removal. You will find the best advice for losing weight in our article: Tips on how to lose weight best