Plantar Fibroma Symptoms And Treatment
September 20, 2009 by Allan Tan
Filed under Your Health
A fibrous knot, called a plantar fibroma, can form in the arch of the foot. The knot of fibrous tissue of a plantar fibroma is located in the plantar fascia which is the tendon that runs from the heel to the base of the toes.
Plantar fibromatosis is the condition of having plantar fibromas. A common cause of plantar fibromas is injury to the plantar fascia. A puncture wound or injury from repetitive pressure can cause a small tear in the plantar fascia which can cause plantar fibromas to form.
An individual with a plantar fibroma may notice a firm lump in the arch of the foot. This lump can cause pain, especially from pressure of shoes pushing against the lump.
The tissue of a plantar fibroma is not cancerous. Plantar fibroma will often shrink or 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.
The physician may take a wait-and-see approach if the plantar fibroma is not causing any pain. If the plantar fibroma is causing pain, there are several treatment options.
The physician may recommend the use of orthotics devices such as shoe inserts to help relieve pressure on the plantar fibroma. The physician may suggest the use of over-the-counter pain relief medication.
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 process in which a probe is inserted in an incision on the arch of the foot and is used to freeze the area around the plantar fibroma. The freezing damages the nerves around the fibroma which stops the individual from being able to feel pain in that area. Cryoablation can also be used to treat plantar fasciitis.
Surgical removal of the plantar fibroma is one possible treatment option, but it is often not recommended due to possible complications. Surgical removal of a plantar fibroma can cause 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.
