Every day the skin of the feet is exposed to great stress. Because of this, calluses and corns often form on it, causing great discomfort. Therefore, if there is a lump on the sole of the foot and it is painful to step on, it is recommended to visit a doctor, find out the cause of the tumor and immediately begin treatment.
Types of seals
Seals that form on the leg interfere with normal movement and lead to deformation of the foot. In medicine, there are several types of pathological formations on the soles of the feet:
- The heel spur is the hardest lump. It injures nearby healthy tissues, causing discomfort and pain while walking.
- Calluses are the most common type of hardening on the feet. The provoking factor is friction of the skin on clothing. In medicine, there are wet, dry and bloody calluses. The most common are wet. At the initial stage of development, such a callus looks like a red spot. A blister then forms, filled with clear/translucent fluid. The development of a callus is accompanied by painful sensations.
- Warts occur as a result of the penetration of the papilloma virus into the human body. The formations are characterized by a round shape. Visually, they look like a callus, but there is a black dot in their center. Mechanical impact causes pain.
- Corns. Such seals are formed as a result of the accumulation of the stratum corneum of the skin. They are characterized by a yellow or white tint. In the absence of a timely and correct therapeutic course, painful cracks form on the feet.
If tubercles appear on the feet, these may be bone lumps formed due to arthritis, gout, or injuries to the musculoskeletal system.
In what cases can your heel hurt?
The most common diseases are heel spurs, arthritis, calcaneal paratendinitis and posterior calcaneal bursitis. Pain can also be associated with frequent overstrain of the legs due to improperly selected shoes or shoes with high heels, standing for a long time, or being overweight.
Ignoring heel pain leads to more serious problems, the elimination of which in the future will require surgical intervention.
Heel spur
A heel spur is a long-term inflammation of the plantar connective tissue membrane. It can occur in both the right and left lower extremities. A spur appears after a violation of the soft tissues surrounding the bone or with prolonged constant stress on the legs.
Pain occurs in the leg on which the growth has formed. For this reason, the patient's gait changes. The pain syndrome is pronounced in the morning, when the patient is active, when he steps on the heel. During the day, the pain becomes less pronounced, but in the evening it can intensify again, and even spread higher to the ankle.
After a patient contacts a doctor with complaints, an x-ray of the foot is prescribed to diagnose the disease. If the image excludes the presence of a growth, then measures are taken to identify or reject other diseases that cause heel pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis
or an infectious disease that causes inflammation of the joints.
As a result of the buildup, the load is transferred from the heel to the front and outer part of the foot, it begins to change in the high arch area. This leads to transverse flatfoot, which requires mandatory correction.
Treatment first requires removing the stress from the heel. The doctor prescribes the wearing of an orthopedic insole or heel support, and physiotherapy is also indicated. The complex helps eliminate pain and soften the spur. If gentle treatment is ineffective, the patient undergoes surgery to remove the growth and separate the deformed tissue.
Heel pain due to calcaneal paratendinitis
Heel paratendinitis is a mechanical stretch or inflammatory process that results in injury to the tendon. The disease occurs in athletes due to injuries, excessive load on the tendon, or the use of incorrect and uncomfortable shoes. Prompt treatment can prevent the tendon from tearing away from the bone.
There are two types of paratendinitis: acute and chronic. In the acute form of the disease, increasing pain occurs; during training, heaviness causes pain in the leg in which the disease develops. During rest, pain may not be felt at all. If treatment is not started in time, the acute form may become chronic. This form manifests itself as pain all the time, even during rest. Along with the pain, heaviness is felt in the entire foot and lower leg, redness of the skin, swelling of the leg, and stiffness of the foot occur.
To identify the disease, the doctor prescribes magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound of the heel area, a set of non-invasive and minimally invasive diagnostic studies, as well as an X-ray of the foot, which will give a clear picture of inflammatory processes and destruction of cartilage and bone tissue.
It is recommended to reduce stress on the heel to a minimum. A cold compress will help eliminate leg swelling and redness, and an elastic bandage will help relieve pain. If the treatment prescribed by the doctor is not effective, surgery may be required.
Inferior calcaneal bursitis
The inflammation between the back of the heel and the Achilles tendon, when the bursa fills with fluid, is called heel bursitis. The reasons for the development of the disease are as follows:
- High-impact training, especially for runners.
- Microtraumas of bone, tendon, heel.
- Uncomfortable shoes, tight or wide, which put a lot of stress on the heel. In women who like to walk in high heels, the bursa becomes larger and the fluid in it increases.
- Growth on the heel bone.
- Inflammatory joint diseases (arthritis, gout, etc.)
- Changes in the axis of the subtalar joint lead to improper loading of the tendon.
Manifestations of such signs as swelling of the legs, pain and spasms in the heel and above it, the skin in the tendon area becomes thicker, indicate that the patient may have posterior calcaneal bursitis.
Non-advanced forms of the disease are treated with physiotherapy and rest of the inflamed part of the leg. Shoes should be properly selected and comfortable. The affected area is rubbed with warming ointments and a bandage is applied. If the bursa is filled with pus, then a procedure is performed to remove the purulent fluid.
Heel arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints and, in most cases, it affects the joints of the legs. Arthritis of the supratalar joint affects the joints and ligaments between the heel and toes. Any arthritis of the joints develops for the following reasons:
- Large loads on the heel of the foot. Most often, this affects people who are overweight and those who stand on their feet for a long time due to their professional duties.
- hallux valgus, flat feet
, foot changes. - Leg injury in the foot area.
- Bad habits. Smoking, drinking alcohol, unbalanced diet.
- Uncomfortable shoes, especially heels.
Pain in the legs appears at the very beginning of the disease.
But this pain is more like an unpleasant sensation; with prolonged stress on the legs, the pain intensifies. As the disease progresses, pain will also be felt at rest, and symptoms such as numbness in the heels and the area slightly above the heel will also appear. If the patient does not seek medical help in a timely manner, it will become difficult for the patient to walk, the pain will be constant and gradually intensify. Author: K.M.N., Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences M.A. Bobyr
Causes
Lumps can form on the feet as a result of exposure to many negative factors.
These can be not only external aggressive influences, but also pathologies of the development of the lower extremities, as well as deviations in the functioning of internal organs.
The main reasons for the formation:
- Tight shoes. A callus-like lump may appear on the foot as a result of wearing tight shoes that do not allow air to pass through and chafe the skin.
- Fungal diseases, stress. Doctors' observations have proven that frequent exposure to stress leads to the formation of pathological tumors on the feet. In turn, fungal diseases provoke increased keratinization of the skin, leading to the formation of compactions.
- Disturbances in the functioning of internal organs and systems. As a rule, seals on the feet can appear due to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine system, heart, blood vessels and joints.
Treatment of bunions and bumps on the feet
Any deformities on the foot can be treated. Its complexity depends on the stage and nature of the disease.
Conservative treatment
There is an opinion that bunions and other foot deformities can be removed using conservative methods. However, this is not quite true. This type of treatment can eliminate inflammation, reduce swelling and pain, and relieve redness.
However, it is almost impossible to eliminate the problem itself with this approach. Even if there is relief, it will be temporary. Therefore, I recommend to my patients not to waste time and money, but to immediately move on to the most effective methods.
Surgical treatment
Changes in the foot area can be effectively and permanently eliminated only by surgical methods. Bones, lumps, and various other deformities are associated with changes in the position of bones, ligaments and joints. And this can only be corrected through surgery.
I want to reassure you - they are quite simple and do not pose any danger to the patient. The complexity depends on the nature of the disease, and the recovery period is 3-4 weeks. After this time, you will be able to return to normal life, and foot deformities will never bother you again! You will be able to walk normally: without crutches, a cane, or orthopedic shoes. The only limitation is a decrease in the load on the forefoot in the first weeks after surgery to remove a bunion on the foot.
I can answer any questions regarding diseases in this section. To do this, just call +7 (905) 640-64-27 or send a message using the feedback form in the Contacts .
Diagnostic methods
The resulting compaction on the foot rarely goes away on its own. Before drawing up a treatment plan, it is necessary to find out the root cause of the growth. This requires consultation with a traumatologist, surgeon and orthopedist.
To assess the complexity of the lesion, the following diagnostic methods are available:
- X-ray examination of the joint;
- CT;
- Ultrasound;
- MRI.
- in case of hygroma, puncture of the cyst is necessary;
Preventive actions
Diseases are always easier to prevent than to treat. To minimize the likelihood of painful lumps forming on the foot, you should pay attention to the following recommendations:
- adhere to the rules of personal hygiene;
- The shoes purchased should not only be of high quality, but also comfortable. Too high heels injure your feet;
- regularly treat the skin of your feet with nourishing creams and decoctions of medicinal herbs;
- any damage to the skin of the legs should be promptly treated with disinfectants;
- Therapeutic gymnastics, which you can do yourself at home, has a positive effect on the feet;
- It is recommended to actively engage in swimming, cycling, and slow running.
Preventative measures minimize the likelihood of seal formation. But, if a lump does form, you should definitely visit a doctor.
Pathologies in which the heel hurts on the side outside or inside
Various diseases can cause pain in the lateral part of the heel:
- neurological;
- dermatological;
- orthopedic;
- vascular;
- traumatic (post-traumatic);
- degenerative-dystrophic;
- inflammatory.
Traumatic pain requires not only careful diagnosis, but also long-term treatment. Even a bruise in this area can cause prolonged lameness and severe pain, and if the heel bone is fractured, the use of crutches, medication, massage and physiotherapy are necessary. Delay in treatment often leads to chronic lameness, severe deformation of the foot, constant pain, inability to lean on the injured limb, and other complications. Therefore, if after a jump, fall or bruise your heel hurts on the sides and it hurts to step on your foot, you should immediately seek help from a traumatologist and undergo all diagnostic and therapeutic procedures prescribed by your doctor.
If, in the absence of injuries, the leg hurts above the heel on the side, swelling appears, and the skin becomes hot, we are most likely talking about an inflammatory disease, such as:
- bursitis;
- fasciitis;
- tendinitis;
- Achillodynia;
- inflammation of the periosteum.
In inflammatory diseases, the overall body temperature may increase. Without treatment, these pathologies cause the formation of pus and tissue necrosis, and in particularly advanced cases can lead to sepsis or the need for amputation of the foot. Heel pain can also be associated with systemic pathologies, including:
- arthritis;
- arthrosis;
- gout;
- erythromelalgia;
- tumor diseases.
Arthritis and arthrosis can affect both large and small joints. These are degenerative diseases that destroy first the connective tissue and then the bones. In this case, damage occurs to blood vessels, nerve bundles, and muscles. These diseases are characterized by a slow progression. At first, a person experiences only mild discomfort, which intensifies over time and develops into constant pain. If left untreated, the heel area gradually becomes deformed. Arthrosis is also characterized by the formation of bone growths - osteophytes. With gout, uric acid crystals accumulate in the feet, and then in large joints and internal organs. Over time, tophi form on the body - bumps with soft white contents inside. Sharp pain attacks are typical for this pathology. They usually begin at night, last from several hours to a week, and the patient experiences severe pain, fever and signs of intoxication.
Erythromelalgia is a rare disease that affects small vessels (their innervation is disrupted). This disease is also characterized by periodic attacks, during which one or both limbs become red and swollen, and the person experiences intense burning pain.