That Lump in Your Arch Might Be a Plantar Fibroma

You’re walking across the floor and suddenly feel like there is a small, hard marble stuck inside your sock. You take the sock off, check your shoe, and see nothing. But when you press on the arch of your foot, you feel it: a firm, knotty lump embedded deep in the tissue.

If this sounds familiar, you’ve likely met a plantar fibroma, which the team at CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists is familiar with treating. While the name sounds a bit intimidating, it’s essentially a benign nodule that we’ll tell you all about in this blog post.

What Is a Plantar Fibroma?

A plantar fibroma is made of dense, fibrous tissue. It typically feels like a hard seed or a marble in the middle of your arch. And unlike a blister or callus, this is a growth inside the ligament itself, not on the surface.

The weird thing about them? They don't always hurt. Some people have them for years and never notice. However, if they grow large enough or if your shoe presses directly against them, they can cause a dull, localized ache or a sharp pain with every step.

Because plantar fibromas are embedded in the plantar fascia that runs along the bottom of your foot, they don't move around when you touch them. They are anchored in place, which is one way podiatrists tell them apart from other lumps like cysts.

What Causes Plantar Fibromas?

We don’t have a single, definitive smoking gun for why these lumps appear, but we see patterns in who gets them:

• There is a strong hereditary link. If your parents or grandparents had lumpy feet, you’re much more likely to develop them. It’s often associated with a similar condition in the hands called Dupuytren's contracture.
• People who put repetitive stress on their arches, like long-distance runners, heavy lifters, or people who stand on hard concrete for 10 hours a day, are at higher risk. Micro-tears in the fascia can sometimes heal weirdly and create a buildup of fibrous tissue.
• Certain medications used to treat high blood pressure or anti-seizure meds have been linked to an increased risk of developing these nodules. Consult your provider for more information.
• Chronic alcohol consumption and liver disease have also been statistically tied to a higher incidence of fibromas, though the exact biological reason is still being studied.

Are Plantar Fibromas Dangerous?

The most important thing to know is that plantar fibromas usually aren’t dangerous, and they don't turn into anything scary. Most of the time, we treat them by simply taking the pressure off with custom orthotics that accommodate the lump so it isn't being squashed by your shoe.

For any podiatric concerns you’re dealing with, come see Dr. Hubert Lee and the team at CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists for guidance and advice. You can schedule an appointment online or call today at 425-455-0936.