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Best treatment for small plantar fibroma?

Discussion in 'Ask your questions here' started by lky123, Sep 8, 2010.

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  1. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest


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    I am also a doc in MN that has these. please share what you have learned!
     
  2. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    Patient Heal Thyself

    This is an interesting discussion going on. Last fall I developed a small lump on the arch of my right foot, shortly after another lump formed in the same spot on my left foot. A few months later a small lump right above these formed on each foot. Very sore and painful. I'm interested in the idea of operating on my feet as I've always felt that "patient heal thyself" is best.

    2 years ago I went to my family doctor (a rare occurence) because I had a small painful lump growing near the base of my right index finger. My Dr. assured me it was a fluid-filled cyst that would go away on it's own, and not to worry, but to come back if it got bigger or really bothered me. So I went home and wacked this lump several times with a pair of pliers to try and pop it, to no avail. Then I sat down to really think about removing it myself.

    I figured most infections are caused because of exposure to pathogens and bacteria in the AIR, so I devised a plan to operate on myself under cold running water to prevent infection. After going through the operation step-by-step in my mind I mustered up enough courage the next day for the big operation. Given that I am right-handed I knew it would be a challlenge to perform this operation with my left hand, but I'm always up for a challenge.

    All I had at home was an exacto knife so I put a new blade in then held a match to it for a few seconds. Next I applied ice cubes for a few minutes to numb the lump. Finally I turned on the cold water and slowly started cutting through my finger right over the lump. Didn't feel much pain, only a stinging sensation. As I sliced through my skin I continuosly bled out my finger as much as possible by putting pressure at the base of my finger and squeezing. My 3 children were horrified to see me do this in the bathroom sink but I continued confidently.

    Finally I cut down to the lump and opened the hole for a better look. I could clearly see it was not fluid-filled as my Dr. had stated, but rather a squishy whitish mass attached to the bone. I carefully scrapped this lump from my finger bone, still bleeding out the finger under the cold water. When it was completely removed I wrapped it in a piece of saran wrap (and plunked it down on the desk of my Dr.s receptionist the next day, told her what I had done, and asked her to have it checked for cancer. The tests came back negative for cancer). After bleeding out the wound for a good 5 minutes, I immediately wrapped a thick piece of fresh Aloe Vera over and around the incision.

    I changed this Aloe before it dried out several times during the next 2 days. After 2 days I took off my organic bandage and was pleased to see the cut was totally healed with zero sign of infection. The scar left is so thin you can barely see it and when I feel it I can detect no scar tissue whatsoever, it is that thin. An operation on my feet will be a little trickier, but like I said I'm always up for a challenge. The price of a new blade 25 cents, the look on the receptionists face priceless :)

    Sincerly, K-town q t (Kelowna BC)
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2012
  3. AussiePod

    AussiePod New Member

    Re: Patient Heal Thyself


    Your story made me cringe.

    1. Infections are primarily transferred through contact with non-sterile surfaces, not through the air.

    2. Osteomyelitis doesn't always present with any visible signs. It may only present when bone demineralization results in a fracture. At this point amputation is usually necessary.

    3. The results of a biopsy are very dependent on the condition and storage of the tissue sample. It increases the chance of a false negative.

    4. The digital arteries are quite significant in size, and arteries don't necessarily close if lacerated. Fortunately you avoided them, so you didn't bleed significantly. This time.

    Please do not encourage other to undergo self-surgery. There are too many risks. You have been lucky. The next person may not be.

    I am relived that your dressing regime was adequate. Aloe Vera has been used as a wound dressing since the 16th century BC. (thats just a piece of trivia for you.
     
  4. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    My doctor did Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injectios. No one else I communicated with sems to have heard of treating a plantar fascia fibroma with PRP but it worked. The fibroma shrank away to almost nothing. That was about four years ago. I now have a new plantar fibroma in a different location and the same docotor now wants to do a bone marrow injection. That concept makes me a littel servous. Has anyone heard of anything about either of thsoe treatments? PAR in NYC
     
  5. clintoncerejo

    clintoncerejo New Member

    I never faced this disease before but my one friend is having this problem..So thanks for sharing such a useful advice for the small plantar fibroma patients.
     
  6. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    I haven't heard or read of these 2 treatments, but thanks for sharing this info. I am currently awaiting a call to book an ultrasound, plus a call to see a foot specialist. I will mention the PRP injections to him if he doesn't mention it first.

    K-town q t

    PS to AussiePod >>Please do not encourage other to undergo self-surgery<< I am not encouraging anyone to do anything, just letting others know how I did my own self-surgery.
     
  7. Sean

    Sean Guest

    Just thought I'd add my story to this discussion...

    Noticed a bump on my left arch maybe 4-5 years ago. Not painful at all, just noticed it while rubbing my foot one day. Those years have passed, still no pain. My girlfriend thinks it got a bit bigger, I don't really think so. I work hard on my feet, usually barefoot actually and I only wear shoes to run (live in the Caribbean).

    Saw a podiatrist a few months ago, just to make sure I knew what it was. He thought it was large, and had an ultra sound to get a better picture. He offered cortizone shots that might possibly shrink it, or surgery which he really advised against. I did neither as it's still painless.

    Still working hard, running every night, after reading some of these might try a stretching routine. Sorry for those whose are in pain; it really does scare me if it just got worse all of a sudden with my job/ lifestyle
     
  8. barefootwalk

    barefootwalk Guest

    I had two nodules just behind the ball of my left foot. I went to wearing hurache sandals and the nodules have all but gone away. Since then I have been barefoot walking as well. Is strengthing one's foot muscles and tendons a valid solution to these nodules?
     
  9. barefootwalk

    barefootwalk Guest

    Addition to previous post.
    The nodules were painful and not the first time I have had them. At the time I was wearing running shoes daily. I also developed nodules a couple of years ago while wearing regular street shoes. Could shoes and their support systems actually contribute to developing these nodules? This is why I tried no foot support sandals and started barefoot walking to strengthen my feet.
     
  10. Tightlines

    Tightlines Guest

    I've had fibromas on my left foot for over 10 years now. Started out as a small, single nodule. Had a biopsy done (very easy, not painfus, and merely confirmed what it was) and then a cortisone injection and it went away for a year or so, then came back and multiplied. Has now grown to a row of 5 nodules along the entire arch. I've tried orthotics, which i found useless. Have stretched regularly for the last 3 years (back, legs, feet, etc.), which did wonders for my back pain, but nothing for the plantar fibromatosis. I've seen 3 different podiatrists and a plastic surgeon along the way. At this point i've just learned to live with them unless there's some drastic change that impacts my mobility or makes the pain unbearable. Pain will flair up periodically after a long hike or run...but it's mangeable. I've generally come to the conclusion that this condition is untreatable.
     
  11. Rick

    Rick Guest

    I stopped using the magnesium and got 6% Verapamil from a compounding lab, but the fibroma persists. The Compounding lab gave instructions for pain reduction use. I have been using Verapamil for 8 months.

    I have been applying it to various painful parts of my feet. I now have encapsulitis on two toes. Now I have a rash or fungus with many small brown bumps in the same location as where I was using the Verapamil. I stopped using the Verapamil.

    I bought really soft shoes by Puma and that seems to help reduce the pain.

    >> Now I am considering this option: Using 1.0 MHz Ultra Sound to "break" it up.
     
  12. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest


    Do you stretch with shoes on or off? I have gotten some relief from stretching as well as rolling a frozen water bottle under my feet. I haven't been consistent with stretching and have wondered if stretching can, also, irritate the fibromas if not done correctly...?

    Any advice would be appreciated...

    K
     
  13. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    People are talking about two different diseases in this forum and incorrectly using the term "fibroma" to describe them both.

    1) A plantar corn (Porokeratosis plantaris discreta) is a small hard mass that develops in the plantar skin. They are firm and have similar size to a seed or small bean or kernel of corn (hence the name). They are similar in size to small warts and they are fairly superficial. You can see them at the skin surface. A physician might cut them out or use treatments that are similar to wart treatments.

    Here's a picture although not a great one:
    https://www.podiatry.com/sites/podiatry/images/gallery/UploadedFiles/3494/3494_51_lrg.jpg
    It is the yellow lesion in the middle of the picture. I only see one.

    A person might trim this lesion themselves and might try wart treatment kits for these. The guy who posted about removing them himself - he's talking about corns.

    2) A plantar fibroma (plantar fibromatosis) is completely different.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantar_fibromatosis
    http://www.dermis.net/dermisroot/en/20977/image.htm

    Fibromas originate at the plantar fascia which is deep within the foot. These require major surgery to remove. When people talk about injections (e.g. cortisone), this is what they are talking about.

    I hope this helps.
     
  14. Steve

    Steve Guest

    A much safer and saner option to self surgery is to use a pharmacy corn remover for a week. It kills the cells, and turns the fibroma into a white mass, that by soaking in hot water will be easily and pailessly removed. It will come back, but can provide weeks or months of releif for about $6.

    The Varapamil is 100% useless. It cost me $160 bucks for a tube 9my insurance at least covered 80%, but did nothing after months of application.
     
  15. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    I have one lump in the arch of each foot. My podiatrist said that plantar fibrosis is the result of an injury and a genetic pre-disposition. The podiatrist I visited (10/15/12) prescribed "Voltaren Gel (diclofenac sodium topical gel) 1 percent". There is not a generic equivalent and costs approx. $100 for 3-100 gram tubes. My podiatrist said that it's available over-the-counter in Canada and is cheaper. I am to apply it to the arch of my foot 4 times daily.

    I'm just curious if anyone else has tried Voltaren Gel for their plantar fibroma and with what result.

    The podiatrist also talked about doing deep tissue massage now and eventually ultrasound therapy if needed.

    My podiatrist also cautioned me, "NEVER let anyone inject anything into the plantar fibroma" and that surgery would not solve the problem, and would only be a temporary solution if it became very large.

    I would prefer a more conservative treatment and I greatly appreciate everyone's posts about their experiences.
     
  16. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    The guy performing his own "surgery" is talking about plantar WARTS, NOT fibroma's. Where are the podiatrists on here to answer that. If you read his post carefully you will see he even mentions the wart roots, and he mentions the ball and heal of the foot, again, this is where plantar warts will manifest. Plantar fibroma self surgery would just plain be ridiculous, they are very deep!
    By the way, stay away from surgery. I have Kaiser, they did the surgery, kept me non weight bearing status for 5months and right away it was back and a few months later....another along the surgical scar and the Dr. is denying it's along the scar. Ugh!
     
  17. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    I have quite large ones under both feet and find rolling my feet over a golf ball very soothing as well as having dry needling by my podiatrist over my calf muscles. The dry needling halved the size of mine and reduced my discomfort significantly.

    To those who are desperate and feel the need to perform self surgery good luck. I had foot surgery by a QUALIFIED surgeon and nearly lost my foot due to abnormal complications. Please seek appropriate medical professional advice before undertaking any new exercise regime or self diagnosing/treating.
     
  18. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    I had the injections... the pain will go away for ma-by 2 months and return! i had minor surgery and the lump has returned 10 times bigger... I also had it on the other foot and it took many surgery's to make it go away after the 8th surgery it has not returned.. now its on the other foot very painful... there is not much i can do walking hurts... Im going for the bigger operation which i have had many times before it is very painful... but i am at a lost and dont know what to do anymore...
     
  19. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    I have had many surgerys done on my right foot the first one i was 7 years old and the last i was about 12 years old... after the last one my right foot stopped bothering me, the reason why the lumps return is because it is difficult to remove all the roots. so they have to do more and more surgery until there is no root left... now my left foot has it, I have had cortisone shots which relieves the pain for a month or two and returned worse than it was, The doctor froze my foot and shoved needles in it to try and remove the ledderhose which is fibrosis, and 3 months later it returned more painful and larger.. now he wants to operate on my foot... which can cripple my foot... it does not go away on its own and i have not yet found a cure for it...
     
  20. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    Re: Biopsy for small plantar fibroma?

    very painful and returns right away i was off my foot for 3 weeks i have 3 kids the dr said i could walk after wards but the pain was to much...
     
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