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Lump on top of foot in 5 yr old.

Discussion in 'Ask your questions here' started by Unregistered, Feb 8, 2010.

  1. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest


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    My son has a lump on the top of his foot, about where the tongue of his shoe lies. It's a couple of cm in radius, slightly squishy to touch and gives him no problems or pain whatsoever. I'm thinking it's probably a cyst, but obviously I need to make sure. Has anyone any experience of such things? I intend to take him to the doctor, but am waiting for an appointment.
     
  2. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    DISCLAIMER:
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    ***********************************************************
    I'm afraid I don't follow you. You correctly state that you "need to make sure." So how does asking for guesses from those who have no way of examining the child satisfy that criteria, and what useful purpose would those blind guesses possibly serve, especially as you are already resigned to taking him to a doctor? More than likely, it's a lipoma or a synovial or ganglionic cyst, but I certainly wouldn't bet my child's health and well-being on it.
     
  3. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    Ah FootDoc, calm down, am obviously not taking guesses as I'm taking him to see a doctor. I was only posting as am curious as to try and find out the range of what it could be, as naturally I'm concerned until I get an exact diagnosis. To reassure you though, I would never risk my son's health by diagnosis on the internet - but then I'd have thought that's blindingly obvious from my stating I'm taking him to see a doctor. I find it curious that you felt the need to be so adversarial, but hey - thanks for responding anyway.
     
  4. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    I think that my comments were termed "adversarial" by you only because they took you to task regarding your motives and expectations . . . and perhaps that hit a bit too close to home. I did not say that YOU were guessing, just that you seem to be soliciting un-based responses from those who can offer no better than guesses. The fact is that after years of reading and responding to questions on this and other forums, it is the relatively rare one that demonstrates good reason for its being asked. In my view, a valid reason would be that a response would offer the questioner actionable information or give a definitive explanation/opinion of some condition or treatment method. That being said, I DID offer a couple of the more likely "possibilities," . . but REALLY . . where does THAT get you OR your son?
     
  5. afromong

    afromong New Member

    I think that taking your child to the doctor is the best course of action. Although judging by the size I would say that it is probably nothing to worry about and may just be a result of certain shoes rubbing or an allergic reaction to a material used in certain footwear they maybe wearing.

    But thank you again Footdoc for your seemingly endless supply of useless information and crude posts. You truly are an inspiration to everyone with your obvious lack of a life. The fact that you spend a lot of time on here posting useless crap shows you obviously have nothing better to do with your life, Keep up the good work.
     
  6. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    MY GOD . . . What a bizarre and baseless statement to make. Not only would a lump of a couple of cm in radius (more than 1 1/2 inches in diameter), or even half that size be a rather HUGE mass on the foot of a 5 year old, but it's size would have absolutely no bearing as to whether or not it was anything to worry about. You, sir/madam are at best an IDIOT and at worst, dangerous. You need to spend your time on a science fiction web site.
     
  7. afromong

    afromong New Member

    Generally Footdoc cancers and other forms of tumour are slow growing, So the fact that the lump is already this large and the child has not been taken to the doctor suggests that it was fast growing so possibly a cyst or allergic reaction. This is not to say that it is not to be worried about but it is indicative that the lump is hopefully and probably nothing life or lifestyle threatening.

    I think that everyone on this forum would agree with me that if you don't have anything encouraging or useful to say FootDoc that it is probably best that you say nothing at all.
     
  8. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    Clearly you are intent on ratifying my less than glowing assertions in regard to your being either an idiot or dangerous. Your couple of attempts at responses here have lacked any semblance or suggestion of expertise on the topics on which you opine. The assumptions such as you have made are totally without basis either in regard to case-history or medicine, and I'll bet dollars to donuts that you originally considered the lump small until I pointed out its size, and then invented a meaningless and inaccurate scenario in attempt to obfuscate that misconception . . . though the size of the lump is not an indicator of whether it is anything to worry about anyhow. Finally, anyone, including you, who comes here for encouragement without substantive cause which is based entirely on hopes and wishes should be instead posting on a social interaction site. What is BEST is that you leave medical opinion to the professionals and not try to play doctor.
     
  9. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    FootDoc. Your comments were blatantly adversarial. They not only took me to task, but also implied I was putting my son's health at risk. Which is a not only a huge accusation to throw at a parent, but also bizarrely unnecessary when I'd already stated that I'm waiting for an appointment to see a doctor. But still, thanks for posting that list of things it might be - that's all I was after, as it's useful for me to research what it might be so I take him to see our Doctor slightly more informed as to possible diagnoses. Obviously I know it maybe none of those things you suggest, but still they seem to fit, so fingers crossed it's a cyst that can be easily diagnosed and treated if needs be.
     
  10. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    What I offered was, as I always do in regard to tissue lumps, is that they MUST have a hands-on examination as a beginning step in determining what they are and whether or not they are of a serious nature, and everything else is a blind guess. I gave you a couple of the more likely possibilities, both of which were not of a serious nature, but told you that such should not be relied upon, as the lump MAY be something serious. My issue with you was that the predicate to your question was that you needed to "make sure" and thus, in line with that goal, any information which you might get on a forum serves no medical purpose. One does not always get the answer he/she asked for or anticipates, but that does not mean that an answer such as I gave you cannot be a learning experience for you or other readers. I make no assumptions that a patient or questioner will do the medically sensible thing, as often they do NOT, and even unnecessarily waking one up to that fact should be viewed as my being thorough rather than adversarial. If your tender feels got hurt regarding your parental responsibility as a trade off for my being thorough, then so be it. You have seen the idiotic lay logic offered by the other contributor to this thread, and that is what I am determined to avoid. Truth be told . . given ANY lump . . saying it is nothing to worry about would statistically prove to be far more often right than wrong, but that is NOT good medicine and NOT how doctors are expected to make decisions.
     
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2010
  11. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    Hey Footdoc, your tone is so markedly different. It's obvious you can't diagnose without examining, that's why the doctor's appointment is crucial. You are right to point that out and I do appreciate you taking the time to answer and to give me some ideas as to what the lump might be. There you see - 'tis easy to be nice! Flippancy aside though, thank you.
     
  12. afromong

    afromong New Member

    FootDoc you are obviously far more intent in trying to discredit people on this forum than you are with trying to offer helpfull advice. I should have thought that after reading the original post you would have been able to establish that the child was awaiting an appointment with his GP so therefore your original reply was needless. To say that I didn't realise the size of the lump until you pointed it out was obscure as I clearly stated "judging by the size" in my first post, so I propose researching previous replies before you try to contrive your responses. I like the way you say "lacked any semblance or suggestion of expertise " when did I ever sugggest that I was a an expert on the subject? The fact that you are eager to sound like and pretend to be a professional is farcical. If you were a specialist then you would have little time or interest in replying to threads on a forum, especially in the abundance that you do. Your actions suggest that you are more likely a teen or young adult trying to make themselves feel bigger than others and if that is the case a foot forum probably isn't the best outlet. I have no doubt that you are smart and may be able to offer some meaningful suggestions but if your intentions regarding a reply are anything other than that you shouldn't waste yours and everyone else's time.
     
  13. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    P R E C I S E L Y why you have no business giving medical advice or opinion. So I suppose you have made my point for me, and continuing to respond to your inane banter will be neither productive nor futher instructive. I'll give you the opportunity for the last word, as I have already made my point and you have confirmed it.

    Good day!
     
  14. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    Thought I'd let you know the outcome. The doctor diagnosed it as a Ganglion Cyst, which is one of the things you mentioned FootDoc. We're going to leave it a while and see if it goes of its own accord, which obviously I'm hoping it will.
     
  15. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    Thanks for getting back with an update. Ganglionic cysts will frequently resolve on their own or by forceful rupture or aspiration. But they also have a high incidence of recurrence unless they are totally surgically excised, including the surrounding membrane. Unlike what you reported, they are generally quite hard, somewhat mobile and often painful.
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2010
  16. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    Thank you for getting back with an update. Ganglionic cysts WILL often spontaneously resolve or are successfully treated by forceful rupture or aspiration. But they frequently recur unless the entire mass including its surrounding membrane/capsule is surgically excised. Unlike your son's situation, as you reported it, ganglionic cysts are often quite firm, slightly mobile and painful.
     
  17. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    We are lucky in that it doesn't bother him at all, though our doctor thought it may well if it continues to grow. He mentioned treatment options and also that ultimately surgery may be necessary. I'm hoping it will resolve without any intervention though obviously. Thanks again footdoc. very helpful.
     
  18. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    Wow! Have you read all these responses back to yourselves? Rude responses aren't very helpful, and being a parent I feel for this mother trying to get some information only to be treated like an idiot. Foot doctor, be a little patient! This is so petty! I think I'll look elsewhere for advice!
     
  19. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    These forums are designed to give parents a little piece of mind in knowing that there are other parents experiencing something similar...this gives a bit of comfort. No different from asking a friend or relative for advice; you gather information and decide the course of action from that. Its sad that anyone would be so nasty on a site for concerned parents who could just be looking for a bit of comfort or confirmation that the doc should be called.
    I appreciate these forums because I don't have family I could call on for advice for situations like this...so thanks :)
     
  20. helper

    helper Guest

    Foot doctor is a twat.
     
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