Hi,
I am having a lump on the top, towards the right (outer) side of my left big toe, just between where the nail begins, and the first joint.
I have noticed this for about two years now, and at one point I thought it had been growing larger but it's been about the size of a dime (in diameter).
Lately, though, I'm noticing now that the skin on the underside of that same toe, directly below where the lump is above, has no sensation, numb, from about the area of where the first joint begins to up around the tip, and mostly along the outer edge of the toe, again, corresponding to where the lump is located above it, on top.
No pain, just these observations.
I can't really afford quality medical care at the moment, so I'm basically just watching and waiting to see where this goes.
Thank you.
A lump on a toe the diameter of a dime is HUGE. I'm sure that if you can afford an Internet connection and probably all sorts of other conveniences which are far less important than your health, you could afford at least the expense of a hands-on examination and opinion from a podiatrist to let you determine if it important enough to spend money for actual treatment on it. But if you think it more appropriate to "watch it and see where it goes," rather than channeling the expense of an office visit from the that designated for things you believe you REALLY need, that's YOUR call, though certainly not my recommendation. This and sites such as this are not appropriate venues for making diagnoses on which effective treatment might be based. See a podiatrist.
Thank you for you reply. It does appear, though, that you're making a few--let's say 'assumptions' regarding my socio-economic status, and this, of course, is typical of the United States' health-care system in particular (making condescending assumptions), and the rest of our society in general, as the health-care system undeniably serves as a behavioral 'role model' for it.
I do, though, appreciate the advice of seeing a Podiatrist first, in order to obtain an opinion on this condition.
The way one spends his/her available funds is a matter of personal priorities. As I see it, one of the major problems with the U.S. health care system is that far too many folks have come to believe that health care is an entitlement, when at the same time, the real essentials for living, food, shelter and protection from the cold are somehow not seen in that category. Insurance of any kind, by most definition is intended to cover expenditures which are beyond the normal capacity of folks to personally underwrite . . such as loss of a home by fire or disaster or the cost of catastrophic illness. Medical insurance which pays for otherwise affordable services, such as, for example, office visits have only tended to increase the fees asked for those services, as when so many patients get such relatively low cost services free, either through their private insurance or through social service programs, they provide no market incentive to keep fees reasonable, and fees have undeniably soared each time a service is covered. I take umbrage with your opinion that my reply constituted a condescending assumption when it simply stated the almost certain fact that you have discretionary funds to which you apply your priorities, and, in my opinion, health care should be a greater priority than many other things and services for which you likely elect to pay.
In any event, I believe that I gave you appropriate advice in response to the essence of your question, and it appears that you do too.
one could be using the free computer at the libary they sit in all day because they have lost their home after losing their husband and only get to eat and sleep at the shelter. just a thought... have a nice day and please assume away... :P
It is not my purpose to argue with you about the ifs and buts of why an office visit to a podiatrist for an assessment of a problem is not beyond the finances of almost anyone who seems to function in society, and that health care, in general, even when (perish the thought) is paid for by the patient, should be at the high end of one's priorities. But I would judge that in all likelihood, the "one could . ." caveats which you offered do not apply to you anyhow. Everyone makes assumptions, and one who is in the business of dealing with people and the making of often hidden diagnoses is often correct in his/her assumptions. I make judgments which are often no more than educated assumptions every day. But even If I happen not to have been correct in your specific case (though I bet I was), it is still my general opinion, and do not believe it was condescending . . just based on the same type of experience which I bring to bear in my podiatric medical practice on a daily basis.
The way one spends his/her available funds is a matter of personal priorities. As I see it, one of the major problems with the U.S. health care system is that far too many folks have come to believe that health care is an entitlement, when at the same time, the real essentials for living, food, shelter and protection from the cold are somehow not seen in that category. Insurance of any kind, by most definition is intended to cover expenditures which are beyond the normal capacity of folks to personally underwrite . . such as loss of a home by fire or disaster or the cost of catastrophic illness. Medical insurance which pays for otherwise affordable services, such as, for example, office visits have only tended to increase the fees asked for those services, as when so many patients get such relatively low cost services free, either through their private insurance or through social service programs, they provide no market incentive to keep fees reasonable, and fees have undeniably soared each time a service is covered. I take umbrage with your opinion that my reply constituted a condescending assumption when it simply stated the almost certain fact that you have discretionary funds to which you apply your priorities, and, in my opinion, health care should be a greater priority than many other things and services for which you likely elect to pay.
In any event, I believe that I gave you appropriate advice in response to the essence of your question, and it appears that you do too.
I wonder how you can be certain that the person that originally poisted this thread "has discretionary funds to which he/she applies their priorities" In my opinion it is a human beings right not to have to suffer and endure pain. Of course everybodies pain is relative as of course is everybodies opinion of budgeting week to week. Never the less as I said I believe that we all deserve the right to the same health care.
I will not turn this forum into a battleground venue for other than a discussion of medical issues, so this will be my final comment on this point.
There is almost no one in the U.S. or other than the poorest of the poor third world countries who does not have discretionary funds. Discretionary funds are those funds to which one applies his/her priorities for spending, and if one has a single penny, he/she choses by priority where that penny will be spent. The necessities of life are food, shelter and protection from the environmental weather. We would be in agreement that no one should be without that food or shelter, and there are social programs in the U.S. and most of the world which see to it that most of those in true need are provided such services, either for free or by subsidy. But I take issue with you that "we all deserve the right to the same health care," any more than we all have the right to eat the same food, live with the heat or air conditioning at the same temperature or live in the same quality housing. Those with more money always have and always will be able to afford better things and more comfortable lives. But the point of essence in this whole issue is that the original poster in question believed that she could not afford even a single office visit to a doctor so as to then be able to determine if her foot problem really needed treatment. Now, if she didn't have an Internet connection, as she probably falsely would have me suppose and if she made no other purchases of choice, other than for food and shelter, I would entertain her thought. But reason would dictate otherwise. So, I contend that the ubiquitous thinking, even by those who, with some priority adjustment, can afford them, that medical services which are not paid for by a third party are out of reach, when, at the same time, items and services of lesser importance are not is an untenable position and one driven only by unreasonable expectations.
__________________ Foot Doc
Last edited by FootDoc; 15th August 2008 at 02:34 PM.
I will not turn this forum into a battleground venue for other than a discussion of medical issues, so this will be my final comment on this point.
Funny your initial response was the only "battleground" when you delved into making assumptions and giving opinions about socioeconomics rather than a medical issue. Why not just say "see a podiatrist" or refuse to answer if you feel someone is inappropriately budgeting their funds? Are you really saying no one can disagree with your opinion on this forum???
Hey Foot Doc. It may be not what you said but how you said it. Someone with your bedside (computer-side?) manner would not be someone I'd spend my discretionary money on. There ARE doctors out there who are NOT condescending and who are not insulting. Person with the lump--consider consulting with one of these types of doctors.
P.S. to the Foot Doc--lots of people who make condescending comments do not believe their comments are condescending. Food for thought, for you.
Hey Foot Doc-
Don't worry about those other individuals... I feel sorry for those inidividuals who cannot afford proper medical treatment, and the reality is, you could be talking to the .1% of the population within the United States that is using the internet at a library while living in a shelter (although I highly doubt it). The unfortunate reality is this... There are simply those individuals who expect others to pay for their medical care while 2 years ago, when this bump formed... why didn't you get it taken care of? Because it wasn't worth their time then, now they want me and everyone else in the US to pay for it....
Foot Doc, why don't you just travel the country doing pro-bono podiatry... just like Michael Cain in Kung Fu. You should pay for the poor planning of others.
I'm a rural dude with a minor lump on my big toe who came here to help me form a plan of attack. While I expected to find some possible causes, it instead reminded me that nearly everyone in medicine makes more than I ever have and they believe health care is worth whatever the price, even if it wipes out my pre-retirement savings. If the doctor just mentions the 'C' word, I will submit my body to the near daily commute to the pollution, traffic and stress of the city and wipe out my entire savings just for the possibility of hearing I will not die. But I will die someday and probably not because of my toe, but in the meantime I will spend a couple of months of misery in a life shorted by the adventure to find out my toe would not have killed me.
Having opted out of gambling my savings to search further for the diagnosis, I dedicate the time I would have been driving in traffic, pacing the hospital halls, sitting in waiting rooms with sick people and generally stressing out about my mortality to taking long walks in the woods, jogging up hills that take the wind completely out of me, climbing piles of rocks and sitting on top watching the hawks float above the valley. I will gladly ponder how much I am enjoying my life whether it shortens it or not.
It seems you can only see the health care crisis from the waiting room and nobody listens to the people in the waiting room.
Lump on top of left big toe
Re: Lump on top of left big toe
I wonder how you can be certain that the person that originally poisted this thread "has discretionary funds to which he/she applies their priorities" 
In my opinion it is a human beings right not to have to suffer and endure pain. Of course everybodies pain is relative as of course is everybodies opinion of budgeting week to week.
Never the less as I said I believe that we all deserve the right to the same health care.
Re: Lump on top of left big toe
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