Bony Lumps and Bumps
A tarsal boss is a hard prominence on the top of your midfoot. This is actually a bone spur that grows out of one of the midfoot joints. While it’s generally the result of arthritis between tarsals or between a tarsal and metatarsal, it can also can pair with other problems, like hallux valgus or Charcot foot. The spur itself isn’t painful. However, the pressure that comes in contact with the bump is what makes it hurt.
Footwear can compress that midfoot area, squeezing the lump and creating pain on the top of your foot. Shoes that rug against the bulge may lead to blisters or corns. When the tarsal boss is associated with arthritis, you may experience aching and arch pain. Conservative measures are quite successful for dealing with this discomfort, but you may need surgery to remove the bump if you continue to struggle with the pain.
Decompressing the Midfoot
Our experts should be able to identify your tarsal boss through a thorough examination of your affected foot. Our expert staff may request diagnostic images and other tests to see the exact size and location of the bone spur, and to check for any other conditions that could be contributing to the problem. If there are additional problems, those will need to be addressed as well.
Most tarsal boss pain can be relieved by reducing the pressure on the bump. Loosening your shoe laces may be all you need to solve the problem. Putting soft padding between the top of the shoe and the prominence on your foot also can relieve some of the strain. Sometimes a shoe specialist will be able to create a “soft area” in the shoe so the material doesn’t compress the foot so strongly. You may need a stiff-soled shoe to help decrease the force put on the midfoot when you take a step.
This doesn’t resolve the bump itself, of course. If you’re still struggling with discomfort, you may need surgery to correct the bony problem itself, especially if any connected arthritis problem is progressing. The procedure may be simple or more involved, depending on the extent of your condition and pain. A simple procedure would involve excising the bone spur alone. However, in cases of severe arthritis, the damaged tarsal joint may need to be fused so that the problem doesn’t continue to progress.
Hard bumps on the top of your foot are not normal. They generally result from an underlying issue that is damaging the bones. Don’t wait until you can barely wear most shoes to seek relief. This bony prominence doesn’t have to cause you pain. To make an appointment with one of the experienced Country Foot Care doctors you can call either of our offices or you can request an appointment by clicking on the MAKE AN APPOINTMENT button at the top of this page.
