TMBRA - Rider Board

[Anonymous]

Doc,

For a while (actually a looong while) I've had this lump in the arch of one of my feet. It's about 10-12mm and kinda feels fluid filled not solid. Some days it's puffed up, especially after riding, others not so much.

While getting an allergy med refill I asked the GP to look at it. He just looked down, said it was a blown blood vessel. He said it's a varicose vein just on the foot instead of leg. His comment was if it doesn't bother me to just leave it be. Good advice or seek a new doc?

[The Bike Doc]

Chongo Loco:

Not being able to see and feel the lesion I cannot confirm nor refute the diagnosis. Vericose veins do develop in the lower legs and feet and they are not uncommon with aging. The filling and emptying of the lesion is consistent with a vericose vein. Mild vericose veins are often managed with support stockings to help compress the veins and keep them from over filling. (If you every see me riding the trails but have never met me, you will know it's me when I ride past with bike shorts matching black lycra knee high support stockings. Even ol' Bike Docs aren't immune to the effects of aging.) It could also be a gangionic cyst. If it is bothersome to you seek an evaluation by a podiatrist to help sort the two possible diagnoses out. Mild vericose veins you treat with support stockings only and ganglionic cysts sometimes require draining or surgical removal.

Thanks,
_________________
Paul K. Nolan, MD
AKA: The Bike Doc

[Guest]

thanks doc, I was thinking it was ganglionic cysts because of all the nerve endings in the foot. That's why the vericose vein diagnosis threw me. I guess that is more consistent with the size/stiffness changes though. At least the wife will quit poking it and asking when I'm having a doctor look at it