Bumps on foot just below ankle joint

[jte777]

Dear Doctor,

You have been so reassuring in the past I hope you can help me again. I am a 51 year old male, do smoke, on my feet quite abit during the day (50%, perhaps), seldom sit with my feet flat on the floor, usually are flexed in some way, usually with only toes touching the floor when sitting (usually with the right foot resting on the back of the left ankle), just started taking Wellbutrin 100mg per day two days ago.

Today I noticed that on the inner side of my left foot, an inch below the ankle joint and just above the sole of the foot (but on the side of the foot, not on the sole) there were four soft bumps within in an area of one square inch that were observable when I flexed my ankle sideways so the skin was taut. When foot is in normal position, or flexed so the area is not taut they are not seen. Even when taut they are not hard and you cannot feel a bump, swollen area, nothing under the skin. When flexed they appear and if you run a finger very lightly over them you can see and feel them, but even flexed, running a finger over them with average pressure you cannot feel them. In other words, they are not hard swollen bumps like cysts or tumors. They are about the size and shape of a pea cut in half. Do not have a head like a pimple. The skin over them is normal color, neither reddened nor paler than surrounding skin. There is no pain or unusual sensitivity at all. Foot and legs feel normal.

There may or may not be a couple of similar bumps on the other right inner ankle. If they are there they are much less observable and cannot be felt.


I do have several spider veins in the area that have increased over the years, but they have never bothered me at all, and these bumps do not appear to be blood filled in any way.

Does this sound like something serious, or is it just aging and perhaps fluid build up. I had never noticed them before, but how often does one get that close to ones ankle. I suppose they could have been there for years and I have just not noticed them.

Is there anything you can suggest that I should try to do to get rid of them or should I just ignore them? Perhaps none of this makes sense.

Again, thank you so much for your patience and reassurance you give so many of your friends here.


John

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

This sounds like a normal anatomical variant that you just never noticed before.  If they worry you, show the bumps to a doctor so you can ignore them.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[jte777]

Do not know if it is pertinent, but I do drink a lot of liquid, often Cokes each day. Have done this for years tho, so not sure it is a real factor, but thought it best to mention it.

John

[jte777]

Forgot to mention, they do not itch at all. no pain for that matter.

John

[jte777]

Checked this morning and they are still their. Almost form a diamond shape an inch across with a bump at each corner. Easily push down almost like there is a bubble of fluid under them, tho they are not like a blister with a very thin layer of skin above. Seem further below the top level than that. When pushed down they immediately come back up. Only can see them when you put your foot flat up on the bath vanity when your are trimming toenails, for example. When you flex the foot to examine the sole of the foot or when showering to wash the sole, they cannot be seen.

Sorry for the additional information, but sometimes it is hard to give a clear picture of what something looks like using only words.

[jte777]

There do appear to be a couple of similar bumps/bulges in the same area on the other ankle. Just as easily pushed in as the others and only visible when my ankle is turned outward so area of inner ankle is taut.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

You really are looking at yourself way too hard.

Dr. Rockoff

[jte777]

Tend to agree with you. Am working on that with a doctor & psychologist, but it takes time. Funny I never was this way till I turned 50, then every little thing worries me healthwise. Does not help that you cannot watch tv for any time at all without seeing at least four or five commercials about some test you have to take or you will die, some medication you have to take or you will die, or some hospital that will treat you for something you will die from. Even every newscast has a health segment about something that will get you or a treatment you should get.

I lived in Spain for 12 years and they are not nearly as health fixated as we are here.

Thanks again for your assistance and reassurance.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I second your concern over these incessant health bulletins.  But they aren't going away anytime soon.

Dr. Rockoff

[MsWindy]

A related discussion, lumps under the skin on bottom of the foot was started.