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Bump or Lump On Side Of Foot? Causes, Treatment, Surgery & Recovery
A lump on the side of the foot can develop for many reasons, ranging from mild irritation to structural foot problems. Some lumps grow slowly and cause little discomfort, while others may become painful, swollen, or interfere with walking.
Understanding the cause of the lump is the first step toward proper treatment and long-term relief.
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Lump on the Side of Your Foot? Here's What It Might Mean.
A lump on the side of your foot can be alarming—especially if it’s painful, growing, or affecting the way you walk. While some lumps are harmless and due to pressure or irritation, others may signal underlying conditions like cysts, bone growths, or soft tissue inflammation. Understanding what’s causing the lump is the first step toward relief and proper treatment.
Some lumps are painless, while others can interfere with walking or shoe wear. If the bump changes in size, color, or causes discomfort, it’s best to have it checked by a foot specialist.
What Causes a Lump on the Side of the Foot?
There are several reasons a lump can develop on the side of your foot. Common causes include:
- Ganglion Cyst – A fluid-filled lump often near tendons or joints.
- Tailor’s Bunion (Bunionette) – A bony bump on the outer side of the foot near the pinky toe.
- Lipoma – A soft, fatty, non-cancerous growth under the skin.
- Bone Spur – Extra bone that forms due to pressure or arthritis.
- Plantar Fibroma – A thickened fibrous tissue on the sole that may bulge to the side.
- Infection or Abscess – Swelling from an infection, often warm and painful.
- Corns or Calluses – Hardened skin from repeated friction or pressure.
Common Causes of a Lump on the Side of the Foot
1. Bunionette (Tailor’s Bunion)
A bunionette forms on the outer side of the foot at the base of the little toe. It is caused by pressure, foot structure, or tight footwear.
Symptoms:
- Visible bump on the outer foot
- Redness or swelling
- Pain while walking or wearing shoes
2. Ganglion Cyst
A fluid-filled sac that develops near joints or tendons. It often feels soft and may change in size.
Symptoms:
- Round, smooth lump
- Mild discomfort or pressure
- May appear suddenly
3. Bone Spur
A bone spur can form due to repeated stress, arthritis, or inflammation.
Symptoms:
- Hard lump
- Pain with movement
- Tenderness in the affected area
4. Lipoma
A benign fatty lump that grows under the skin. These are usually painless and slow-growing.
5. Soft Tissue Injury or Swelling
Trauma, overuse, or inflammation can cause swelling that feels like a lump.
Outside of the Foot Pain [Lateral Foot Pain]
Don’t Let a Foot Lump Slow You Down—Get It Checked Today
A lump on the side of your foot may seem minor, but it can impact your comfort, mobility, and overall foot health. At Balance Foot & Ankle Specialist, we provide expert evaluations and customized treatment plans for foot lumps of all types.
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- We focus on what has worked for 10,000+ patients & medical research.
- The #1 goal is to keep costs LOW and treatment SIMPLE.
- Just remember this is for educational reference only.
- If you have a medical problem visit with your personal doctor.
- Please comment if any questions!
Painful Bump on the Side of Foot Video
Outside of the foot bumps causes & treatment.
Bump on the Outer Side of My Foot Infographic
The infographic below goes over the most common reasons for a bump on the foot’s outer side.
Bump or Lump On Side Of Foot Video Summary:
In this video, we go over:
If you have a bump on the outer side of your foot:
- It can be in 3 regions: the outside of the heel below the ankle bump, the middle outside of the foot bump, or the bump at the base of the 5th toe.
Hard bump on the side of foot:
- A hard bump on the side of the foot can be the styloid process or the 5th metatarsal head bunion.
Bump or Lump on the Side of Foot Pictures:
If you ever wonder, “what is the bump on the side of my foot?”
Look:
- If you have a painful bump on the side of the foot, it is usually in 3 different areas.
5th toe bump:
- If the bump on the outside of your foot is on the fifth toe, this could be a callus and corn or hammertoe.
- If the bump is at the base of your fifth toe, this is usually called a tailor’s bunion or bunionette.
Bump on the middle outside of the foot:
- If you have a hard bump on the middle outside your foot, this is usually a normal bone. It is the styloid process. It could be damaged in a Jones fracture or a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal.
- This bump is also known as the bump on the side of the foot near the arch.
- The middle outside of your foot could also be inflamed if you have peroneus brevis insertional tendinitis. This can be very common in athletes in runners.
Bump on the Outside of the Heel or Ankle:
- If the pain is more towards the back, but before the heel, this could be a cuboid syndrome.
If you have a bump on the side of the foot below the ankle, this could be the subtalar joint or a lipoma developing.
Overview:
- Near the outside front of your foot, the causes of bumps are most common along the 5th toe, the 5th metatarsal, and the 5th metatarsal styloid process.
- Near the outside ankle, the bump is most likely the head of your fibula.
- The most common cause of lumps or bumps on the outside of your foot is your 5th toe and the 5th metatarsal styloid process.
- If these bones become injured, swollen, or inflamed, this can cause swelling! Very rarely is it a dangerous tumor!
Red Itchy Bumps on the Side of the Foot
- If you have red itchy bumps on the side of the foot: This could be eczema or dermatitis secondary due to rubbing or irritation on the outside of the foot.
Causes Of Outside Of The Foot Lump or Bumps:
The outside of the foot is called the rigid lever. This is because it is mostly rigid bone.
- This makes it very likely to have bumps or lumps.
- The most common causes are the 5th metatarsal.
- This is a bone with two ends that can become prominent on the outside of the foot.
Specific Causes:
- 5th toe can be swollen.
- 5th toe tailor’s bunion.
- The 5th metatarsal styloid process is in the middle outside of your foot.
- The ankle is due to the head of the fibula.
Bump on the Middle Side of Foot
A foot bump at the outside front of the foot is usually a bunionette.
- This is also known as a tailor’s bunion.
- This is exactly like a normal bunion but occurs at the 5th toe, not the big toe.
- The causes & treatments are almost identical to the big toe bunion.
- It may be a good idea to get a pair of shoes wider in the front.
- But the only way to remove the pain permanently is to get surgery eventually.
Symptoms of a Bump at the Front Outside of the Foot:
- Swelling, redness, and pain.
- Numbness, burning, or tingling of the little toe.
- This numbness is due to nerve compression against the shoe.
- This can lead to pain against the edge of the shoe.
- Pain is better when you take your shoes off.
The 5th metatarsal Styloid Process (Bump on middle outside of foot):
A foot bump on the middle outside of the foot is the styloid process.
- If it is painful, this is known as a Jones fracture.
- This can present as a bump on the middle outside of the foot.
- If it is just a large bump, this is absolutely normal and nothing to worry about.
- If it is enormous, you may have an extra bone called an os vesalanium.
- It is also possible to have a very high arched foot.
- If you have a very high arch, this is called cavus foot, and the styloid process is very prominent.
Symptoms of a Bump on the middle outside of the foot:
- Swelling, redness, and pain.
- Numbness, burning, or tingling of the little toe.
- This numbness is due to nerve compression against the shoe.
- This can lead to pain against the edge of the shoe.
- Pain is better when you take your shoes off.
Outside of the Ankle Bump or Lump:
Ankle sprains happen when you roll your foot in:
- Ankle Sprain Treatment.
- Rolled Ankle Recovery Time.
- High Ankle Sprain Recovery Time.
- Ankle Tendonitis.
- Sore Ankles After Running.
- Broken Ankle Recovery Time.
- Broken Ankle or Sprained Ankle?
If you are having pain with a bump on your foot’s middle side, consider styloid process pain.
Bump or Lump On Side Of Foot Treatment:
- Most bumps or lumps on the side of the foot do not need to be treatment.
- The majority of the time these masses are not tumors but normal part of your anatomy.
- The most common times we see people come to our office concerned about a tumor or a strange bump, it is simply a normal part of anatomy that looks a little bit bigger on their foot.
- The most common lumps and bumps I see are the 5th metatarsal and the side of the ankle.
Podiatrist Treatment Algorithm
If these home treatments did not help, consider seeing a podiatrist!
A. Physical examination:
- Examining the foot will almost immediately let us know if something unusually is happening to the foot.
- This can be difficult to do if you don’t look at hundreds of feet every day!
- Usually we can tell if something is supposed to be there almost immediately.
- Read the list below to make sure your foot looks normal!
B. X-Ray of your foot:
- An X-ray can usually be better than advanced imaging for bone assessment.
- You don’t need to jump straight to an MRI.
- An X-ray can usually do a great job if there is a foreign object or if there is an extremely large bone prominence.
- 90% of the time an X-ray is the only imaging you will need.
- This is something we can get for you while your are in the office.
C. MRI if we suspect a soft tissue tumor or injury:
- If there is something unusually happening, we may choose to order an MRI.
- An MRI is ordered within the hospital and is subject to insurance approval, so it can be slow and painful to get for some insurances even if needed.
- We can do an in office ultrasound, but generally if we are concerned, an MRI would be the choice diagnostic image.
- The actual need in the real world for an MRI in this case is extremely low.
D. Soft Tissue or Bone Biopsy:
- If something unusual is visualized on MRI or X-ray, the last step may be to make 100% that it is not something dangerous.
- If you have more of a cystic mass, this may be done in the office with a needle aspiration.
- But if you have a true bone tumor or concerning mass/lump/bump, we may need to grab a sample in the operating room.
- If you do have a true cancerous mass, the best thing to do would be to get a second opinion from an oncology specialist.
- We don’t take any chances in that case!
- Follow this link for more on bone and cancerous tumors.
Home Remedies for Bumps on the Outside of the Foot:
The quickest way to make the bumps on the outside of your foot do better is to get yourself a good pair of shoes and orthotics.
Best Shoes for Outside of the Foot Pain:
Shoes can be one of the best ways to improve outside of the foot pain!
Best Orthotics for Outside of the Foot Pain:
A good supportive pair of over-the-counter orthotics can effectively reduce swollen bumps on the outside of the foot.
These can be effective for hard, painful bumps and sore bumps on the outside of the foot.
Outside of the Foot Pain Remedies:
Refer to the video at the beginning of this guide for:
- Outside of the foot pain exercises.
- Outside of the foot pain massage.
- The best outside of the foot pain products.
Experienced Care for Lumps and Bumps on the Foot
At Balance Foot & Ankle Specialist, our team of experienced podiatrists provides accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for lumps on the side of the foot. Whether the cause is a bunionette, cyst, bone spur, or soft tissue condition, our doctors focus on relieving pain and restoring comfortable movement.
Is a board-certified foot and ankle specialist with extensive experience treating foot deformities, cysts, bunions, and soft tissue conditions.
Specializes in both conservative and surgical treatment of foot and ankle conditions.
Provides comprehensive podiatric care with a focus on modern, minimally invasive techniques whenever possible.
Assists in other clinical duties and supports patient care through evaluations, care coordination, and clinical support services.
Why Michigan Patients Choose Us
Patients across Michigan trust Balance Foot & Ankle Specialist for expert care because we provide:
- Board-certified podiatrists with sports injury experience
- Personalized, non-surgical treatment plans
- Focus on long-term relief and injury prevention
- Convenient locations in Howell and Bloomfield Hills
- Trusted by runners, seniors, and active adults
FAQ Lumps on the Side of the Foot
The most common bumps on the outside of your foot falling into 3 areas.
- The ones around the fifth toe are due to a tailors bunion.
- The most common bump on the outside of your foot in the middle is called the styloid process of the fifth metatarsal.
- This could also be a soft bump that could be insertional peroneus brevis tendinitis.
- The middle outside of the foot could be a hard bump that could be a painful swollen fifth metatarsal styloid process.
- If you are wondering what the bumps on the side of your foot near the heel are, they are called peizogenic papules.
- Piezogenic papules are herniations of the fat pad from the heel.
- These could be white bumps on the outside of the heel and on the outside of the heel.
- Piezogenic papules can be treated with good orthotics such as listed above.
- This should help with the small white bumps on the outside of your foot.
The most common causes of itchy red bumps on the side of the foot are eczema or dermatitis.
Eczema or dermatitis on the side of the foot is usually caused by excessive sweat, irritating sock material, or irritating shoe material.
This can also be associated with an athlete’s foot and foot fungus.
The solution to itchy bumps on the side of the foot is to make sure the sweat is limited, that the skin is cleansed regularly and that you wear a good supportive shoe such as the ones described above.
It might also be a good idea to get a good supportive pair of socks to prevent any skin condition or irritation.
This outside of the foot bumps could be red bumps on the side of the foot or itchy bumps on the side of the foot.
- As mentioned above, the small red bumps on the side of the foot can be itchy or not itchy.
- They are usually due to eczema or dermatitis.
- That he is to prevent excessive sweat and athlete’s foot buildup.
- By using a good supportive shoe and a high-quality sock, it would limit these.
- It may also be a good idea to use an antifungal cream or spray.
The small white bumps on the outside of the foot could be due to numerous skin conditions.
The most common cause is a painful hard lump called corn. This is scar tissue that forms into the sweat gland.
If the bumps are on the outside of the heel below the ankle, this is likely a piezogenic papule. A piezogenic papule is a herniated fat pad.
These tiny bumps are most likely called corns because they go deep underneath the skin.
These could also be piezogenic papules which are herniated fat papules.
- Usually, when people ask, they have a fluid-filled bump on the side of their foot. It is simply bursitis or soft tissue irritation.
- It is also possible to have a ganglion cyst which is a true fluid pocket.
- This is a joint fluid that can herniate from the joint.
- The best solution for this is to see your podiatrist and get evaluated with ultrasound or x-ray.
Is the Lump on the Side of Your Foot Getting Worse?
A lump on the side of your foot may seem minor at first, but it can grow, become painful, and affect the way you walk. Early evaluation can help prevent complications and provide faster relief.
At Balance Foot & Ankle Specialist, our experienced foot doctors will identify the cause of the lump and recommend the most effective treatment—whether conservative care or advanced surgical correction.