Extra Bones

When you think of “bones” you probably think of the typically long, stick-shaped objects that dogs like to chew on. Or you may think of a bone that you or a friend broke at some time in the past and had to have in a cast for several weeks. You probably don’t think of small, pea-sized objects floating around down in the vicinity of your foot.
The human foot consists of about 26 bones-all of which play a well-coordinated role in maintaining proper function. However, it is very common for people to have extra bones at various places within the foot which may or may not contribute to well-functioning feet. Technically, these are called “accessory bones” and they’re actually more common in the foot than in anywhere else within the body. As our bones develop in early childhood, they start to harden at several different locations within each bone. Accessory bones emerge when one or more of these “hardening locations” become separated from the rest of the bone.
These extra bones can show up almost anywhere within the foot, but they’re most common on the middle inside of the foot, on the outside of the foot, just to the inside of the heel, or between and behind the first two toes in the middle of the foot. They often develop within tendons so they may be felt or cause aggravation with movement such as walking.
Accessory bones, thankfully, do not always cause pain and frequently go un-noticed. However, it’s not uncommon for them to cause symptoms which need to be addressed. Sometimes, accessory bones need to be distinguished from a bone fragment that may have resulted from the fracture of a larger bone. Furthermore, accessory bones themselves can fracture which may cause irritation whereas before there were no problems.
Your podiatrist can adequately assess your situation if you do have pain resulting from an accessory bone in your foot. Often, conservative treatments can provide great relief to people who just want to be able to walk comfortably. If these are not enough, a mild surgery may be recommended to remove the bone and tighten up the tendons. However you go about it, the symptoms should certainly be dealt with as the extra bone(s) are not likely to go away on their own anytime soon. Don’t allow a small bone to cause big problems for your feet.

Advanced Foot Care
Robert E. Kuvent, DPM
3225 S Alma School Rd
Chandler, AZ 85248
480.917.2300
http://www.yourfeetfixer.com