Bone spur top of foot . . .

[GimpToo]

Sorry but I'm 'search challenged' - tried but no luck!!! The 'googles' suggest might be ganglion cyst . . . going to boot specialist to have boot punched until I can get to a doc - actually, only hurts when ski boot is closed - any thoughts if it is a cyst - can be drained? . . . stopping skiing is not an option!! Thanks!

[Flyoverland Captive]

If it's a cyst, have it drained. Trust me, you do not want surgery.

I had one on the joint of my big toe, right on the side. Hurt like hell in boots and cycling shoes, so I let my doc talk me into surgery. The scar tissue was three times the size of the original cyst, and still hurt like hell in boots. That was several years ago; it ruined my skiing and cycling for years. To this day, it hurts, and I am probably going to have to quit tele marking, if not all skiing, because of the after effects of that stupid surgery.

[Orthoski]

Hard to know exactly what it is without more information. How old are you, is there a discrete mass that you're feeling, did it suddenly appear (vs been there for a while), soft vs. hard, etc. People with arthritis in the middle of their foot (midfoot arthritis) often complain of a spur on top and pain when tightening shoes, but a discrete mass such as a ganglion can sometimes have the same effect. If it is a ganglion then they can be drained but often recur. Key thing is that pain with bootwear is not automatically a ganglion (nor is every foot mass a ganglion, though they are among the most common). As is often the case with internet advice, best thing would be to have an orthopedic surgeon examine you and likely xrays.

Best of luck!

[GimpToo]

Thanks for the info FC and O . . . had never heard of 'midfoot arthritis' - did another 'google' - will be having it checked properly - again, thanks!!!