Radiotherapy Treatment for Ledderhose Disease

The exact cause is not known, but it often runs in families. It is more common in people who also have Dupuytren's disease, a related condition of the palm and fingers. If you have lumps in your hands too, our article on what Dupuytren’s disease is explains the link.

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia. It usually causes heel pain without a lump. Ledderhose disease is different. It causes the tissue in the arch of your foot to thicken, forming hard nodules. The two conditions can occur together. If you have a lump in the sole of your foot, it's worth having it examined to find out which condition is causing it.

Most people feel nothing during treatment. There are no needles, no anaesthetic and no incision. Radiotherapy does not make you drowsy or dizzy. A few weeks after treatment, the skin on your sole may look red, feel dry, or slightly sore. A small number of people notice more discomfort briefly before things improve. Our aftercare guide explains how to look after your skin.

Most people have five weekday visits in a row, repeated after a break of around three months. Each visit takes about ten minutes, and the beam is on for roughly a minute. Dr Shaffer will confirm your exact schedule after he examines your foot.

The doses used for non-cancerous conditions are far lower than those used for cancer. Side effects are usually mild skin changes, such as redness, dryness or a burning feeling a few weeks after treatment. In the Dutch trial, 19 in 20 reported side effects were mild. There is also a very small long-term risk of skin cancer in the treated area, estimated at around 1 in 1,000 or lower. Dr Shaffer will go through the risks with you before you decide, and our Ledderhose radiotherapy guide has more detail.

It can significantly reduce pain in around 70-80% of people. A Dutch clinical trial involved 84 people. After 12 months, about 3 out of 4 patients who had radiotherapy said their pain had eased fully or partly. Among people given a dummy treatment, about 1 out of 2 reported improvement.

The benefits build up slowly over weeks and months, not days. Radiotherapy works on the overactive cells in the nodule, so you will not feel a change straight away. That is why your progress is reviewed at three months, and why the main clinical trial measured results at 12 months. Some people may notice relief sooner; others need more time.

Ledderhose nodules rarely disappear without treatment. Some stay the same for years, while others slowly grow. No treatment is a cure, so the aim is to ease pain, slow growth, and keep you walking comfortably. Surgery carries a high chance of the lumps returning. Our guide to Ledderhose disease treatments compares the options.

Not automatically. Under the Equality Act 2010, a condition counts as a disability if it has a substantial, long-term effect on your normal day-to-day activities. What's important is how it affects you, not the diagnosis. If your lumps make walking or working difficult, your GP or Citizens Advice can point you to the right support.

No, you can book your first appointment directly. If you plan to claim on private medical insurance, check with your insurer first, as some ask for a GP referral or approval in advance. Our guide on GP referrals for private patients explains what to ask.