It is known to be associated with irritation to the tissues, but we don't understand why only certain people are affected. Irritation in this case usually means repetitive trauma such as prolonged walking or standing, with direct trauma only rarely being the cause. Conservative care consists of padding the shoe to accommodate the deformity, but this rarely provides complete relief. Periodic steroid injections can be used for symptomatic relief. However, this does not resolve the condition, and the relief is frequently short lived.
Surgical removal is performed in persistently painful cases.
However, regrowth is frequently seen. The trauma of surgery seems to stimulate more nodules in some individuals. Surgery normally gives several years of relief, if not permanent correction, and for those patients in severe pain, this is worthwhile.