That sounds painful—and stressful with a recital tomorrow. From your description (hard rough spot with black dots + limping), the most likely cause is a Plantar wart.
Why this fits
Plantar warts often:
- feel like a hard, rough bump on the sole
- have tiny black dots (clotted blood vessels)
- hurt more when walking or putting pressure on them
- can make kids limp
What you can do right now (for tomorrow)
Focus on pain relief and protection:
1. Cushion it
- Use a donut-shaped pad (cut a hole in gauze or foam)
- Place it around the spot to take pressure off the center
2. Cover it
- Put a bandage or blister pad over it
- This reduces friction during dancing
3. Pain relief
- Give age-appropriate Ibuprofen or Paracetamol if needed
- Helps her get through the recital more comfortably
4. Footwear adjustment
- Soft, cushioned shoes or insoles before/after performance
- Avoid barefoot walking for now
What NOT to do tonight
- Don’t try to cut it out or dig into it
- Don’t use strong acids for the first time right before the recital (can make it more painful)
After the recital (treatment options)
You can start proper treatment:
- Over-the-counter salicylic acid wart treatments
- Soaking + gentle filing over several days
- See a doctor if:
- pain is severe
- it’s growing/spreading
- not improving after a few weeks
When to seek urgent care
- She can’t put weight on the foot at all
- Redness, swelling, or pus (sign of infection)
- Fever
If you want, I can walk you through a simple overnight plan to reduce pain as much as possible before her recital.
