Foot Pain: Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Have you had tingling and numbness extending to your toes lately? A possible cause could be tarsal tunnel syndrome which is due to damage of the tibial nerve, a nerve that runs through your leg and foot. The injury can be due to trauma, pressure or entrapment. It can also be a result of your shoes being too tight. This causes delay in the signals being sent through your nerves which causes the numbness and tingling.

When you are having symptoms like this in your foot, the podiatrist will run through several different signs and tests to see if this is the condition causing your pain. Some of the signs depending on how far along your disease can include not being able to curl your toes and weakness in some of the muscles in your feet. The actual condition can be tested through an EMG which is an instrument that analyzes the amount of electrical activity passing through your muscles; you can also do a nerve conduction test that will directly test the nerve.

The treatment of tarsal tunnel is broad, dependent upon the severity of your condition. The first line is typically a pain killer. Depending on how severe your pain is, your podiatrist can determine the best type of pain killer for you. Sometimes, the nerve can be compressed as a result of your particular foot type. If this is the case, orthoses can be designed for your specific foot type that will help your foot to sit in a more favorable position. By doing this, you can relieve the pressure that was being put onto your nerve and reduce or eliminate the pain.  In the most severe cases, surgery to release the impinged nerve can relieve the symptoms. However, this is the last resort that will only be used after the doctor has exhausted all other options.

If you or someone that you know is experiencing numbness or tingling in your foot, there is a wide variety of conditions that could be the cause. Our office staff can help you set up an appointment so that Dr. Wachtel can determine the cause of your symptoms and get you back up on your feet again. If you live in the Tewksbury, North Andover, Methuen or Lowell Massachusetts area, please give us a call and we would be more than happy to help you.