Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

ANKLE ANATOMY

DISEASE EXPLAINED

SYMPTOMS

People with tarsal tunnel syndrome may experience pain, numbness, or tingling. This pain can be felt anywhere along the tibial nerve, but it’s also common to feel pain in the sole of the foot or inside the ankle. This can feel like:

Sharp, shooting pains

Pins and needles

An electric shock

A burning sensation

Symptoms vary greatly depending on each individual. Some people experience symptoms that progress gradually, and some experience symptoms that begin very suddenly.

Pain and other symptoms are often aggravated by physical activity. But if the condition is long-standing, some people even experience pain or tingling at night or when resting.

CAUSES

Tarsal tunnel syndrome results from compression of the tibial nerve, and it’s often caused by other conditions.

Causes can include:

Severely flat feet, because flattened feet can stretch the tibial nerve

Benign bony growths in the tarsal tunnel

Varicose veins in the membrane surrounding the tibial nerve, which cause compression on the nerve

Inflammation from arthritis

Lesions and masses like tumors or lipomas near the tibial nerve

Injuries or trauma, like an ankle sprain or fracture — inflammation and swelling from which lead to tarsal tunnel syndrome

Diabetes, which makes the nerve more vulnerable to compression

TREATMENT

TREATMENT OPTIONS

Treating tarsal tunnel syndrome depends on your symptoms and the underlying cause of your pain.

AT-HOME TREATMENTS
You can take anti-inflammatory medications (including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to reduce inflammation, which may alleviate compression of the nerve. Resting, icing, compression, and elevation, known as the RICE treatment, may also help reduce swelling and inflammation.

DOCTOR-PRESCRIBED TREATMENTS
Steroid injections may also be applied to the affected area to reduce swelling. In some cases, braces and splits may be used to immobilize the foot and limit movement that could compress the nerve. If you have naturally flat feet, you may want to have custom shoes made that support the arches of your feet.

SURGERY
In severe, long-term cases, your doctor may recommend a surgery called the tarsal tunnel release. During this procedure, your surgeon will make an incision from behind your ankle down to the arch of your foot. They will release the ligament, relieving the nerve.

A minimally invasive surgery is also used by some surgeons, in which much smaller incisions are made inside your ankle. The surgeon uses tiny instruments to stretch out the ligament. Because there’s less trauma sustained by the tissues, the risk of complications and recovery time are both reduced.