Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Precision Podiatry

Podiatrists located in Round Rock, Cedar Park, & Austin, TX

You’ve probably heard of carpal tunnel syndrome, which causes wrist pain. When a similar condition develops in your foot, it’s called tarsal tunnel syndrome. This syndrome puts pressure on the nerves in your feet, causing shooting pain, tingling, and numbness. If you think you might be living with tarsal tunnel syndrome, contact Precision Podiatry. At their offices in the Round Rock, Cedar Park, and the River Place neighborhoods of Austin, Texas, they help you find relief. Call the office nearest you to get started with your tarsal tunnel syndrome treatment today.

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Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Q & A

What is tarsal tunnel syndrome?

Tarsal tunnel syndrome develops when the pathway that should protect certain nerves in your feet — the tarsal tunnel — doesn’t work the way it should. This tunnel runs from the inside of your ankle into your foot, allowing your nerves to span your foot without getting compressed as you put weight on the area. Most importantly, the tarsal tunnel protects your posterior tibial nerve, a large nerve that is responsible for a significant amount of the feeling in the bottoms of your feet.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome develops when the tunnel narrows. This can happen as a result of an issue with your foot itself — like a low arch — or your gait — like over-pronation — or because of growths — like bone spurs or varicose veins — that infringe upon the tarsal tunnel.

What does tarsal tunnel syndrome feel like?

As the tarsal tunnel fails to protect the posterior tibial nerve, it creates unpleasant sensations in your feet. You may feel:

Burning
Tingling
Numbness
Shooting pain

The posterior tibial nerve extends from your ankle throughout your foot, branching at your toes. As a result, you might feel the effects of tarsal tunnel syndrome virtually anywhere along your foot. It’s most common to feel your symptoms on the inside of your foot or along the bottom of your foot, but some patients report sensation in their toes, ankles, and calves, too.

If you experience any pain, burning, or numbness in your feet, don’t wait to ask your Precision Podiatry provider about it. They diagnose the condition with a physical exam so you can get started with effective treatment.

How is tarsal tunnel syndrome treated?

The goal in treating tarsal tunnel syndrome is to relieve the pressure on the nerves that run through the tarsal tunnel. In many cases, your Precision Podiatry provider can bring you relief through orthotic inserts. These custom-made inserts fit in your shoes, supporting your foot to alleviate pressure on your tarsal tunnel. Additionally, your provider may recommend anti-inflammatory medications or injections.

If a growth causes your tarsal tunnel syndrome, the surgical removal of that growth brings your relief. The surgeons at Precision Podiatry specialize in minimally invasive surgery so you can have your procedure performed through extremely small incisions, lessening your downtime after surgery.

For more information about the tarsal tunnel treatments available at Precision Podiatry, call the office nearest you today.

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