Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome is a rare but painful podiatric condition. The tibial nerve is compressed as it moves through the tarsal tunnel. Though it is more common in athletes, any individual who stands for long periods of time or puts enormous stress on the tarsal tunnel area are vulnerable to this condition. Drs. Frank Killian and Sameep Chandrani provide treatment services at Mercer-Ocean Podiatry, PC. To learn more, contact their offices in Hamilton Township or Toms River, NJ.


 


To understand tarsal tunnel syndrome, you first need to understand what your tarsal tunnel is. There is a narrow gap on the inside of your ankle next to the bones. This is the tarsal tunnel. It is covered in an assortment of ligaments to protect the various working pieces. Your tibial nerve, the affected area, is included in these structures.


 


Anything that puts pressure on the posterior tibial nerve can cause tarsal tunnel syndrome. There are a few major risk factors. If you have flat feet, the outward-facing tilt of your heel strains the nerve. An ankle sprain or other foot injury results in inflammation or swelling. This also compresses the nerve. Other causes of swelling include diabetes or arthritis. Lastly, abnormal foot structures are at fault. This can be anything from a swollen tendon, bone spur, ganglion cyst, or varicose vein.


 


Symptoms of tarsal tunnel syndrome are felt on the bottom of the foot or the ankle. The pain comes and goes, depending on exercise and usage. The main symptoms are numbness, shooting pain, and a tingling or burning sensation similar to an electric shock.


 


At your appointment, your Toms River and Hamilton County podiatrist examines your foot. A diagnosis is usually made with just a physical examination, though imaging may be necessary. Treatment occurs in a combination of different techniques. Rest and ice the afflicted foot. Try to restrict any movement. Use over-the-counter medication to manage pain and swelling. Talk to your podiatrist about orthotic devices or supportive shoes.


 


Mercer-Ocean Podiatry, PC is located in Hamilton Township and Toms River, NJ. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Frank Killian and Sameep Chandrani, visit our website or call. For Hamilton Township, call 609-585-3200. Toms River can be reached at 732-557-4266.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sever's Disease

Do you recall suffering frequent heel pain as a child? If you do, that’s not unusual; children’s bones haven’t fully fused together, and they are more vulnerable to overuse injuries than adults. However, nobody likes seeing their child in pain, and if a child frequently suffers from sore heels, there may be a biomechanical issue at play. At Mercer-Ocean Podiatry, we assist patients of all ages, so we thought it would be a good idea to explain Sever’s Disease, a common source of childhood foot problems, in more detail. Sever’s disease, or calcaneal apophysitis, is inflammation of the growth plate connecting the back of the heel bone to the bone’s main body. The back of the heel bone is where the Achilles tendon, one of the strongest tendons in the body, attaches. When the calf muscles or the tendon itself are tight, the tendon will pull the heel up and backwards, causing soreness in the soft growth plate. The calf muscles are likely to tighten up after a person has been running and jum
Read more

Clipping Toenails

Clipping your toenails correctly is the key to avoiding an ingrown nail. But many people are misinformed about this basic aspect of footcare, and during the summer, people are paying more attention to their bare feet and wondering how to trim their nails correctly. If you’re diabetic, this may be something that you’ll always need to be cautious about, but for most people at Mercer-Ocean Podiatry in northern New Jersey, the following advice will keep their toes safe and presentable. It’s a good idea to have separate clippers for the toenails and fingernails. Toenail clippers are a little larger, and using separate clippers will reduce the spread of bacteria. The toenails should be clean when they’re cut, but unless they’re extremely thick, they shouldn’t be wet. A wet nail is at greater risk of tearing. As you cut, go straight across, using a few small trims. You don’t want your nails to be rounded off, or they’ll be at greater risk of growing into the skin and causing a hangnail. Inst
Read more

Tendinosis

We frequently treat people with overuse injuries at Mercer-Ocean Podiatry. Most people know to beware of signs of tendinitis, but they may not know about tendinosis. The conditions are similar, but not identical, which is why we want to educate patients about tendinosis as part of our preventive care. The suffix “-itis” is used to describe inflammation. The word tendinosis describes what happens when the collagen fibers that make up a tendon wear away without an inflammatory response. As the tendon becomes more frayed, it becomes more difficult for the tendons to do their job, resulting in joint stiffness. It may also cause the tendon’s sheath to harden and for abnormal blood vessel growth. Tendinosis is often painful and feels like burning. When people suspect they are injured, they should rest, put a cold pack on the limb, compress it, and elevate it. But if pain persists for more than a day or two, they should get it examined. While it is possible to repair tendons surgically in the
Read more