What to Know About Nerve Entrapment and How Our Idaho Foot Doctors Help Resolve the Problem
Although people often think of pinched nerves as a problem that occurs in the neck or lower back, nerve entrapment happens in your feet, too. Tingling, tenderness, and other irritating symptoms often compromise your movement, but we can help. At Canyon Foot + Ankle in Twin Falls and Burley, our skilled foot doctors use advanced technology to diagnose nerve entrapment, and then customize various treatment options specific to your needs. Take a moment to learn more about nerve compression and what solutions we offer.
What Causes Entrapped Nerves?
Usually, they’re the result of something else going on with your feet, such as:
- Diabetic foot problems. High blood sugar places people with diabetes at risk of developing nerve damage, which might lead to a more serious condition called peripheral neuropathy. The first signs of nerve damage are reduced sensation and slow-healing injuries.
- Inflammation. You might experience this after certain injuries and medical issues.
- Injuries. These could be acute due to a single event, or chronic because of repetitive motions or overuse.
- Masses. Cysts, varicose veins, and bone spurs are all examples.
- Flat feet and/or overpronation. When your arches fall, excessive impact is placed on certain parts of your feet that aren’t meant to absorb the amount of shock feet experience from daily activities.
Entrapped Nerve Symptoms
While individuals' sensations vary, you might notice:
- Tingling
- A sensation like an electric shock
- Pain around the inside of your ankle or bottom of your heel and even radiating into your toes or your calf
- May occur without an obvious injury, deformity, or wound
- Tenderness in your arch
- Pain near the specific nerve being compressed
Remember: foot, ankle, and heel pain isn’t normal. If your discomfort doesn’t subside in a few days, schedule an appointment in one of our two Magic Valley locations right away.
Difference Between Entrapped Nerves and Plantar Fasciitis
Entrapped nerves present more of a burning pain, and your foot doesn’t feel better when you take pressure off it. Compressed nerves are usually more painful at night, and standing and stretching make them hurt more. Plantar fasciitis tends to be a stabbing pain that’s worse first thing in the morning but gets better when you take the weight off your foot and stretch and use it for a while. However, it’s possible to have both conditions together.
A more complex condition often confused with plantar fasciitis is Baxter’s nerve impingement, which is compression or irritation of the first branch of the inferior calcaneal nerve on the outside of your heel. However, Baxter's nerve impingement is neurological, while plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory condition of the plantar fascia tendon.
It’s important to have a comprehensive examination with one of our foot and ankle specialists who is familiar with nerve conditions to ensure a proper diagnosis and effective treatment.
Treatment Options for Entrapped Nerves at Canyon Foot + Ankle
It’s crucial to be proactive if you suspect a compressed nerve is causing your pain. Left untreated, you might develop neuropathy, foot ulcers, and other complications.
So after a detailed assessment of your medical history and the symptoms you’re experiencing, we complete a thorough physical examination, touching your foot to see where you experience pain. We might also ask you to walk, flex, and rotate your foot to better understand your gait and potential structural or mechanical issues contributing to your problem.
Our skilled medical team is committed to providing you with state-of-the-art diagnostic technology and diverse treatment options. Once we discover the root cause of your nerve entrapment, we’ll suggest both conservative and advanced solutions such as:
- Custom orthotics
- Medication
- Neurogenx
- Activity modification
- Icing the nerve
- Recommending different footwear
- Massage
- Physical therapy
- Cortisone injections
If necessary, another recommendation may be minimally invasive surgery, depending on the nature of your condition. Ultimately, our goal is to treat your feet to the exceptional care they deserve.