Tarsal tunnel syndrome

[Dianne]

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is pain in the ankle, foot, and sometimes toes caused by compression of or damage to the nerve supplying the heel and sole (posterior tibial nerve).

Symptoms include burning or tingling pain that occurs when people walk or wear certain shoes.
The diagnosis is based on an examination of the foot and nerve conduction studies.
Corticosteroid injections, orthoses, and sometimes surgery are needed to relieve the pain.

(See also Overview of Foot Problems.)
The posterior tibial nerve runs down the back of the calf, through a fibrous canal (tarsal tunnel) near the heel, and into the sole of the foot. When tissues around the tarsal tunnel become inflamed, they can swell and press on the nerve (nerve compression), causing pain.
Disorders that can cause or contribute to tarsal tunnel syndrome include fracture, ankle swelling caused by heart failure or kidney failure, and an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). Also, disorders such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis cause inflammation in the joints. Poor foot posture may also contribute if the ankle rolls too far inward and stresses the nerve within the tarsal tunnel.