Tarsal Tunnel is caused by impingement on the Posterior Tibial Nerve which causes tingling and numbness to spread over the bottom of the foot. Tarsal Tunnell is a very painful and debilitating condition, with no sure fire cure. Before treating your tarsal tunnel, you need a diagnosis of the condition. The only way to conclusively diagnose Tarsal Tunnel is a nerve conduction study. Without that study, you will not be able to determine if you have Tarsal Tunnel, due to the fact that the Tarsal Tunnel symptoms can also be precipitated by back issues as well as early neuropathy formation. If the issue is from the back what I am about to list will be of no help for you.
5. Orthotics– Tarsal Tunnel syndrome in some cases can be caused by biomechanical abnormalities. What happens is your foot supinates or pronates too much causing an impingement on the Posterior Tibial Nerve. This can be caused by a tendon or ligament tightening up, thus suppressing the Posterior Tibial Nerve. There two types of orthotics available. One is custom molded orthotic. Generally, a cast or a computerized gait scan is taken by the Podiatrist of your foot and from that a lab will produce an orthotic. These generally cost between four hundred and 600 hundred dollars but may be covered by insurance. The other type of orthotic is an OTC orthotic. These orthotics can be purchased at drug stores or over the internet for anywhere between ten and thirty dollars.
4. Physical Therapy- Modalities such as Physical Therapy or anodyne treatment. Again like orthotics there is not a ton of evidence these work. These modalities also will not cure the problem. As soon as you stop having these performed the Tarsal Tunnel will return. Ultrasound can be a very positive effect on Tarsal Tunnel after surgery, with Tarsal Tunnell that is still painful. The Ultrasound can help with the scar tissue that accumulates in the Tarsal Tunnel after a failed surgery. Anodyne has demonstrated some benefit to sufferers of peripheral Neuropathy. The anodyne works by applying infared red to the foot increasing the blood flow which soothes the pain. Anodyne machines can be purchased at the link below:
3. Neuropathy medications. Tarsal Tunnel at its heart is a disease of the nerve somewhat similar to peripheral Neuropathy. So medication for peripheral Neuropathy can have some success for the Tarsal Tunnel sufferer. The medications most commonly used would be Cymbalta or Lyrica which are both anti depressants as well. These are prescription medications so you will have to see a doctor for beginning their medication. Another medication to try would be Nerve vitamins. Again evidence that these are effective is slim, but you may have a reduction in symptoms from the Tarsal Tunnel from taking these Vitamins. The Vitamins can be purchased at the link below, or any drug store or GNC.
2. Surgery– If only Tarsal Tunnel surgery was like Carpal Tunnel syndrome. CTS has a high success rate of 90% and only takes about two minutes to perform. Tarsal Tunnel is a much more complicated surgery. Before having the surgery, your podiatrist should order an MRI to see what is causing the Tarsal Tunnel syndrome. Sometimes, there are varicose veins or a cyst that are impinging on the nerve. If there is a cyst and all is required is removal then the surgery should have a success rate of about 90%. However, if after the MRI there is no defined cause of the Tarsal Tunnel, the chances of success plummet. Additionally, once a tarsal tunnel surgery is performed and failed, the chances of success plummet on subsequent operations. The first operation is the best shot at decompression. So if there is a defined caused the surgery is a good idea, if there is no defined cause the surgery is extremely risky and you should prepare for the likelihood of poor results.
If you are further interested in and considering the surgery, here is a book that covers it in incredible detail.
Simple compression wrap of the ankle– Sometimes the Tarsal Tunnel is caused by simple swelling of the ankle or related structures and by wearing a compression wrap of the ankle, this will reduce the primary causality of the ankle. You do not want an Ace wrap but something you can slip on your foot. Examples of which are below. So good luck with Tarsal Tunnel. There are no easy answers.