Heel Pain: Not Always Plantar Fasciitis
People will often use the word plantar fasciitis interchangeably with heel pain. Although this may not always be the case as heel pain can be due to other causes such as tarsal tunnel syndrome.
The tarsal tunnel is a space along the inside of your ankle where nerves, tendons and blood vessels traverse through a small “tunnel” in your ankle.
Pain stemming from tarsal tunnel usually feels like numbness, burning, sharp, shooting and/or tingling sensation on the bottom of the foot. This is a result of the nerve that is going through the tarsal tunnel getting compressed or irritated.
Tarsal tunnel syndrome can occur due to space occupying soft tissue lesions such as tumors, trauma, extra bone growth, enlarged veins (varicosities) and biomechanical deformities. Other contributing factors may be repeatedly performing the same motion in the feet (repetitive stress), just like carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist.
Treatment consists of rest, anti-inflammatory medication, injections, addressing the biomechanical deformity with orthotics. Some cases of tarsal tunnel with severe symptoms that are not responding to conservative treatment may require surgery. The surgery is done to decompress the nerve within the tarsal tunnel and/or to remove any space-occupying lesion if present.
If you are suffering from heel pain, make sure to be evaluated by a foot and ankle specialist so it can be treated appropriately. Remember, not all heel pain is plantar fasciitis.
Dr. Hetal Kathrotiya-Mago works in two offices for your convenience- Silver Spring, MD (MedStar- Leisure World) and Silver Spring, MD (International Dr).
The information on this site is provided for your assistance only; this site does not provide podiatric advice. You should never diagnose or treat yourself for a podiatric condition based on the information provided herein, and the information is not provided for that purpose. Likewise, you should never determine that treatment is unnecessary based on this information. The information contained herein is not a substitute for podiatric care provided by a licensed podiatric professional. The information provided herein is not podiatric, medical or professional advice. This site does not create a doctor-patient relationship.
Dr. Kathrotiya-Mago and Foot & Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic, LLC expressly disclaims all warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, related to any products offered for sale on this web site. Dr. Kathrotiya-Mago and Foot & Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic, LLC further expressly disclaims any product warranties of effectiveness or fitness for any particular purpose or use. You are solely responsible for your use of, or reliance on, any products offered for sale herein, and any consequences arising out of such use or reliance. In no event will Dr. Kathrotiya-Mago and Foot & Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic, LLC be liable for any damages resulting from use of or reliance on any such products, whether based on warranty, contract, tort or any other legal theory.
This Website, and the information contained herein, is provided to you as a service for use at your sole risk.
[mashshare]