Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome is a painful foot condition in which the tibial nerve is compressed as it travels through the tarsal tunnel. This tunnel is found along the inner leg behind the medial malleolus, otherwise known as the bump on the inside of the ankle.
Symptoms of this ailment include:
- Pain and tingling in and around ankles
- Swelling of the feet
- Electric shock sensations
- Pain radiating up into the leg, and down into the arch, heel and toes
- Hot and cold sensations in the feet
- A feeling as though the feet do not have enough padding
- Burning sensation on the bottom of foot that radiates upward
Because it is difficult to determine the exact cause of Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome, it is important to determine the source of the problem. Certain items that could cause compression of the nerve include benign tumors or cysts, bone spurs, inflammation of the tendon sheath, nerve ganglions or swelling from a broken or sprained ankle. Other culprits include varicose veins.
TTS tends to be more common in athletes or individuals who tend to do a lot of standing as these people commonly put an excessive amount of stress on the tarsal tunnel area.
