Tarsal Tunnel

Alright, so for this blog I decided to do an injury that most people do not know about and by most people that includes me. The reason I have chosen to do a blog on Tarsal Tunnel is because I recently went to the doctors and I was diagnosed with this injury. When I was in that doctor's office and he told me that had tarsal tunnel my eyes widened and I could not believe it. The more and more the doctor talked about it the more it made me depressed. As soon as he mentioned the word SURGERY I could not bear to hear anymore! All I could think was ME, an athlete, hoping to go on and play basketball in life but might have to sit back a couple months! I can't even rest one week without playing a sport, I feel bored and dead without them. So me, trying to go at least 1 month without playing a sport is just not in my mentality right now.

Allow me to explain what is Tarsal tunnel its a painful foot condition in which the tibia feels tight as it travels along the tarsal tunnel. Your tarsal tunnel is located on the inner leg, behind your medal malleolus. (located in the picture) To determine if you have this injury you must get a physical examination  and take an X-ray but an MRI is highly recommended too.

How can tarsal tunnel happen? This injury can happen for a number of reasons for example the reason I have it, is because I have flat feet. Also, those who have arthritis in their feet can lead to tarsal tunnel, diabetes, another injury can lead to this as well or, simply you could have a disease.

Symptoms

The first time I noticed there was something wrong with my feet, I got agonizing pain at the bottom of my feet. It was a very sharp and later on numbing pain that prevented me from playing to my full potential. I could tell there was something wrong with the nerves in my feet but I did not know what it was! Here are other symptoms that may occur:

• Burning sensation
• Numbness in the foot
• Very bad pain at the bottom of feet
• Swelling of the feet
• Also, if any of these symptoms spread up your legs

Preventions

• Do a good warm up
• Do exercises to make the feet more flexible
• Wear the proper shoes
• Make sure to give your feet a break throughout long durations of activity

Treatment

Non surgical treatment

To try and get ride of the pain there are many solutions but depending on how severe your injury is, it might not cure it. First of all, I have went with the solution of getting orthotics, that you must wear in all your shoes to try and help create an arch in your foot. Also, you can take medication to help cure the nerve damage in your foot. The other option which frightens me the most would be steroid/ anesthetic injections in the nerves of your foot to try and release the swelling and pain.

Surgical treatment

For this solution the doctors would either release the ligament that surround the tunnel, fix the structure of the tunnel or clearing the obstruction.

Here is small video explaining everything you need to know about Tarsal Tunnel!

http://injuryfix.com/archives/tarsal-tunnel-syndrome.php

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/specialty_areas/peripheral_nerve_surgery/conditions/tarsal-tunnel-syndrome.html