Can someone tell me about Tarsal tunnel syndrome? Treatments?

Posted by summertime4 @summertime4, Jul 20, 2019

Can someone tel me about tarsal tunnel syndrome. Who, what doctor diagnosed them, and what treatment are available. Thank you.

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Has anyone tried Softwave Therapy to correct Tarsal Tunnel? Curious if it works.

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Profile picture for cmlyolo64 @cmlyolo64

Has anyone tried Softwave Therapy to correct Tarsal Tunnel? Curious if it works.

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I did stretching therapy with my PT and ended up with injections in both ankles as well. Took about 3 months to work through it. Whenever I feel it getting tight again, I do my home exercise program for it.

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See my comment below.

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Profile picture for mrsflutterby @mrsflutterby

I did stretching therapy with my PT and ended up with injections in both ankles as well. Took about 3 months to work through it. Whenever I feel it getting tight again, I do my home exercise program for it.

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Where do I get Software Therapy?

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Welcome @spiritusheart22 and @cmlyolo64, I have not heard of Softwave Therapy but I think it may be similar to shock wave therapy. Mayo Clinic has some information on how it's used in sports medicine here:
-- Sports medicine practitioners embrace benefits of extracorporeal shock wave therapy:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/news/the-evolving-use-of-extracorporeal-shock-wave-therapy-in-managing-musculoskeletal-and-neurological-diagnoses/mac-20527246
Here's the website explaining the benefits of SoftWave Therapy that makes a lot claims that I'm not sure about.
-- Benefits of SoftWave Therapy :
https://www.regenerateswt.com/benefits-of-softwave-therapy
Where did you hear about SoftWave Therapy?

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Profile picture for John, Volunteer Mentor @johnbishop

Welcome @spiritusheart22 and @cmlyolo64, I have not heard of Softwave Therapy but I think it may be similar to shock wave therapy. Mayo Clinic has some information on how it's used in sports medicine here:
-- Sports medicine practitioners embrace benefits of extracorporeal shock wave therapy:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/news/the-evolving-use-of-extracorporeal-shock-wave-therapy-in-managing-musculoskeletal-and-neurological-diagnoses/mac-20527246
Here's the website explaining the benefits of SoftWave Therapy that makes a lot claims that I'm not sure about.
-- Benefits of SoftWave Therapy :
https://www.regenerateswt.com/benefits-of-softwave-therapy
Where did you hear about SoftWave Therapy?

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Thank you for the information. Revival Health and Wellness in Fenton, MO 63026

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Profile picture for bkelley5 @bkelley5

I was diagnosed with TTS back in the summer of 2006. I had the TTS release along with the Morton’s Neuroma in Jan 2007.

I suffered tingling & burning within 6 months post-op. My life changed... dealing with the pain 24/7 it did take control of my life & mood.

Fast forward to January 2016. I had a relative tell me about Black Seed Oil. I gave it a try. I have been doing the turmeric, cinnamon, BLack Seed Oil (BSO), black pepper concoction for 4 years now. I am pain free now. Since 2016 I have been pain free. I feel nothing.

The recipe is all over YouTube.

I personally do a swig of orange juice, or green tea. I sprinkle a tspn of turmeric, dash of cinnamon, sprinkle pepper (lemon juice is optional) & I hold this in my mouth (head tilted). I then take a tspn of BSO & drop it in my mouth. I do this twice per day... first thing that goes into my body in the morning, & the last thing that goes into my body at bed time.

Heaven sent for those that suffer from TTS.

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OMG, I would so surely gag and vomit if I were to do your concoction because I have such a sensitive gag reflex...but I am glad that it has worked for you and that it’s relieving the TTS pain because I have suffered with that in my left foot for over 2 years now. Had a horrific fall onto concrete floor back in 2021, and although at first an x-ray did not reveal any fractures, I had a weird, slightly elevated bruise the size of a quarter on the side of the leg (just above the ankle bone). It progressed into a weird sensation in the area where the leg bone connected to the foot, making me feel as if the area was super-stuffed with cotton. Pain progressed, my primary sent me to PT, but that did not help. Started progressing to extended nerve pain, and the foot orthopedist was of no help at all. He was skeptical and dismissive, saying that he saw nothing in his examinations that supported needing any intervention, definitely nothing surgical. But I wasn't looking for surgery, just an answer and relief! Kept telling me it was "soft tissue damage" and that such damage "...takes a long time to heal, so bear with it, let's give it another six weeks and see how it goes." Seriously??!! I demanded an MRI when nearly 6 months later, symptoms had spread and were affecting my already problematic balance and gait issues (ataxia diagnosed in 2014). He refused to order the MRI, but did acquiesce to nerve conduction study, which I then had almost a month later (not many neurologists are accredited for nerve and muscle conduction testing, so it took a while to get an appointment). I'm going to fast forward and just say that I dropped that foot orthopedist and went to see a top notch neurologist (who IS accredited for nerve studies but couldn't make app't with him since he was booked a year out!). He took one look at my still swollen ankle/leg (yes, still swollen a year after the fall!) and said "An MRI should have been ordered." HE ordered one, and along with the conduction study and examination of my ankle, etc., he sent me to a foot orthopedist in another medical group. TWO injections into the ankle did not help (but were dang painful after the anesthetic in that area wore off!). Fast forward some more months, and my ankle pain was a 24/7 constant burning nerve pain of Pain Scale 7 to 9 out of 10. It was sometimes so bad that I cried because I can't take morphine, codeine, tramadol NOT ANYTHING except for Aleve (which helped along with application of heat to the affected area). Fast forward several more months, and my neurologist diagnosed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Causalgia 2. Translation for me: I was doomed with yet another chronic pain added to my already crowded plate of chronic pain from other causes. This deepened my depression. I learned of TTS through John, a mentor here on this site, and tried to investigate that route. Got nowhere. Finally discovered (via extensive and intensive research) an outstanding podiatrist who concurred with the CRPS diagnosis and urged me to consider trying PT again because PT is absolutely needed to keep the joint from atrophying and would help me handle my seriously affected gait. He urged me to question whichever therapist as to experience/knowledge with TTS, but after calling centers within a 15 mile radius of our home, I found that no one had even heard of this diagnosis/condition. So I chose to ask the wonderful therapist who had helped with my knee (torn meniscus, damaged tendons/muscles from the same fall as what damaged the foot). I researched info on TTS and recommenda-tions for exercises (do's and don'ts), proposed to him what my goals were, and together a plan emerged for PT: he would gain experience with TTS and I would benefit from the therapy👍🏼.

It's been almost 6 wks of therapy and I'm so happy that the ankle is so much better! The constant burning pain still exists but down to Pain Scale 5 to 6. THAT is so much more "acceptable" for me, compared to what I'd suffered/endured for so many months. The joints still feel “stuffed” but not as stiff, and there are areas of skin discoloration, which I learned is symptomatic of TTS. My podiatrist is pleased with the progress, and I'll continue PT for another month or so, then evaluate. We are going to explore a brace to support the ankle but we must take into consideration that I have nerve issues that extend up the leg, along with a bit of "numbness" which my neurologist says is nerve damage. Extends up both sides of leg. I can't have anything binding/pressing on top of foot either due to nerve issues there as well. Yeah, it's not a "simple case" but nothing in my medical history has been "simple"...

My podiatrist also wrote a prescription for a compounded cream, which is filled at a compounding pharmacy outside our state. Pricey, but one metered pump rubbed into the affected areas calms the pain.

Bottom line, all of us who suffer from and have to endure pain will seek out whatever avenues can gain us some level of relief. I do believe in alternate medicine, and have great respect for the medicinal qualities of herbs, etc.

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Profile picture for summertime4 @summertime4

I am experiencing all the symptoms of Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome and have been for over 8 months. After a nerve conduction test I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy. Along with all the symptoms of neuropathy my left foot , toes, ankle and lower leg are swollen with sever pain 24/7 unless I take a pain reducer and then it is just less pain. I have been to 2 vein doctors and have varicose veins and venus insufficiency but was told this was not the cause of the swelling and pain. I was told I had lymphedema. I did not know what lymphedema was, but spent some time in that therapy for the swelling. Didn't work. Had a CAT scan and was told lymph nodes were not damaged and I had not had cancer that would have affected them. Seeing a neurologist because of neuropathy. She tells me she has NO Idea why my foot, toes, ankle, and leg are swollen, discolored and so painful. A neurologist mind you. Echp of heart was normal, orthopedic surgeon asked why I was there. (I was referred by the vein doctor???) I was referred to a rheumatoid doctor and have an appt Aug 6. Referred by neurologist. My primary care "I just don't know". Meantime my quality of life has reached a low. I am in pain and the neuropathy and swelling make me very unsteady on my feet. I did find Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome when I was told to be pro active by my neurologist and I have EVERY symptom described. I sent her a message on my portal saying I found this while being pro active and maybe I will hear back. I cannot and my family cannot believe that no doctor has been more active. I am . I really don't know where I am right now. Pain , more pain, depression and feeling left in the cold is really affecting me emotionally. Sorry for the rant.

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I have just posted a similar rant, not having seen yours. I'm not getting pain, mainly ice cold feet, left much more so and burning and tingling; plus a weak left foot( drop foot symptoms) and adult onset flat feet. All point to TTS.
Yet I was told by a neurologist that I had age related peripheral neuropathy, small fibre most likely version.
There is a group on Facebook called the Tarsal Tunnel Group. Easy to join it. It can be a bit depressing but it might help you to decide if you have TTS. Do you get a tingling feeling in your feet? there is a test they do called Tinel's test which, apparently, goes a long way to help diagnosing TTS.
I'm just back from the gym. I find that mine flares up after gym then shower, usually my left foot goes ice cold. Yet when I go to bed it dies right down, and is almost like normal when I wake up.
I take it you've had all the usual blood tests re B12 deficiency, under active thyroid etc. These can lead to neuropathy...
Hope this helps.

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I have tarsal tunnel.
It was diagnosed last year.
In addition to a few other syndromes (carpal tunnel among other things)!
My strategy is to minimize eating inflammatory foods, wear the appropriate footwear, and exercise.
My symptoms are now minimal to none.
Take care of your feet (and body) and the improvements will show.

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