If your circulatory system is the “highway” of the body, the nervous system is the communications network. Peripheral nerves spread out through the body and limbs from the central nervous system, which includes the spinal cord and the brain. These nerves have to handle signals in both directions: reporting new feelings and sensations to the brain, and relaying the brain’s instructions to muscles and organs. Like any other part of the body, though, nerves can be weakened, damaged, injured, infected, impaired, or otherwise prevented from doing their jobs correctly. Because of the complicated and important role that they perform, this can result in a number of adverse effects, from odd sensations (burning, tingling, shocking, etc.) and pain to numbness, muscle weakness, loss of motor control, or even problems with autonomic body functions (like digestion or bladder control).

Foot & Ankle Nerve Conditions

Problems we see and treat frequently include:

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral nerves are more easily damaged than other types of nerves, and the ones in the feet and ankles are at the greatest risk. Blood supply is often weakest at the extremities, and a number of external and internal problems can prevent the nerves from getting the nutrients they need to flourish. Diabetes is by far the more common cause; not only does it reduce blood flow to the feet, but heightened blood sugar both poisons nerves and causes swelling that can pinch them. Other potential causes include poor diet, alcoholism, and certain diseases or infections. Sometimes, no apparent cause can be identified.

Neuromas

Neuromas are small, swollen masses of nerve tissue. They are most likely to form in the balls of the feet, often near the second, third, or fourth toes. While neuromas aren’t cancerous, the weight and pressure of standing may push them into adjacent, healthy nerve tissue. At best, this is irritating—like getting stuck with a fold in your sock. At worst, it can make standing, walking, or wearing shoes quite painful.

Pinched Nerves

Sometimes, a physical blockage puts pressure on a nerve. This is called a pinched nerve, nerve entrapment, or nerve compression. It can be a temporary situation (such as from certain repetitive activities or sitting in an uncomfortable position), or related to inflammation, abnormal foot structures, or other more permanent problems. Nerves have to make their way through tight tunnels and spaces between and around bones, muscles, and other tissues, so there are lots of opportunities to get compressed. The most common diagnosis we see is tarsal tunnel syndrome, which is very much like carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist. It occurs in the ankle and often causes heel pain.

Treatment for Nerve Conditions

Nerve damage is often harder to reverse than your typical tendon tear or broken bone, too, so it’s important to get any strange symptoms reviewed as soon as possible. The appropriate treatment remedy will, of course, depend both on the nature of your nerve injury as well as its severity. Some treatments are more focused on relieving pain, while others may remove or release obstructions or correct biomechanical flaws that contribute to nerve pinching. At Aadvanced Footcare Associates, we are proud to be able to provide a wide range of treatment options, from the most traditional conservative care to more advanced therapies and technologies. For example:

• Anti-inflammatory medications or injections
• Casting
• Bracing
• Padding
• Physical therapy
• Custom orthotics
• K-Laser therapy
• Prolotherapy
• Reconstructive surgery

If you ever experience persistent pain, tingling, sensation loss, or other strange symptoms in your feet and ankles, please stop by and see us today at one of our three convenient locations:

• Rego Park: (718) 896-4433
• Plainview: (516) 822-9595
• Flushing: (718) 9696-2266