Are you tired of dealing with the symptoms of tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS)? If so, you are not alone. Although tarsal tunnel syndrome is considered rare, there are still a number of people who share in your desire to quell the annoying and sometimes incapacitating symptoms of TTS. Tarsal tunnel syndrome, not to be confused with carpal tunnel syndrome, is a condition that affects the feet. It is marked by pain, numbness, and tingling/burning in the feet, and has a variety of causes. Only a medical professional can diagnose this condition.
Those who have been diagnosed with tarsal tunnel syndrome want a solution for their pain. Before we explore a drug-free treatment option for this condition, let’s take a look at some common TTS treatments and their side effects.
Common Treatments for Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
There are a number of therapies commonly used for treating tarsal tunnel syndrome. The article Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment and Management says, “Medical therapy for tarsal tunnel syndrome may consist of local injection of steroids into the tarsal canal. An acceptable conservative approach in the early treatment of tarsal tunnel neuropathy includes the use of local anesthetics and soluble steroids, which may aid in the reduction of the patient’s pain. These therapies may occasionally produce complete relief of symptoms, but they need to be performed judiciously, as additional nerve injury may occur from improperly placed syringe needles.” As stated, such therapies can be helpful but can also cause complications such as nerve injury. Individuals who have tried these therapies and experienced unsatisfactory results, or want to take a drug-free route to healing, should research physiotherapy.
Is Physiotherapy the Drug-Free Tarsal Tunnel Treatment You’ve Been Needing?
Did you know that physiotherapy is an effective, drug-free treatment for tarsal tunnel syndrome? It’s true. Physiotherapy may not always be the magic bullet for everyone with TTS, but, if appropriate for the patient, it should be tried before other therapies are implemented. The article Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome (http://www.physioadvisor.com.au/) stated, “Physiotherapy treatment is vital to hasten the healing process, ensure an optimal outcome, and reduce the likelihood of injury recurrence in all patients with tarsal tunnel syndrome. A physiotherapy program is the first line of treatment for patients with this condition. The success rate of treatment is largely dictated by patient compliance. One of the key components of treatment is that the patient rests sufficiently from any activity that increases their pain until they are symptom free (crutches may be required). This allows the body to begin the healing process in the absence of further tissue damage. Once the patient can perform these activities pain free, a gradual return to these activities is indicated provided there is no increase in symptoms.”
Some patients may need to take anti-inflammatory medications as they participate in their physiotherapy program. If physiotherapy proves insufficient to treat a patient’s tarsal tunnel syndrome, other treatments or surgery may be needed.
Perhaps you’ve tried various tarsal tunnel treatments to no avail. Or, maybe the treatments that were helpful to you had nasty side effects. No matter how difficult your journey with this condition has been, there is hope for you. Contact a physiotherapist today to ask how physiotherapy may help you recover from tarsal tunnel syndrome.