Foot Nerve Compression: Act Before It Worsens

Symptoms of nerve compression may begin as mild tingling or occasional numbness in your toes or forefoot. These annoying sensations may quickly develop into shooting pains or even chronic nerve damage if left untreated. Unbeknownst to you, your daily activities may put you at risk of nerve compression from wearing ill-fitting shoes to standing or walking for long periods of time. Take action as soon as you notice symptoms to give yourself the best chance of relieving pressure around the nerve and preventing future problems.

Where Do Feet Get Nerve Compression?

Foot nerves are surrounded by small tunnels of bones and tissues that can easily become compressed. If there is inflammation, a change in anatomy, or another form of compression in these tunnels, you may experience symptoms.

Common areas for nerve compression include the inside of your ankle and bottom of foot. This area is known as the tarsal tunnel. You may also experience compression in your forefoot from irritation to the interdigital nerves that run between your toes.

Symptoms can range from burning to tingling to sharp pains depending on the location of the nerve compression. You may experience more noticeable symptoms when you’re active or if you’re wearing tight shoes. Here at Treasure Valley Foot and Ankle, we will examine your feet to help determine where the compression is originating from. Knowing the root cause of your pain helps us create an individualized treatment plan that aims to treat the cause instead of masking your symptoms.

Early Symptoms of Foot Nerve Compression

When you first begin experiencing foot nerve compression, symptoms can be easy to ignore. You may feel like your toes go numb every once in awhile or you have mild burning or tingling after standing or walking for too long. These symptoms may even disappear after taking a break.

As the condition progresses, you will likely start to experience these symptoms more frequently and for longer amounts of time. You may even begin to feel uncomfortable when you’re sitting down or while you’re sleeping. Some people even feel a loss of balance when they have foot nerve compression, particularly if there is unreliable sensation in your feet. By identifying your symptoms early, you can take steps to correct your condition before it gets worse.

How Does Foot Nerve Compression Progress?

If you ignore your foot nerve pain, the condition will likely continue to worsen over time. You may feel frequent irritation that later turns into chronic pain. Inflammation can occur along the nerve as the condition progresses. The surrounding tissues can also thicken which causes even more pressure to build.

After awhile, you may develop weakness in your foot and toes when you try to walk or bear weight on your foot. These symptoms can become severe if you continue to allow your foot nerve compression to progress. Long-term nerve compression can cause permanent nerve damage, which is why it’s important to treat your condition as soon as you notice symptoms.

Conservative Treatments That Really Help

The most important thing you can do when you first develop foot nerve compression is to decrease the pressure around the affected nerve. Give your body a chance to heal by wearing shoes with a wide toe box and good arch support. This is especially important if you are struggling with nerve compression in your toes from wearing shoes that are too tight. Footwear is one of the easiest ways to decrease irritation and promote healing.

You should also pay attention to the activities that you’re participating in. If you typically enjoy high impact activities, you may want to take a break from exercising and focus on lower impact activities. Bike riding and swimming are great ways to limit the repetitive stress that you’re putting on your feet. Taking short breaks throughout your day can also help take pressure off of your feet.

Orthotics or cushioned insoles can also help relieve pressure on the affected nerve. These orthotic devices are designed to shift your weight to other areas of your foot. They can be very effective when paired with specific exercises that stretch and strengthen your feet.

Physical Therapy Can Help

Physical therapy is one of the most common and effective forms of treatment for foot nerve compression. A physical therapist will work with you to develop a personalized exercise routine that focuses on reducing your symptoms.

Many times we will teach you nerve gliding exercises. Nerve gliding helps your nerves move more smoothly throughout your foot. The consistent motion helps decrease pain and other symptoms associated with nerve compression.

Strengthening the muscles that control your feet can also be beneficial. Stronger muscles allow you to better stabilize your foot when you walk or move.

When to See a Doctor

If the symptoms you’re experiencing continue to bother you after you’ve made adjustments, it’s time to see your doctor. If you constantly have numbness in your feet, experience pain that gets worse over time, or notice weakness when you walk, you should make an appointment with your podiatrist.

During your appointment, we may order imaging or nerve studies to determine what is causing your symptoms. From there, we can create a targeted treatment plan to relieve your symptoms and get you back on your feet. Treatments may include therapy, medication, injections, or in severe cases, surgery. The earlier that you see your doctor, the simpler your treatment is likely to be.

Treating Your Foot Nerve Compression Now Can Save You Time Later

You never want to ignore your symptoms. Continuing to be active when you know something is wrong can cause you to feel worse. While you never want to stop your favorite activities forever, taking a break can save you time in the long run. Make sure to stretch and strengthen your feet to help prevent future irritation.

Treating your nerve compression early can help you avoid chronic foot problems in the future.

Foot nerve compression is easily treated when you take your symptoms seriously. Follow our tips to keep your feet healthy for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the first signs of nerve compression in the foot?

Some of the first signs of nerve compression in the foot include tingling, numbness, burning, or a pins and needles sensation in your toes or forefoot. These feelings may also increase when you’re active or if you’re wearing shoes that don’t fit properly.

Can foot nerve compression go away on its own?

Some people find that resting and wearing roomier shoes helps their symptoms. If you’re continuing to experience numbness or pain in your feet, you may need to seek treatment.

When should I see a specialist for foot nerve pain?

If your symptoms have lasted for over a week, continue to get worse, or you feel weakness, constant numbness, or have trouble walking, you should see your doctor.