Patient – Lateral Plantar (Baxter) Nerve entrapment

Summary

  • Heel pain that often shoots under the outside of the heel and travels up the leg

 

How did I get this?

  • The nerve under your heel becomes pinched by a muscle connecting your big toe and your heel bone.
  • You may have a low arch foot type, or the area could be irritated by footwear.

 

What can I do about it?

  • Wear supportive cushioning footwear.
  • Avoid going barefoot.
  • Modify your activity to stop doing the things that cause pain.
  • Short term use of pain killers can give relief.

 

What help can I get for this?

  • A Podiatrist will provide padding, cushioning or orthotics to reduce load in the painful area.
  • Xrays or scans may identify bony lumps or soft tissue abnormalities.
  • If other treatment is not successful surgery may be required to release tissue around the nerve.

 

When will it get better?

  • Activity modification plus appropriate footwear and orthotics should see an improvement in 6-8 weeks.