Heel pain is a typical symptom of several conditions, including the common but less well-known heel nerve entrapment.
Heel pain can make it difficult to do the activities you love. If you do a simple Google search for your conditions, you may be convinced that you have plantar fasciitis.
However, you may have another common condition that causes heel pain: heel nerve entrapment.
While the symptoms of plantar fasciitis and heel nerve entrapment are similar, heel nerve entrapment is caused by the compression of the nerve along the arch of the foot and inside the heel. A podiatrist will be able to give you the correct treatment once the diagnosis is determined.
Learn more about the causes and symptoms of heel nerve entrapment below.
Heel Nerve Entrapment
What is heel nerve entrapment?
Heel nerve entrapment, also known as Baxter’s nerve entrapment or neuritis, is a condition in which the inferior calcaneal nerve around the heel bone is compressed and causes burning pain in the heel and numbness. It is named after Dr. Donald Baxter, who discovered the condition in 1984.
The inferior calcaneal nerve is the largest nerve in the arch of the foot. It runs along the bottom of the foot and into the inner ankle where the tarsal tunnel lies, similar to the carpal tunnel of the wrist.
Heel nerve entrapment is a common complaint and is similar to plantar fasciitis. In fact, heel nerve entrapment can be misdiagnosed as plantar fasciitis since the causes and symptoms are analogous to Baxter’s neuritis.
That’s why understanding the subtle differences in heel nerve pain and numbness caused by heel nerve entrapment is crucial to a proper diagnosis.
Similarities to Plantar Fasciitis
As mentioned, heel nerve entrapment and plantar fasciitis can be confused due to their similar symptoms. While plantar fasciitis is considered one of the most common causes of heel pain, Dr. Baxter noted that as many as 20 percent of cases with heel pain may be caused by heel nerve entrapment.
The leading cause of heel pain misdiagnosis is due to the location of pain. Pain in plantar fasciitis is typically on the bottom of the heel. In heel nerve entrapment, pain can be felt on the bottom of the heel or on the inside and outside of the heel.
Because of these similarities, it is important to visit a podiatrist like Dr. Frankel who can perform tests and imaging to determine the root cause of your heel pain.
Symptoms and Causes of Heel Nerve Entrapment
If you have heel pain and you aren’t sure if it is Baxter’s nerve entrapment, plantar fasciitis, or some other heel condition, consider these classic symptoms of heel nerve entrapment:
- Pain may feel like a burning sensation.
- Pain tends to be worse as the day goes on, and pain increases with activity.
- Pain is pressure-sensitive, which may be aggravated by orthotics.
- There is numbness on the outside of the heel from longstanding cases.
- Chronic pain may be localized to the inside of the heel.
The causes of heel nerve entrapment all point toward compression or entrapment of the nerve. Forms of compression or entrapment could include, among others:
- Poor gait, such as rolling the foot inwards
- Footwear or poorly prescribed orthotics
- Overuse or trauma during activities such as running
- Heel spurs
- Obesity
- Flat feet
- Heel pad atrophy
Any activity or risk factor that places excessive pressure on the arch and heel can lead to heel nerve entrapment.
If you feel any heel pain, schedule an appointment with Dr. Frankel for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Nonsurgical Treatment for Heel Nerve Entrapment
If you are diagnosed with Baxter’s nerve entrapment, you may be prescribed nonsurgical treatment methods to relieve the nerve from compression and reduce pain.
Dr. Frankel may suggest the following options for you depending on your symptoms and pain levels:
- Oral anti-inflammatory medication
- Padding: Padding the entrapment site will ease compression on the nerve and may reduce pain.
- Steroid injection therapy: Steroids may be injected into the site of pain in the medial aspect of the calcaneus.
- Stretching exercises: Stretching can release tension from the site and reduce pain.
- Physical therapy: Physical therapy is beneficial if a patient has entrapment of Baxter’s nerve and plantar fasciitis
Other nonsurgical treatments include icing the pain site, modifying activities, massage, and taping or splinting.
Conservative therapies such as reducing inflammation at the site and resting from activities that aggravate the nerve may treat your heel pain. If pain persists despite conservative measures, then surgery might be necessary.
Dr. Frankel will observe your foot, determine the location of pain, and may take imaging to diagnose your heel pain and choose the best treatment option for your condition. Schedule a consultation at Frankel Foot & Ankle today to relieve your heel pain.
Find the right treatment with Dr. Frankel.
Dr. Frankel founded Frankel Foot & Ankle to provide patients in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey tri-state area with the latest advances in diagnostic technology and treatment for sports medicine conditions, foot and ankle trauma response, and innovative surgical and regenerative approaches. Contact Frankel Foot & Ankle today.
