Lateral Plantar Nerve Entrapment

Lateral plantar nerve entrapment causes pain in the inner, lower heel, and inner ankle area. The lateral plantar nerve is a branch of the posterior tibial nerve which passes through the tarsal tunnel. This nerve provides the skin of the fifth toe and the lateral half of the fourth, as well as most of the deep muscles. It is also sometimes called Baxter's nerve, for Dr. Donald Baxter, a Houston orthopedist who described the condition in 1984. An entrapment may occur between the abductor hallucis muscles and the quadratus planus muscle. 
Lateral plantar nerve entrapment is often seen in athletes, as it is a repetitive stress injury. 
Symptoms include pain that radiates from the inner, lower heel to the inner ankle area. Numbness is not common in this condition. Baxter's nerve entrapment is often confused with plantar fasciitis. So how do you tell the difference? Plantar fasciitis is worst in the morning when you take that first step out of bed. Pain from a Baxter's nerve entrapment gets worse as you put weight on your foot throughout the day. You'll still feel pain when you're off your feet when you have an entrapment- with plantar fasciitis, the pain is relieved. 
Treatment includes rest, anti-inflammatory medications, supporting the arch of the foot with tape, orthotics to correct the overpronation, cortisone shot, and if those options fail, surgical release. 
If you are experiencing heel pain, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Heel Pain Doctor in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
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