Your sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body, running from your lower back down into each foot. Your tibial nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve, and it plays a key role in the function and sensory experiences of our lower legs and feet. If it becomes damaged, it can negatively affect your mobility, balance and your ability to feel touch or temperature changes in the area. Although it’s a pretty well-protected nerve, it’s not immune from damage, which is why we want to use today’s blog to talk about some of the most common management tips for tibial nerve damage.

Common Causes And Symptoms Of Tibial Nerve Damage

Your tibial nerve can become damaged in a few different ways, with acute trauma being one of the leading causes. If you suffer severe trauma to the leg, ankle or foot, there’s a possibility that the tibial nerve was also injured during the traumatic event. When assessing a suspected leg or ankle fracture, know that your doctor isn’t just looking at the bone, because the real issue may involve damage to this large and vital nerve.

The tibial nerve can also become compressed as a result of localized inflammation that can develop in the lower leg or foot. Repetitive trauma, arthritic degeneration or autoimmune diseases can all trigger an inflammatory response, in turn limiting the space for the nerve to pass unimpeded. Diabetes can also lead to nerve damage in the form of neuropathy, while poorly-fitting shoes can cause tibial nerve irritation in the form of compression neuropathy.

Symptoms of tibial nerve damage will vary depending on the extent of the damage and where it exists along the nerve path, but patients may experience some or all of the following symptoms:

• Localized pain
• Radiating pain down the leg
• Burning sensation
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Sensory loss
• Muscle weakness
• Discomfort that worsens with activity

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, especially if you recently suffered a lower leg injury or know that you have a health condition that would predispose you to tibial nerve damage, make it a point to connect with Dr. McDonald or a foot and ankle specialist in your area. Not only can treatments be rather effective, but symptoms tend to worsen if proactive measures aren’t taken, so don’t delay.

How To Treat Tibial Nerve Damage

Treating tibial nerve discomfort begins by identifying what has caused or is causing the tibial nerve damage. During a consultation with a physician, your doctor will ask about your symptoms, review your medical history, conduct a physical exam and may order imaging tests like an X-ray or MRI to get a closer look at the inner workings of your foot. Once they’ve pinpointed the root cause, your doctor will be able to set you up with a care plan.

While each treatment will be unique to the individual, many patients who are dealing with compression or damage as a result of a non-acute traumatic cause will be told to pair anti-inflammatory medications with lifestyle interventions. Working to control inflammation while also improving other aspects of your health like your diet, your weight and what type of physical activities you pursue can help to reduce or eliminate symptoms. Changing footwear and switching to low-impact exercise can also help to reduce the likelihood that compression or repetitive stress continue to cause problems for the tibial nerve.

Patients with tibial nerve damage as a result of acute trauma may have a slightly different course of treatment. While the above techniques can be helpful, trauma to the lower leg that damages the tibial nerve can lead to functional impairment in the leg, ankle and foot, which is why physical therapy tends to be a common treatment in these instances. PT will help to restore function, mobility, muscle strength, balance and overall stability to the lower leg, which will be crucial in the event that some nerve damage cannot be fully resolved.

For more serious cases, corticosteroid injections, nerve blocks or even a minimally invasive surgery to decompress an irritated nerve may be recommended.

If you believe you’re dealing with tibial nerve damage, don’t put off treatment any longer. Connect with a specialist like Dr. McDonald and work to preserve or restore function and sensory ability in your lower leg and foot. For more information, reach out to his office today at (860) 244-8889.