| Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome can be difficult to | | | | possibility. There are some physical therapists who |
| diagnose. Stephanie told me she had been tossed | | | | are quite skilled at hands-on techniques like |
| around from doctor to doctor for two years | | | | massage or neuromuscular massage therapy. |
| because they couldn't decide on the cause of the | | | | If you suffer from Tarsal Tunnel symptoms or |
| numbness, weakness and cramps in her foot. | | | | pain in the arch of your foot, you can massage |
| Originally she was diagnosed with a lower back | | | | your own foot and lower leg and ankle. If it hurts |
| radiculopathy (pressure on a nerve) which was | | | | when you press into an area, that's a real good |
| thought to be causing the pain in her foot. Finally, | | | | clue that area is "tight" and most likely needs |
| she received a Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome diagnosis. | | | | pressure and massage to relax, or "release." You |
| She asked me whether it is too late for physical | | | | can regulate the pressure when you do it yourself |
| rehabilitation. | | | | but you do need to apply enough pressure that |
| She describes her pain as severe. It causes her | | | | there is tolerable discomfort. You have to get into |
| whole back to cramp up because of the way she | | | | the muscle and not press only on your skin. |
| walks with no feeling in half of her foot. | | | | You can also ice the various "tight" or painful |
| I'm not a doctor but I've done tens of thousands | | | | areas. Ice is often much more beneficial than heat. |
| of therapeutic massages over many years and I | | | | The rule of thumb is: Ice for nervy pain and heat |
| have seen wonderful things happen when the soft | | | | for muscular pain. Ice is also good for muscular |
| tissues and muscles of the body are treated with | | | | pain but that's the "rule of thumb." |
| massage techniques. | | | | Where would you ice? Basically, in the arch of |
| Over the past two years, the way Stephanie | | | | your foot for starters. That's where the prime |
| walked has also caused muscles in her leg and | | | | culprit lives. His name is abductor hallucis. He's a |
| back to become "out of balance." This means that | | | | muscle. |
| most likely her legs, hips and back would also | | | | You have a smart body that wants to be well. By |
| need treatment to get them "balanced" again. | | | | educating yourself, you have the best chance of |
| With TTS or any other soft tissue or muscular | | | | getting better, no matter which route you take. |
| pain, I strongly recommend therapeutic massage. | | | | Since numbness is involved, and nerves heal very, |
| Why? Because it works. Massage is old medicine | | | | very slowly, it may take quite a while until you |
| and in many parts of the world is still practiced as | | | | get all of your sensation back. In the meantime, |
| medicine. | | | | you might start a whole body movement |
| I'm really biased about the value and benefits of | | | | program to help the rest of your muscles get |
| well-done massage but physical therapy is another | | | | back into balance, too. |