management

Last reviewed 01/2018

  • conservative
    • assuming that there is no underlying medical condition or space-occupying lesion, oral medication may be of benefit e.g. NSAIDs, amitriptyline
    • supportive footwear and orthoses - reduce mechanical stress to the nerve
    • local anaesthetic and cortisone injection under nerve stimulator guidance can help to reduce symptoms
    • some pain specialists will utilise radio frequency lesioning
  • surgical
    • excision of space-occupying lesions when present
    • a tarsal tunnel release may be required if severe and unresponsive
      • careful attention has to be paid to releasing all of the branches from proximal to distal

Reference:

  1. ARC. Common foot disorders. Hands On 2006;10:1-6.