Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome (TTS) is a name for a group of problems that includes swelling, pain, tingling and loss of strength in your foot and ankle. TTS is a nerve disorder caused by the compression or damage to the posterior tibial nerve. This can occur from damaged tissue or bone inside or outside of the tarsal tunnel (aka tarsal canal). The tarsal tunnel runs through a small space along the inside of your ankle into the heel and sole of your foot. This condition is slowly progressive and occurs more commonly after 30 - 40 years of age. It causes a lot of pain in your foot, ankle and toes.

Often damage to your posterior tibial nerve in one location affects the overall functioning of your nerve, so you are more at risk of suffering from compression in other areas along the nerve.

Tarsal tunnels are narrow spaces in your ankle where nerves and tendons pass through from inside your leg to attach to bones on their way down to each toe.

The nerve sends signals along its length and also carries its own nutrients, which is necessary for optimal function. Nutrients move along the entire length of your nerve via axoplasms (jelly-like material inside the axons). If the flow of these nutrients is blocked, your nerve tissue does not receive necessary essential nutrients to stay healthy and fight off injuries - even beyond the area of compression. Without essential nutrients, damage, pain and inflammation will worsen and may extend further along the foot.

Similar conditions and other names for tarsal tunnel syndrome include: tarsal tunnel neuropathy, entrapment neuropathy of the tibial nerve, posterior tibial neuropathy, compression of the tibial nerve, and posterior tibial neuralgia. Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs in your wrist, however it is far less common.

Tarsal Tunnel affects about 2% of adults aged 50 years or older.

Causes of Tarsal Tunnel

Any compression or entrapment of the posterior tibial nerve in the tarsal tunnel can cause tarsal tunnel syndrome. This may occur with:

• Swelling due to diabetes.
• Degeneration and/or swelling in the ankle joint from conditions such as arthritis.
• An ankle sprain or other ankle injury can cause swelling near the tarsal tunnel.
• Flat feet, or fallen arches, result in an outward tilting of the heel and can compress the tibial nerve.
• Varicose veins, a ganglion cyst, bone spur, or other abnormal growth can cause the space in the tarsal tunnel to tighten.
• Any other lower foot deformity can increase tension in the foot and may instigate the symptoms of TTS.
• Nerve damage already present in the ankle.

Symptoms of Tarsal Tunnel

Although they vary from person to person, most of these symptoms are generally experienced on either the inside of the ankle and/or the bottom of the foot. The most common symptoms noted by those who suffer from Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome are:

• A tingling, burning, or prickling sensation, also known as paresthesias, in your foot (often in your arch, toe or heal).
• Vague or sharp pain, near the area where the nerve is squeezed (often in the sole of your foot, near your big toe, or along your nerve); this pain tends to be worse at night. Pain can also manifest in the calf muscle or the arch of the foot.
• Numbness, a loss of sensation in the area of skin that is supplied by the nerve.
• Atrophied (weakened) muscles in your inner foot (around the ball or arch of your foot) can affect your gait (the way you walk). You may have a tendency to overpronate (your foot rolls inward too much), limp or feel uncoordinated as a result of too much pressure being placed on your foot.

You can feel these symptoms on their own in one location or in various locations across your foot and lower leg. They can be aggravated by overuse of your foot through walking, exercising or prolonged standing. These symptoms will often subside with rest however they will not disappear.

If left untreated, you are at risk of suffering from permanent nerve damage.

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A Localized Enhanced Circulatory Response^® Treatment is Achieved Via the TShellz Wrap^®

During a treatment, and for quite some time after you finish, the treated area will experience increased blood flow even though your body is at rest. It's a soothing sensation and extremely effective. With a TShellz Wrap^® application, injured soft tissue is constantly being fed with healing, nutritious, oxygen and energy filled blood. This is exactly the fuel that soft tissue needs to heal.

How A TShellz Wrap^® Works

A TShellz Wrap^® is purely a Circulatory Boost workhorse! It is why we made them. They have been specifically designed for boosting blood flow, reducing inflammation and relieving pain from strained, spasming or damaged soft tissue (muscles, bursae, tendons, etc). Based on results from past clients, we are confident that they will be very beneficial for most of our future customers.

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Increased Blood Flow = More Oxygen, More Nutrients and Less Toxins in Soft Tissue

The unit plugs into a wall outlet to get its power. It has a special signal controller which can be set for 3 different power levels of application (3=High, 2=Medium, 1=Low). The cord is long enough that you can sit or lie comfortably and watch TV, read or surf the net while you're using it.