Treatment of Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Rest from any aggravating activities and apply cold therapy whilst in the acute phase when the foot or ankle is painful and inflamed. Your Doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to help reduce pain and inflammation.

Once the initial pain and inflammation have gone then a full rehabilitation program which includes stretching exercises and strengthening exercises for the foot can begin.

Stretching exercises may include stretching for the calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) as well as the plantar fascia under the foot. Strengthening exercises are similar to that of an ankle sprain but may focus more on inversion strengthening or strengthening as the foot turns inwards.

Consult a foot specialist, podiatrist or physiotherapist who can assess this and biomechanical problems of the foot.

Nerve conduction studies may be done to confirm the diagnosis and indicate the location of the entrapment. An X-ray or MRI may also be useful to determine the presence of any other structures such as cysts, arthritis or a tarsal coalition.

If conservative treatment fails then a corticosteroid injection may be administered. For stubborn and persistent cases surgery may be required to decompress the nerve. The operation is undertaken to decompress the nerve by freeing the soft tissue structures in the area, creating more space for the nerve.

Surgery
Surgery may be indicated when the diagnosis is definite and the athlete has endured several months of problems and has not responded to the conservative treatment above. The success rate from surgery is mixed, with a high risk of complications. The procedure itself is very fast, although a complete recovery can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a few months.