Find Your Feet With Nerve Decompression Surgery

Feet are the foundation of the body, providing the proper support, posture, and balance for the rest of the body. A serious injury or disease can lead to pain in the foot, with symptoms such as tingling, shooting, or burning sensations affecting a person’s daily activities and lowering the quality of life. Nerve-related pain can be treated with conservative treatments, but in some cases, surgical intervention is necessary to repair nerve damage.

Causes of nerve compression in the foot

Nerve entrapment in the foot can be caused by injury, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. Common nerve disorders include Morton’s neuroma, tarsal tunnel syndrome, Baxter’s nerve entrapment, and peroneal neuropathy, also known as foot drop. Some instances of chronic nerve pain can be effectively treated with nerve surgery.

Relieve nerve pressure with surgery

When all conservative treatment efforts have failed, a minimally invasive nerve decompression surgery can remove bone spur, scar tissue, varicose vein or cysts causing nerve entrapment. This lets the nerve regenerate over time by providing more blood flow to the area. In severe cases of nerve damage, a nerve graft may be necessary, which involves removing one part of a nerve from a different body part.

What to expect during the surgery

The outpatient procedure can take about 1-2 hours, depending on the severity of the nerve damage. The surgery can take up to an hour, while the recovery time takes another hour. A local anesthetic is injected into the small incisions to provide pain relief after surgery. Most patients experience immediate nerve pain and tingling relief after the anesthesia wears off. Hot or cold sensations may be experienced in the toes, which can be relieved with pain medication.

Recovery in a matter of weeks

After nerve decompression surgery, nerves can take 3-4 weeks to heal. The timeline for a full recovery depends on many factors, including the area of compression, age of the patient, and the level of damage. Patients are advised to rest at home with the foot elevated. Rest, medication, and physical therapy can help patients return to normal.

Overcoming risks and complications

Any surgery comes with potential risks. With peripheral nerve decompression surgery, the complications include pain, numbness, weakness, paralysis, or injury to major blood vessels. Following the doctor’s aftercare plan is critical to a successful surgery outcome.

When to consider nerve decompression surgery

Doctors will recommend conservative treatment options before performing a decompression procedure. Conservative treatments include pain medication like corticosteroids to relieve inflammation and custom orthotics that can provide support and cushioning in the affected area. Physical therapy can ease pressure on the nerves. When traditional treatments have not worked, surgery can provide relief.

Get back on your feet with nerve decompression surgery

Most patients that undergo peripheral nerve decompression surgery experience a significant reduction in pain and improvement in function. Surgical decompression is able to restore foot sensation in patients who have exhausted all treatment options.