Question
I have been diagnosed with Tarsal Tunnel syndrome 2 years ago when I was being tested for Carpal Tunnel. At the time I didn't have any indications of Tarsal Tunnel that I could actually feel except some occasional pins and needles on the bottoms of my feet. I drive a tow motor for a living and this seemed to really aggravate it that now I am in constant pain. I am seeing a specialist who didn't really find anything on the MRI and just had another EMG done which came out fairly normal as opposed to the first one I had done. I have been through therapy and that just aggravated my ankle so bad that I can hardly walk. I had another EMG two days ago and can hardly walk on the bad foot. The foot doctor keeps telling me surgery but the pain isn't just on the inside of my foot a lot of it is back behind my ankle bone. How do you really know if you need the surgery or not? And why does my foot hurt so bad since I had the EMG?

Answer
Hi Lisa,

I would see another doctor, consider a podiatrist.  Get another opinion.  I would recommend that the dr put some anesthetic around the nerve in the tarsal tunnel and see the response.  That should shed more light on the diagnosis.  Sometimes an EMG can cause the tissues to flare and that should be temporary.

Sincerely,

Marc Katz, DPM
Tampa, FL
Advanced Podiatry
http://www.thetampapodiatrist.com
http://www.tampacryosurgery.com
http://katzpodiatristtampa.blogspot.com
http://painfoot.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/TampaPodiatrist
http://www.facebook.com/markatz?ref=name#/profile.php?id=100000260088035&ref=nam...

DISCLAIMER:
This information is offered as free advice and as general information. It may not be applicable to the specific questioner and his/her problem.  It is not based on actual knowledge of the questioner or his/her medical history and it cannot and should not be relied upon as definitive medical opinion or advice.  Reliable medical opinion and advice can only be obtained through hands-on physical contact and exam of the patient to establish an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.  No doctor/patient relationship is created or established here and may not be inferred through answers on this site.  The questioner and other readers must consult his/her own doctor before proceeding or implementing any suggestions contained within this document and answers on this site.  The questioner is only to act upon his/her own doctor抯 orders and recommendations. By reading this posting which follows, the reader fully understands and confirms that he/she holds harmless this writer. If this is not fully agreeable to you, the reader, and/or you have not attained the age of 18 years, you hereby are advised to read no further.