Key Takeaways
Tarsal tunnel syndrome involves irritation or compression of the tibial nerve or its branches near the inside of the ankle. It can produce burning, tingling, numbness, or electric-like discomfort in the foot.
Symptoms often affect the sole, heel, or toes. The exact distribution depends on which nerve fibers or branches are involved.
Standing and walking may aggravate symptoms in some patients. Others experience discomfort at rest or during the night.
Tarsal tunnel syndrome can resemble plantar fasciitis, peripheral neuropathy, or a pinched nerve in the lower back. An accurate diagnosis requires distinguishing these conditions.
A positive Tinel’s sign does not confirm the diagnosis by itself. The history, neurological examination, and other findings must be considered together.
Treatment depends on the cause of nerve irritation. Footwear changes, activity modification, rehabilitation, and selected medical interventions may help, while structural compression sometimes requires specialist treatment.
Why Does the Bottom of Your Foot Feel Like It’s Burning?
You have been on your feet for several hours when an unusual burning sensation begins along the bottom of one foot.
At first, it feels like your sock is bunched beneath your toes.
You stop, adjust your shoe, and continue walking.
But the sensation returns.
You may notice tingling near the arch, numbness in part of the sole, or a sharp electrical feeling extending toward your toes.
Sometimes the discomfort becomes more noticeable at the end of the day.
Other times, it appears while you are resting.
You might assume the problem is plantar fasciitis, especially if you have previously experienced heel pain.
Or you may wonder whether a nerve in your lower back is causing the symptoms.
Both possibilities deserve consideration.
However, another potential explanation is tarsal tunnel syndrome, a condition involving irritation or compression of a nerve as it passes along the inside of the ankle.
At Doyle Chiropractic in Huntersville, North Carolina, Dr. Geoffrey Doyle evaluates foot numbness and burning by considering whether symptoms originate from the lumbar spine, peripheral nerves, foot structures, or another medical condition.
The location of the symptoms, neurological findings, and response to activity can provide important clues.
What Is the Tarsal Tunnel?
The tarsal tunnel is a narrow anatomical passage along the inner side of the ankle.
It lies behind and below the medial malleolus, the bony prominence you can feel on the inside of your ankle.
The tunnel is formed by surrounding bones and connective tissues, including a strong band called the flexor retinaculum.
Several important structures travel through this region.
These include tendons, blood vessels, and the tibial nerve.
Because the tunnel has limited space, swelling or another space-occupying process can increase pressure on the structures within it.
The tibial nerve is particularly important because it carries sensory and motor signals to portions of the foot.
The Tibial Nerve and Its Branches
The tibial nerve travels down the back of the lower leg toward the inner ankle.
Near the tarsal tunnel, it typically divides into branches that supply different regions of the foot.
These include the medial and lateral plantar nerves.
Branches associated with sensation around the heel may also arise near this region, although their anatomy varies.
When the tibial nerve or one of its branches becomes irritated, symptoms may appear along the sole, heel, arch, or toes.
The exact pattern depends on the location of compression and individual nerve anatomy.
This helps explain why tarsal tunnel syndrome does not feel identical in every patient.
What Is Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome?
Tarsal tunnel syndrome is a peripheral nerve entrapment disorder involving the tibial nerve or its branches around the medial ankle.
The condition is sometimes compared with carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist.
Both involve nerves traveling through relatively confined anatomical passages.
However, the nerves, surrounding structures, and diagnostic challenges are different.
In tarsal tunnel syndrome, mechanical pressure or irritation can interfere with normal nerve signaling.
Patients may experience burning, tingling, numbness, or shooting pain.
Some develop symptoms primarily during weight-bearing activities.
Others experience persistent sensory changes.
Is Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Common?
Tarsal tunnel syndrome is considerably less commonly diagnosed than conditions such as plantar fasciitis.
Its true frequency is uncertain because symptoms overlap with several other foot and neurological disorders.
There is also no universally reliable single examination test that confirms every case.
As a result, the diagnosis requires careful clinical reasoning rather than simply identifying tenderness near the ankle.
Where Does Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Cause Symptoms?
The most characteristic symptoms involve the plantar surface, or bottom, of the foot.
Patients may experience discomfort in the arch, heel, forefoot, or toes.
Some also notice pain near the inner ankle where the nerve passes through the tunnel.
The symptoms may affect one foot or, less commonly, both.
Why the Exact Location Matters
A patient with burning across much of the sole may have a different pattern of nerve involvement from someone with isolated heel pain.
Similarly, numbness concentrated along the top of the foot is not typical of tibial nerve compression within the tarsal tunnel.
The nerves supplying the top of the foot primarily follow different pathways.
Symptoms involving the entire foot or extending substantially into the leg may suggest another neurological condition.
Dr. Doyle considers these anatomical differences when evaluating whether the reported symptoms correspond with the tibial nerve.
What Does Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Feel Like?
Patients commonly describe abnormal sensations rather than ordinary muscular soreness.
Symptoms may include:
- Burning discomfort along the bottom of the foot.
- Tingling or pins-and-needles sensations.
- Numbness affecting part of the sole or toes.
- Electric-like pain extending from the inner ankle into the foot.
- Increased discomfort during prolonged standing or walking.
- Occasional symptoms at night or during rest.
- Sensitivity or tenderness near the inside of the ankle.
Some patients notice that symptoms become more pronounced after a long day.
Others describe intermittent episodes that seem unpredictable.
Why Nerve Pain Feels Different From Muscle Pain
Muscle and tendon pain often becomes noticeable when a structure is loaded or contracted.
Nerve-related symptoms can produce sensations that are less directly connected to a particular muscle movement.
For example, a patient may experience burning or tingling even when the foot is not actively moving.
An irritated nerve can generate abnormal sensory signals that the brain interprets as heat, electricity, or numbness.
However, burning pain is not exclusive to nerve compression.
Other neurological and medical conditions can produce similar sensations.
What Causes Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome?
Several conditions can increase pressure around the tibial nerve.
In some cases, the cause is identifiable.
In others, no single structural explanation is found.
Swelling After an Ankle Injury
An ankle sprain or other injury may produce swelling near the medial ankle.
If swelling affects the tissues surrounding the tibial nerve, it may contribute to nerve irritation.
However, not every ankle sprain produces tarsal tunnel syndrome.
Persistent neurological symptoms following an injury deserve evaluation to distinguish nerve involvement from ligament, tendon, or joint damage.
Ganglion Cysts and Other Space-Occupying Lesions
A ganglion cyst is a fluid-filled structure that can develop near a joint or tendon sheath.
When a cyst forms in or near the tarsal tunnel, it may place pressure on the tibial nerve.
Other masses, enlarged veins, or structural abnormalities can also contribute.
These causes are particularly important because treatment may need to address the structure creating the compression.
Foot Mechanics and Repetitive Loading
Certain foot positions and repetitive weight-bearing activities may influence stress around the medial ankle.
For example, excessive or prolonged pronation may alter mechanical tension in the region.
However, flat feet do not automatically cause tarsal tunnel syndrome.
Many people with low arches never develop tibial nerve compression.
Likewise, identifying an unusual foot posture does not prove that it is responsible for neurological symptoms.
The relationship must make sense within the patient’s complete clinical presentation.
Inflammatory and Systemic Conditions
Inflammatory arthritis, diabetes, and other medical conditions may affect nerve health or surrounding tissues.
Some conditions can increase susceptibility to peripheral nerve symptoms.
However, diabetes-related peripheral neuropathy is not the same diagnosis as tarsal tunnel syndrome.
A patient may have generalized neuropathy, focal nerve entrapment, or both.
Distinguishing these possibilities is essential.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Versus Plantar Fasciitis
One of the most common diagnostic challenges is distinguishing tibial nerve irritation from plantar fascia pain.
Plantar fasciitis, more accurately called plantar fasciopathy in many chronic cases, involves pain associated with the plantar fascia near its attachment to the heel.
Typical Plantar Fascia Pain
Patients often experience sharp heel pain with their first steps after getting out of bed.
Symptoms may improve temporarily after walking and return with prolonged activity.
Tenderness is commonly concentrated near the medial plantar heel.
Typical Tarsal Tunnel Symptoms
Tarsal tunnel syndrome more commonly produces burning, tingling, numbness, or electric-like sensations.
Symptoms may extend into the arch or toes rather than remaining concentrated at the heel.
However, the conditions can overlap.
A patient may have plantar fascia pain and tibial nerve irritation simultaneously.
The presence of heel pain alone does not establish either diagnosis.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Versus Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy involves dysfunction of peripheral nerves.
It may develop from diabetes, certain nutritional deficiencies, medications, and other medical conditions.
A common pattern is distal symmetric polyneuropathy, in which symptoms begin in both feet and gradually extend upward.
Patients may describe burning, numbness, or tingling in a stocking-like distribution.
Tarsal tunnel syndrome, by comparison, is a focal nerve entrapment disorder.
Symptoms may be more localized to one foot or a specific tibial nerve distribution.
Why Both Conditions Can Occur Together
A patient with peripheral neuropathy may also develop a focal nerve compression.
However, the presence of diabetes or generalized nerve symptoms does not establish that the tibial nerve is trapped at the ankle.
The examination must consider whether the symptoms are focal, widespread, symmetrical, or associated with other neurological findings.
This distinction influences whether local treatment, broader medical evaluation, or both are appropriate.
Could a Pinched Nerve in the Lower Back Cause Foot Burning?
Yes.
Lumbar nerve-root irritation can produce burning, tingling, numbness, or pain extending into the foot.
Depending on the affected nerve root, symptoms may involve the sole, outer foot, top of the foot, or toes.
Some patients experience associated lower back or leg pain.
Others have relatively little back discomfort.
How the Examination Helps
Dr. Doyle evaluates whether symptoms are influenced by lumbar movement and whether there are changes in muscle strength, reflexes, or sensation.
For example, altered ankle reflexes or weakness during certain foot movements may suggest neurological involvement beyond an isolated sensory complaint.
However, tibial nerve entrapment itself can occasionally affect motor function in more advanced cases.
No single finding establishes the diagnosis.
The complete neurological pattern helps determine whether the problem is more likely to originate from the lumbar spine, ankle, or a generalized peripheral nerve disorder.
What Is Tinel’s Sign at the Ankle?
Tinel’s sign is a clinical maneuver in which a clinician gently taps over the course of a nerve.
When performed near the tarsal tunnel, the maneuver may reproduce tingling or electric-like sensations extending into the foot.
A response consistent with the patient’s familiar symptoms may support the possibility of tibial nerve irritation.
However, Tinel’s sign has limited diagnostic accuracy when used alone.
Some patients with tarsal tunnel syndrome do not have a positive response.
Others may experience tingling despite having a different condition.
Repeatedly striking or pressing on the nerve at home is unnecessary and may aggravate symptoms.
The result should be interpreted alongside the history and broader examination.
Why an Accurate Diagnosis Matters Before Treatment
Burning or numbness in the foot can arise from several different structures.
A patient with plantar fasciopathy may need a progressive loading program directed toward the plantar fascia.
Someone with lumbar radiculopathy may require evaluation and treatment focused on the spinal nerve root.
A patient with generalized peripheral neuropathy may need medical investigation of an underlying metabolic, nutritional, or systemic cause.
And a patient with true tibial nerve compression near the ankle may benefit from treatment directed toward the tarsal tunnel.
These conditions can produce overlapping symptoms but do not necessarily respond to the same interventions.
At Doyle Chiropractic, Dr. Doyle considers the location of sensory changes, ankle and foot mechanics, lumbar findings, and neurological function.
Progressive weakness, significant loss of sensation, or rapidly worsening symptoms require timely medical assessment.
A foot that becomes suddenly cold, pale, or severely painful requires emergency evaluation for possible circulatory compromise.
The goal is not to assume that every burning foot has a pinched nerve at the ankle.
It is to determine whether the tibial nerve is involved, whether compression is occurring locally, and whether another neurological or medical condition better explains the symptoms.
That distinction is essential before selecting treatment or deciding whether further diagnostic testing is necessary.
How Doyle Chiropractic Evaluates Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
When a patient comes to Doyle Chiropractic with burning, tingling, or numbness in the foot, Dr. Geoffrey Doyle begins by determining whether the symptoms are consistent with tibial nerve irritation or another neurological or musculoskeletal condition.
The evaluation includes questions about when symptoms began, their exact location, and whether standing, walking, footwear, or certain ankle positions make them better or worse.
Dr. Doyle also considers previous ankle injuries, diabetes, lower back problems, and any history of progressive neurological symptoms.
Examining the Foot and Ankle
The examination may include assessment of ankle range of motion, foot mechanics, tenderness around the medial ankle, and the distribution of altered sensation.
Dr. Doyle evaluates whether gentle pressure or percussion near the tarsal tunnel reproduces the patient’s familiar symptoms.
Tinel’s sign and selected ankle-positioning maneuvers may provide useful information, but neither can independently confirm the diagnosis.
The examination also considers whether symptoms originate from the plantar fascia, posterior tibial tendon, or another local structure.
Neurological Examination
Because the tibial nerve carries both sensory and motor fibers, the examination may include testing foot muscle function, sensation, and relevant reflexes.
Dr. Doyle also evaluates lower-extremity neurological findings that could suggest lumbar nerve-root involvement or a more generalized peripheral neuropathy.
For example, widespread sensory loss involving both feet may suggest a different condition from isolated symptoms affecting the plantar surface of one foot.
The objective is to determine whether the neurological pattern corresponds with the tibial nerve and whether additional medical evaluation is appropriate.
When Imaging or Additional Testing Is Appropriate
Tarsal tunnel syndrome can be difficult to confirm because no single test reliably identifies every case.
Ultrasound may help identify a ganglion cyst, tendon abnormality, or other structure contributing to compression.
MRI may be useful when a space-occupying lesion or another structural problem is suspected.
Electrodiagnostic testing, including nerve conduction studies and electromyography, may assist in evaluating tibial nerve dysfunction or alternative neurological diagnoses.
However, these tests have limitations, and normal findings do not necessarily exclude tarsal tunnel syndrome.
Persistent or progressive symptoms may warrant evaluation by a neurologist, podiatrist, or foot-and-ankle specialist.
Treatment Options for Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Treatment depends on the underlying cause of nerve irritation.
A patient with symptoms related to swelling after an ankle injury may require a different approach from someone with a ganglion cyst compressing the tibial nerve.
Many patients begin with nonsurgical management, particularly when there is no progressive neurological deficit or clearly identified structural lesion requiring intervention.
Activity and Footwear Modifications
Reducing activities that consistently aggravate symptoms may help limit nerve irritation.
Patients who experience burning after prolonged standing may benefit from temporarily adjusting the duration of weight-bearing activities.
Footwear should provide adequate room, comfort, and appropriate support without creating unnecessary pressure around the ankle.
Tightly secured footwear or equipment that compresses the medial ankle may need to be modified.
The objective is to reduce mechanical irritation while maintaining comfortable movement.
Orthotics and Foot Support
Some patients may benefit from shoe inserts or orthotic support when foot mechanics appear to contribute to symptoms.
For example, selected patients with excessive pronation or associated foot instability may experience improved comfort with appropriate support.
However, orthotics are not a universal treatment for tarsal tunnel syndrome.
There is limited high-quality evidence establishing their effectiveness specifically for tibial nerve entrapment.
A patient with a cyst or another space-occupying lesion is unlikely to resolve the underlying compression through arch support alone.
Orthotic recommendations should reflect the patient’s examination findings rather than foot shape alone.
Rehabilitation and Gentle Mobility
Selected exercises may help maintain ankle mobility, improve lower-extremity function, and address associated muscular limitations.
Rehabilitation may include controlled ankle movement, progressive strengthening, and adjustments to activity tolerance.
Some clinicians incorporate gentle nerve-mobilization exercises.
However, evidence supporting nerve gliding specifically for tarsal tunnel syndrome is limited.
Exercises that repeatedly produce burning, electric pain, or increasing numbness should not be forced.
The goal is to improve movement without placing unnecessary tension or compression on an irritated nerve.
Chiropractic Care and Manual Therapy
At Doyle Chiropractic, Dr. Doyle may evaluate associated ankle, foot, or lumbar dysfunction when the examination identifies relevant musculoskeletal findings.
Selected chiropractic adjustments or gentle manual techniques may help accompanying joint stiffness or movement-related discomfort.
However, chiropractic manipulation has not been established as a method of directly decompressing the tibial nerve within the tarsal tunnel.
Aggressive pressure over the nerve may aggravate symptoms.
If a structural lesion is responsible for compression, treatment must address that underlying problem rather than relying on joint manipulation.
Class IV Laser Therapy
Doyle Chiropractic offers Summus Class IV laser therapy for selected musculoskeletal conditions.
Although photobiomodulation has been investigated for certain neuropathic and musculoskeletal conditions, high-quality evidence specifically supporting Class IV laser therapy for tarsal tunnel syndrome remains insufficient.
Laser treatment has not been established as a reliable method of releasing tibial nerve entrapment.
It should not replace appropriate neurological evaluation or delay referral when symptoms are progressive.
Medication and Medical Treatment
When symptoms are persistent or particularly uncomfortable, a medical provider may consider medication for neuropathic pain.
If inflammation or swelling contributes to the condition, treatment may also address those factors.
In selected cases, an image-guided injection may be considered.
However, evidence supporting injections specifically for tarsal tunnel syndrome is limited, and injections near the tibial nerve require careful technique.
Potential benefits and risks should be discussed with the treating medical specialist.
When Surgery May Be Necessary
Surgery may be considered when symptoms remain substantially limiting despite appropriate nonsurgical treatment, particularly when a specific compressive structure has been identified.
A tarsal tunnel release involves reducing pressure on the tibial nerve by releasing restrictive tissues around the tunnel.
If a ganglion cyst or another lesion is responsible, treatment may also involve addressing that structure.
Surgical outcomes vary, and symptom relief is not guaranteed.
Risks include infection, scar sensitivity, nerve injury, persistent numbness, and continued pain.
Because the diagnosis can be challenging, careful patient selection is especially important.
Recovery and Functional Outcomes
Recovery depends on the cause, duration, and severity of nerve irritation.
Some patients improve over several weeks after reducing aggravating pressure or addressing associated swelling.
Others experience symptoms for months, particularly when the source of compression remains unresolved.
Nerve-related symptoms may improve gradually.
Burning discomfort may decrease before normal sensation fully returns.
In some cases, residual numbness persists despite improvement in pain.
Measuring Progress Beyond Pain
At Doyle Chiropractic, functional improvement is an important part of monitoring recovery.
A patient may initially struggle to stand through a work shift, walk comfortably through a grocery store, or participate in recreational activities.
Progress may include increased walking tolerance, fewer episodes of burning, and improved comfort in everyday footwear.
For patients who enjoy walking, golf, or outdoor activities around Lake Norman, returning to normal activity may require a gradual increase in weight-bearing demands.
Persistent or worsening neurological symptoms should prompt reassessment rather than indefinite continuation of the same treatment.
The Dr. Doyle Perspective
When someone tells me the bottom of their foot burns or goes numb, I want to know exactly where the sensation occurs.
That detail often provides more useful information than simply knowing that the patient has foot pain.
If the symptoms involve the sole, arch, or toes, I consider whether the tibial nerve or one of its branches may be involved.
But I also want to know whether the symptoms are isolated to one foot or affect both feet in a similar pattern.
A patient with burning in both feet may have a generalized peripheral neuropathy rather than a focal nerve entrapment at one ankle.
I also ask about lower back symptoms because nerve-root irritation can produce sensory changes in the foot even when the patient has relatively little back pain.
The neurological examination helps me determine whether the symptoms correspond with a local nerve or suggest a problem farther up the nervous system.
Another important distinction is the difference between plantar fasciitis and nerve-related pain.
Patients frequently describe any discomfort on the bottom of the foot as plantar fasciitis.
But sharp heel pain during the first few steps in the morning is not the same presentation as burning or tingling that extends into the toes.
Those differences influence the examination and treatment recommendations.
I also pay attention to whether the patient has experienced an ankle injury or developed swelling around the medial ankle.
If there is a structural cause of compression, such as a cyst, conservative treatment alone may not adequately address the problem.
One misconception I try to correct is that every compressed nerve can be released through an adjustment or stretching exercise.
The tibial nerve passes through a confined anatomical space.
If something is physically occupying that space, the treatment needs to account for it.
For mild presentations without progressive neurological findings, reducing aggravating pressure and addressing relevant foot mechanics may be reasonable.
However, when symptoms persist, become more widespread, or involve weakness, I believe further medical evaluation is appropriate.
My goal is to identify whether the symptoms truly involve the tibial nerve, determine where the irritation may be occurring, and guide patients toward treatment that addresses the actual source rather than simply the location of discomfort.
Our Clinical Experience
Burning and numbness in the foot can arise from several different conditions.
Consider three hypothetical presentations.
Presentation One: Burning Along the Sole After Standing
A patient develops tingling and burning along the bottom of one foot after prolonged standing at work.
The symptoms occasionally begin near the inner ankle and extend toward the arch.
The examination identifies a localized sensory pattern that may correspond with the tibial nerve.
This presentation could raise suspicion for tarsal tunnel syndrome.
Initial management may include footwear modifications, activity adjustments, and further evaluation if symptoms persist.
Presentation Two: Bilateral Burning From Peripheral Neuropathy
Another patient reports gradually increasing burning and numbness in both feet.
The symptoms are relatively symmetrical and extend across the toes and forefeet.
The examination identifies a broader sensory pattern rather than isolated tenderness or neurological symptoms near one tarsal tunnel.
This presentation raises concern for peripheral neuropathy.
Medical evaluation may be necessary to investigate diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, medication effects, or other underlying causes.
Presentation Three: Heel Pain From Plantar Fasciopathy
A third patient experiences sharp heel pain when taking the first few steps after getting out of bed.
The discomfort improves somewhat with walking but returns after prolonged activity.
The examination identifies tenderness near the plantar fascia attachment without characteristic burning or tingling.
This presentation is more consistent with plantar fasciopathy than tarsal tunnel syndrome.
Treatment would focus on the plantar fascia and associated loading demands.
These examples are hypothetical and illustrate clinical reasoning rather than actual patient histories or guaranteed outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is tarsal tunnel syndrome the same as plantar fasciitis?
No. Tarsal tunnel syndrome involves irritation or compression of the tibial nerve near the inner ankle. Plantar fasciitis involves pain associated with the plantar fascia, commonly near the heel.
Can tarsal tunnel syndrome cause numb toes?
Yes. Depending on which nerve branches are affected, symptoms may include numbness, tingling, or burning in portions of the toes and sole.
Does tarsal tunnel syndrome get worse with walking?
It can. Some patients notice increased symptoms during prolonged standing or walking, although others experience discomfort at rest or during the night.
Can a pinched nerve in my back cause similar symptoms?
Yes. Lumbar radiculopathy can produce burning, tingling, or numbness in the foot. The neurological examination helps determine whether symptoms are more consistent with a spinal or peripheral nerve source.
Will tarsal tunnel syndrome show up on an MRI?
MRI may identify a cyst, mass, or other structural abnormality contributing to compression. However, a normal MRI does not necessarily exclude tarsal tunnel syndrome.
Can tarsal tunnel syndrome go away without surgery?
Some patients improve with nonsurgical management, particularly when contributing pressure or swelling can be reduced. Persistent structural compression may require specialist treatment.
Can chiropractic care help tarsal tunnel syndrome?
Chiropractic care may help associated ankle, foot, or lumbar dysfunction when those findings are clinically relevant. However, adjustments have not been established as a direct treatment for tibial nerve entrapment within the tarsal tunnel.
Final Thoughts
Tarsal tunnel syndrome is a potential cause of burning, tingling, numbness, and electric-like pain along the bottom of the foot.
It involves irritation or compression of the tibial nerve or its branches near the inside of the ankle.
Although symptoms can resemble plantar fasciitis, peripheral neuropathy, or lumbar nerve-root irritation, these conditions involve different anatomical structures and may require different treatment strategies.
At Doyle Chiropractic in Huntersville, North Carolina, Dr. Geoffrey Doyle evaluates foot numbness by considering neurological findings, ankle and foot mechanics, lumbar spine function, and possible sources of nerve compression.
For patients throughout Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, and the Lake Norman area, the objective is to identify the most likely source of symptoms, improve functional movement, and determine when additional medical testing or specialist treatment is appropriate.
Burning or numbness in the foot should not automatically be attributed to plantar fasciitis or a pinched nerve in the lower back.
Understanding where the nerve irritation originates is an important step toward selecting appropriate treatment and restoring comfortable activity.
