(See also Overview of Foot and Ankle Disorders.)
Symptoms of medial and lateral plantar nerve entrapment include almost constant pain, with and without weight bearing, which helps to differentiate medial and lateral plantar nerve entrapment from plantar fasciosis. The pain of plantar nerve entrapment is often chronic, intractable, and aggravated by high-impact activities such as running. However, simple standing is often difficult. Burning, numbness, and paresthesias are usually absent.
Diagnosis
Medial and lateral plantar nerve entrapment may be confused with plantar fasciosis and heel spur pain as well as tarsal tunnel syndrome. In plantar nerve entrapment, the following are often present:
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Other signs of tarsal tunnel syndrome (eg, Tinel sign) are often absent.
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Symptoms can be reproduced by palpation over the proximal aspect of the abductor hallucis, the origin of the plantar fascia, or both at the medial tubercle of the calcaneus.
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With medial nerve entrapment, there is tenderness of the proximal medial arch beneath the navicular bone, sometimes with pain that radiates to the medial toes.
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With lateral plantar nerve entrapment, there is tenderness over the plantar medial heel and abductor hallucis muscle.
