There are trillions of nerves throughout your body that help the different parts communicate with one another. Some are more significant than others. In the ankle, there are five major nerves. Similar to any other nerve in the body, one of the major nerves in your ankle can become compressed, leading to symptoms that can affect your ability to carry out your daily activities.

The basic definition of a pinched nerve is that there’s excessive pressure from the surrounding tissue that causes it to become compressed. If you have a pinched nerve that impacts your ankle, it can lead to pain, numbness and weakness. By gaining a better understanding of how a pinched nerve can be connected to ankle pain, you can determine when you need further treatment, such as physical therapy.

Read on to learn about how pinched nerves can lead to ankle pain, as well as what you can do to alleviate the pain. Then, discover how Lattimore PT can help you with a personalized treatment plan.

Which pinched nerves can cause ankle pain?

A pinched nerve is connected to ankle pain because the nerve is sending signals to your brain that it’s under too much pressure from surrounding tendons, muscles or bones. It’s essentially your body’s way of asking for help.

There are multiple nerves in the ankle that can become compressed, also known as nerve entrapment. We’ll discuss the most common types of pinched nerves that can lead to ankle pain, including the causes, symptoms and locations.

• Tibial nerve — Your tibial nerve starts in the back of your leg and runs down to your inner ankle. It’s part of the sciatic nerve and goes through the tarsal tunnel, a path located in the ankle that consists of muscle and bone. If the tibial nerve is compressed, it’s known as tarsal tunnel syndrome. This condition has many potential causes. It can be the result of having high arches or flat feet, overuse, or swelling from an injury. Along with ankle pain, a pinched tibial nerve can also cause a tingling sensation and numbness.
• Deep peroneal nerve — Also known as the deep fibular nerve, your deep peroneal nerve is located in your calf and runs down into the anterior (front) of your ankle joint. Then it goes into the foot with two branches, the lateral (outside) and the medial (middle) branch. If the deep peroneal nerve becomes compressed, it’s known as anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome. It can develop due to trauma or wearing tight shoes.
• Plantar nerves — There are two plantar nerves located in the sole of the foot that are a part of the tibial nerve and branch from the heel. If they become compressed, known as plantar nerve entrapment, you can feel constant ankle and foot pain. The pain may worsen with movement or activity. The other common symptom is having a difficult time applying weight to the ankle, making it hard to stand or walk.

What to do if you’re experiencing a pinched nerve that’s causing ankle pain

If you’re experiencing persistent or worsening ankle pain, be sure that you talk to your doctor. They can determine if it’s linked to a pinched nerve through a physical evaluation of your symptoms and mobility. They may recommend imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis, such as an X-ray or computed tomography scan. 

There are a few ways that you can treat a pinched nerve that’s causing ankle pain. Some of the options can be completed at home, as self-care. Others will require the assistance of a health care professional, such as a physical therapist or general physician.

• Cold therapy — A tried-and-true pain management method is applying ice or a cold pack to the affected area. If you’re experiencing nerve pain in your ankle, place ice on it for 20-minute intervals. Cold therapy works by numbing the area and reducing the pain signals being sent to the brain.
• Medication — If you’re looking for a safe and effective way to experience temporary pain relief, talk to your doctor about taking an NSAID, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Over-the-counter NSAIDs that are often recommended for a pinched nerve are ibuprofen and naproxen sodium.
• Supportive devices — Since it’s nearly impossible to stay completely off your ankle, wearing a type of support can help you go about your everyday activities as it heals. Your doctor or physical therapist may recommend that you wear a brace or splint. With external support, you can keep your foot and ankle joint immobilized to prevent unnecessary movement that can worsen the symptoms. 
• Exercises — Targeted exercises work to alleviate the symptoms and restore the area’s strength, flexibility and range of motion. When it comes to a pinched nerve that’s causing ankle pain, it’s important that you complete safe and effective strengthening exercises with the guidance of a physical therapist. Strengthening exercises can help strengthen the surrounding muscles for increased support and reduced pressure on the nerve. Stretching exercises are also important, as they increase the joint’s range of motion.
• Manual therapy — When it comes to pain management, hands-on treatment can often be beneficial. That’s why physical therapy for ankle pain that’s connected to nerve damage often incorporates manual therapy. It involves the physical therapist using their hands to manually maneuver the affected tissue to release tension and stiffness. For ankle pain, joint mobilization can be helpful. It refers to gently moving the ankle joint in repetitive motions to loosen the surrounding tissue for increasing joint mobility.
• Kinesiology taping — A pinched nerve will often lead to weakness that can interfere with your overall mobility. Your physical therapist may recommend kinesiology taping — this modality involves thin, flexible tape that is used to support the muscles surrounding your ankle joint. It can also boost circulation to accelerate the recovery process.

Lattimore PT can help you treat ankle pain that’s connected to a pinched nerve

Without treatment, ankle pain from a pinched nerve can last several weeks. It can interfere with your ability to comfortably carry out your daily activities, such as walking your dog or climbing the stairs in your house. With the help of physical therapy techniques, including targeted exercises and kinesiology taping, you can alleviate the pain and restore your ankle’s mobility.

At Lattimore PT, knowledge is power. Not only will we carry out an evaluation of your symptoms to learn about how your pinched nerve is affecting your ankle, but we’ll also help you gain a better understanding about how the pinched nerve is connected to your ankle pain. We’ll collaborate with you to determine the best treatment options for a personalized plan. We want you to take an active role in your progress.

Since manual therapy is a common course of action for people treating ankle pain, you can feel confident in choosing Lattimore PT, as many of our physical therapists have taken the time to become experts in hands-on techniques. Lattimore PT has 30 fully certified COMTs, which stands for Certification in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy. We’re the only place in town with a COMT in almost every clinic.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.