Morning heel pain can be caused by Baxter's neuritis, which is nerve damage or entrapment of the Baxter's nerve underneath the foot. Symptoms of Baxter's neuritis include reduced sensation in the heel and inability to move the little toe. Treatment options for Baxter's neuritis involve rest, orthotics, pain medications, physical therapy, and nerve release procedures like neurolysis which use chemicals, ultrasound or shockwaves to desensitize the affected nerve and provide pain relief. Seeking treatment from a podiatrist is recommended for anyone experiencing symptoms of foot neuritis.

1. Heel Pain: Neuritis
Morningheel pain can seemodd,especiallyif youhave hadenoughrestthroughthe night.Andyou
obviouslydon’twant todeal withpainfirstthinginthe morning.
The possible causesof heel paininthe morning include –
 fractures
 tarsal tunnel syndrome
 Plantarfasciitis
 Baxter’sneuritis,ornerve entrapment
Baxter’sneuritisisoften misdiagnosedasplantarfasciitis becausethe symptomsof bothoverlap.
Baxter’sneuritis
Neuritis referstonerve damage thatcausespainandlossof function.Neuritisinthe footis
common.The nervescan be damagedwhenanypart of the foot isinjured.
For example,smalltearsinthe plantarfascia can cause inflammationandthickeningwhichpinches
or “traps” the nerve runningunderneath.ThisnerveisBaxter’snerve.
The Baxter’snerve hasbothsensoryand motorfunctions. Baxter’sneuritis will reduce sensationin
your heel.Some peoplelose the abilitytomove theirlittle toe aswell.
Plantarfasciitis
Plantarfasciais a setof toughtissuesandligamentsthatsupportyourfootarch. Plantarfascia
ligamentabsorbsshockswhileyouwalkandrun.Too manyshocks and too little supportcauses
damage to the plantarfascia. You can avoidfurtherdamage by seekingthe helpof aspecialist.
Flatfeetputtoo much pressure onthe heel,inflamingthe plantarfasciaandthe heel muscles,
canalsand nerves,includingBaxter’snerve.
Plantarfasciitisand excessive pressure onyourheel cause growthsonthe heel bone called heel
spurs.These spursare verypainful,especiallywhen they rubagainstyourBaxter’snerve.
TreatmentforBaxter’sneuritisincludes –
 Rest
 Activitymodifications
 Customorthotics
 Supportive andwell-cushionedshoes
 painmedications
 physical therapyandexercise
 footand ankle surgery
Nerve entrapment requires nerve release.ForBaxter’sneuritis,it isreferredtoas the Baxter’s
procedure orneurolysis, inwhichyoursurgeondesensitizesthe affectednerve/senoughtoremove
your painandsuffering.
Neurolysis canbe done through chemical andshockwave therapy.
Chemical neurolysis involvesinjectionof the nerve withachemical,oftenasolutionof alcohol to
desensitize the nerve. Ultrasound isused toperformthissurgery.

2. Usingultrasoundor arthroscopy,shockwave therapyforneuritisinvolvesthe insertionof averythin
probe nearthe areaof the affectednerve tostimulate itwithverymildcurrent. The current
desensitizesthe nerve andprovidesimmediate painrelief.
If you are experiencinganyof the symptomsof footneuritis,seekapodiatrist’shelp immediately
before the signsworsen.
If you are lookingforthe bestpodiatristorfootdoctorin Phoenix andScottsdale,Arizona,call <a
href="https://www.oasisfootankle.com/"rel="dofollow">OasisFootandAnkle Clinic</a> at 602-
993-2700 Now.OasisFootand Ankle Centersoffercuttingedge surgical andnonsurgical treatments
for footand ankle conditionsandinjuries.