Are you aware of this important nerve in your leg? Let's talk about the Tibial Nerve!

Sometimes we experience numbness and pain in our legs. You may have heard of the 'tibial nerve'. What exactly is this tibial nerve? How important is it to our body? Let's talk about all this simply, in a way that you can understand.

What is the Tibial Nerve?

Okay, first let's look at what the Tibial Nerve is. Simply put, it's a peripheral nerve that provides sensory function and movement to the back of your lower leg and sole. A 'peripheral nerve' is part of the network of nerves that runs throughout our body. Think of our spinal cord as the trunk of a tree. These peripheral nerves are like the branches, or roots, of that tree. The tibial nerve is one of the two main branches of the sciatic nerve, the largest peripheral nerve in your body.

Nerves are like electrical wires. They carry electrical impulses between your brain and the rest of your body. These impulses allow you to feel things like touch and temperature, and to move your muscles.

You have a tibial nerve in both of your legs. It's called the 'tibial' because it runs through the 'tibia' bone in your lower leg, which is your shin bone.

What are the functions of the Tibial Nerve?

Now let's see what the tibial nerve does. Basically, it provides movement and sensation to parts of your lower leg and foot.

Regarding movements (Motor Functions):

The motor branch of the tibial nerve stimulates about 21 muscles. This allows you to:

• Open your hips wide (for example, when you stand and extend one leg behind you).
• Bend your knees.
• Turn your foot inward (as if you were standing with your legs turned inward).
• Press your foot down and away from your body (for example, when standing on your toes or when extending your toes).
• Wiggle all your fingers except your thumb.

Regarding Sensory Functions:

The sensory division of the tibial nerve provides sensations of touch, pain, and temperature to the following skin areas:

• The outside of the back of your lower leg (in the groin area).
• Both sides of your heel.
• The outside of your foot.
• The bottom of your foot (sole).

Where is the Tibial Nerve located?

Okay, now let's see exactly where this tibial nerve is located. To understand this, it helps to know where it begins and ends.

As we mentioned earlier, the tibial nerve is one of two branches of your sciatic nerve. This sciatic nerve starts in your lower back from the spinal cord. In most people, the sciatic nerve does not split as it passes through the pelvis. However, in some people, the sciatic nerve splits into two nerves inside the pelvis, near the piriformis muscle. There can be natural variations in this, meaning it is not the same for everyone.

Let's say your sciatic nerve splits below your pelvis. In that case, the tibial nerve starts at the back of your leg, just above your knee. From there:

• It travels down and branches to give the signals needed for movement to your large calf muscle (gastrocnemius muscle).
• It continues down the middle of the back of your leg. There, it joins with another nerve to form the sural nerve . This sural nerve is what provides sensation to the outside of the back of your lower leg.
• It then goes into the soleus muscle and tibialis posterior muscle in the lower part of your lower leg.
• When the tibial nerve reaches your foot, it passes through a place called the tarsal tunnel . The tarsal tunnel is a narrow passageway made of bone and soft tissue. This structure protects the nerve fibers as they pass from your leg to your foot.
• Near this tarsal tunnel, the tibial nerve branches out to innervate the toes and sole of your foot.

What happens if the tibial nerve is damaged?

Now let's see what happens if the tibial nerve is damaged. If your tibial nerve is damaged, some conditions and symptoms may occur. They are:

• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: Your tibial nerve passes through the tarsal tunnel. If the tibial nerve is damaged here – usually due to nerve compression – tarsal tunnel syndrome occurs. This causes nerve pain on the inside of your ankle or in your lower leg. It usually affects one side. However, this is not a very common cause of foot pain.
• Tibial Compartment Syndrome: If the muscles around your tibial nerve put too much pressure (usually due to swelling), it can have reduced blood flow, affecting its function. Tibial compartment syndrome can cause weakness and sensory problems in your foot and ankle.

Most importantly, nerve compression is the most common way the tibial nerve can be damaged.

There are other reasons why the tibial nerve can be damaged:

• Injuries: Severe injuries, such as fractures, or deep cuts, can damage the tibial nerve.
• A tumor or other abnormal growth pressing on the tibial nerve.
• Surgical complications: Because the tibial nerve is located close to other important structures, it is at high risk of being damaged during surgery. Examples of this include hip replacement and knee replacement.
• Diabetes Mellitus related neuropathy: Long-term high blood sugar levels can damage the nerves. This can affect the tibial nerve, but usually affects multiple nerves at the same time.

When should you see a doctor?

Okay, so when should you see a doctor? If you have any of these symptoms that suggest you have tibial nerve dysfunction , you should seek medical advice immediately :

• It feels like a burn.
• Difficulty moving part of your leg or foot (changes in your range of motion).
• Muscle weakness or stiffness.
• Numbness.
• It feels like being pricked by thorns.
• Sharp pain.
• It feels like being struck by lightning.

How to care for the tibial nerve?

Tibial nerve damage may not always be preventable, but taking these steps can help:

• If you have a condition affecting your leg or foot , seek medical attention immediately .
• Wear good, supportive shoes , especially if you have flat feet. This condition increases the risk of developing Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome.
• Eat nutritious foods , especially those rich in vitamin D and vitamin B12. These vitamins are very important for nerve health.
• If you have chronic diseases that can damage your nerves, such as diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure, control them well .
• Ask for help to quit smoking . Tobacco use reduces blood flow to your nerves.
• Maintain a healthy weight for you.
• Reduce stress through meditation, physical activity, or other healthy methods.
• Reduce alcohol consumption , because alcohol is directly toxic to the nerves.

So, what is the message we want to take home from this story?

We often think about our nerves when we have a problem. But your tibial nerve plays a very important role in providing movement and sensation to your leg and foot. If you ever experience nerve pain, numbness, or weakness in your lower leg or foot, it could be due to a problem with your tibial nerve. If so, be sure to see a doctor . He or she can help you understand what is causing these symptoms and how to manage them. Taking care of your body is the best way to stay healthy!

` Tibial Nerve, Nerve Pain, Foot Pain, Foot Numbness, Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome, Nerve Health