Why Check Your Back But Not Your Toe?

If we have back pain that refers down the leg, it may be sciatica so we act on it. However, if it is just toe pain or any other symptoms in the foot we try to shake it off and hope it goes away. But what if the toe pain is actually sciatica, how would you know?

Let’s break it down. The sciatic nerve courses from the back down the leg to the feet and toes. It splits into several branches and has several names to explain their course and distribution. But ultimately, they all span from the same nerve. 

Due to our body mechanics, the sciatic nerve can become entrapped in the back, in the bottom, back of the upper leg, the calf (where it splits into two other nerves) and the ankle where a “tunnel” appears as well as a reduced surface area (think two lanes merging into one) for tendons, vessels and nerves to course, which in turn, significantly increases chances of entrapment. Then there is the foot, where (long story short) a distant branch of the sciatic nerve, the inferior (meaning below) calcaneal nerve can be entrapped around the heel (known as Baxter’s nerve entrapment- I actually know someone with the name that experiences foot pain).

Ok right back to it as it does not stop there. Entrapment in the arch via the Medial (inner) or lateral (outer) plantar nerve  (bottom of foot) which directly supplies the big toe, can also lead to symptoms such as burning toe pain, tingling numbness etc. 

One’s back, hip and foot mechanics will tell the story of what may be going on, where. 

So if you experience toe pain or any toe symptoms for that matter, think again. Because after all now you know, toe pain can indeed lead to back pain.