Sometimes foot pain can indicate the presence of disease that has nothing to do with the foot itself. This is often the case when feet are numb or asleep, burn, or tingle with a pins and needles sensation. These symptoms usually indicate nerve disease (not circulation as many people often assume). There are several conditions in the foot itself that can cause these symptoms in very specific areas. These include pinched nerves that create symptoms only where the nerve travels to, such as the ball of the foot, a couple toes, the side of the heel etc. When large parts of the foot have these symptoms, or when the legs are involved, the foot is much less likely the source of the symptoms. Many times, a pinched nerve in the leg or back is the root cause of this more extensive set of symptoms. However, it is not uncommon for these symptoms to have nothing to do pressure on an actual nerve, whether in the foot, leg or the back. In this instance, the symptoms are from a different kind of disease that affects the nerve and causes pain to be felt where no pain should exist. This condition is called peripheral neuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by numerous conditions, and can also simply appear for no known reason. However, in our country diabetes is often at fault. Diabetes is a condition in which the blood sugar that normally is absorbed by the body after eating carbohydrates (sweets, starches, some vegetables) continues to accumulate in the blood due to a defect in how the body passes it into cells. Eventually, this excess sugar causes damage to and dysfunction of numerous organs, the nervous system being one of them. When nerves function poorly due to diabetes, the result is usually some combination numbness, burning, or tingling of the feet and legs. Eventually the hands can also become involved. Since diabetes is difficult to detect unless blood testing is obtained, many people can go undiagnosed for quite some time unless they are seeing a doctor regularly for check-ups. It is not uncommon for foot pain or numbness to be the first signs of undiagnosed diabetes.
If one is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to see a foot specialist who can rule out causes of the symptoms in the feet and ankles, and help make the initial steps towards diagnosing diabetes if that is indeed the cause of the symptoms. Diabetes is not a condition to ignore, and treatment started sooner can make a big difference.
For more answers about diabetic foot problems, see my other blog at thediabeticfoot.blogspot.com.
Until next time,
Scott R. Kilberg DPM
Indiana Podiatry Group
Foot doctors for Indianapolis, Carmel, Noblesville, Fishers, Westfield, and Fortville Indiana.
Hi, I had 2 knee replacementon the same knee but on the 2nd replacement 03/06/2010 I woke in recovery with a burn across my foot and nobody can explain how the burn got there..nobody want to take responsibility. I now have sharp pains across my foot,,feel numbness underneath, swelling and it is hard to wear a shoe that covers that burn area.
ReplyDeleteSeems unusual. If the burn was deep (3rd degree), it could cause nerve damage in the tissue underneath- the tissue on the top of the foot is relatively thin, and burn scar tissue can irritate the underlying nerves. I don't see how you would have developed a burn on the foot during the typical knee implant surgery. You should have a candid conversation with your surgeon about your concern, and have it evaluated by a foot specialist if you are not satisfied by that.
ReplyDeleteI have a really hard tingle that lasts for two and three minutes at a time in both feet, one at any given time. My husband (who is no doctor) is telling me I have symptoms of gout? I have been tested for diabetes before and not had it. What else could it be? Your thoughts on this?
ReplyDeleteTingling usually indicates nerve disease of some sort, and can have many causes. Diabetes is but one potential cause, others can include spine issues, nerve entrapment in the feet themselves, and any number of dozens of conditions that can lead to something called peripheral neuropathy. Gout, however, does not cause tingling, and has completely different symptoms. You need to see your local podiatrist for a full foot neurological assessment.
ReplyDeleteHi- I have flat feet that are always aching and burning. I always assumed it was because of the lack of arch and the fact that I'm required to stand on them 8 hours a day. But diabetes runs in my family and,after reading this I'm second guessing my self diagnosis.
ReplyDeleteI guess what I'm asking is do you think the pain is from my flat feet or is is possible its from diabetes?
You should have your foot examined, and if appropriate get tested for diabetes. A simple blood test usually is sufficient. Burning from diabetes is usually not worsened with activity or standing, and is often at random times or at night. Regardless, your feet should not ache or burn and you need a podiatrist's attention so you can stand all day without pain.
ReplyDeleteWhere can I go to find information about complications years after a 2nd degree burn to the top of my foot? I walk a lot. My foot gets swollen and so tender that it feels like all of the bones in my foot are broken. If I tie a shoe too tight on that foot, it swells and throbs. I endured the burn in 04 or 05. Thanks. Marie in VT
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have a somewhat complicated case that really needs to be seen by a specialist. The majority of the time, burn complications involve scar tissue tightening and nerve damage. Your symptoms may have multiple causes, and one single source of information online will not be of much help. See a foot and ankle specialist for better information specific to your case.
ReplyDeleteMy father has a pins and needles/ soreness when he wakes up after sleeping or when he tries jogging. Hes recently been diagnosed with diabetes and has been receiving treatment for about 4 months. The doctor told him that the leg pains will never go away is this true? If it isn't who should he go see about it, hes already been to a specialist.
ReplyDeleteIf the symptoms are related to diabetes, then controlling blood sugar can reduce the symptoms in many cases, although after awhile this may be irreversible (especially if he has been diagnosed with diabetes far after he actually developed it and was uncontrolled for a long time) Medication can also be used to ease the tingling. However, not all pins/needles sensation is related to diabetes, and other causes may be present, especially if he gets this after jogging. If he has not yet seen a foot specialist to rule out a local foot cause like tarsal tunnel syndrome (http://www.inpodiatrygroup.com/tarsal-tunnel-syndrome.html), then he should. A neurologist may also be needed- by your post it is not clear what the specialist he saw was.
ReplyDeleteI don't have diabetes, but have burning, aching, pins an needles sensation. What can be the cause?
ReplyDeleteI have tingling in my feet and hands only wright before I go to bed actually when I get tired. Is this the nerve damage or nerve disease you are talking about.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like it can be a form of nerve disease, but you really need to have a medical and neurological evaluation to determine the underlying cause as these symptoms are not normal.
ReplyDeleteI had cancer of the uterius where they checked 21 lymphnodes since then i have had problems is there something i can do for this
ReplyDeletei had cancer of the uterious and they ciipped 21 lymphnodes since then i have had a problem with my legs and now my feet,is there anything i can for this? i have been checked for diebetes and it was good.
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You should probably speak with your surgeon.
DeleteMy heels are numb when I am not on the and tingel when I am not on them. same with the inside of my toes and around my feet. What is it and what should I do?
ReplyDeleteYou should see your primary care doctor or a foot specialist, your symptoms may indicate nerve disease of some sort.
Deletein late august i noticed my feet were very black i assumed sunburnt, but they never hurt like a burn just a little sensitivity on the top from midway to the toes. they have been peeling now for weeks top and bottom. could this be an allergic reaction to something
ReplyDeleteAllergic reactions do not turn feet black, and neither should a sunburn unless you had a very serious burn. You should have your feet medically evaluated for potential complications.
ReplyDeleteHad massive heart attack the day after I had a pedicure with heel scraping of calluses. A few days later I expereinced severe left foot heel pain and tingling that woke me up at night. Saw Podiatrist and he gave me a cortizone in left foot. Pain subsided downto a low roar but various tingling continues in both feet. Had diasbetes tes. No diabestes. had arterial scan of legs and feet ans also venous grams. All negative. I am stumped. The right foot pain can stretch up the side of the right leg to the knee. I just do not have any more clues. I am blaming this on 1. the heart attack or 2. The pedicrue with heel scraping of thick skinon heel of feet. Do you have any clues? I am 73 years old...female Thank You.
ReplyDeleteTingling and nerve-based symptoms can have many causes, but skin scraping is not one of them. Likewise, the actual heart attack is not likely a direct culprit, but if you had other damage as a secondary result of the loss of blood flow from the heart there could possibly be some type of connection- but that is not my area of expertise unfortunately. You likely need further testing to find the cause.
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