Goodness gracious great feet of fire ?
Are your feet burning and tingling?
Burning and tingling in the feet is a problem we get quizzed about by patients on a regular basis. Often the solution can be simple but occasionally it is a sign of a serious issue.
What are the usual reported symptoms?
- Burning, tingling, numbness or crawling sensation
- Often worse at night
- Usually gradual and inconsistent in nature can be in both or one foot more likely to affect people over 50.
Cause:
There are many potential causes:
- Diabetes and excessive alcohol consumption are the most common systemic causes
The internal causes include:
- Local nerve irritation
- Lower back issues
- Lack of vitamin B12
- Poor blood flow
- Auto-immune diseases
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic pain conditions
- Medication side effects.
The external causes include:
- Inappropriately fitting footwear
Diagnosis
A thorough history and physical exam can help identify the cause and the best way forward.
It’s important to have it checked by your podiatrist to assess whether footwear or biomechanics is contributing to this issue or if a forefoot injury is present such as neuroma, bursitis, or fat pad bruising.
We may need to refer for imaging if the burning sensation is unexplainable or worsening. Sometimes a referral to a GP for blood tests or nerve conduction studies may be required.
What can be done about it at home?
Simple remedies like soaking the feet in cold water or heat packs can provide relief. Removing tight footwear and loosening the laces.
What can we do to help?
Our treatments are aimed to prevent nerve damage and address the pain. Once we understand the cause we offer many effective treatments to resolve the pain and address the cause. Book in to see one of our professional podiatrists at Melbourne Podiatry Clinic to get you to receive advice and suitable treatment for your burning feet.
by Tess Hosken – Podiatrist at Melbourne Podiatry Clinic
