The tingling sensation that you are having on your feet could be an early indication of something serious in your body. Most people at some point in their life will experience this numbness on their feet which at times could become really painful. One reason that could seem quite trivial is sitting at the same posture for too long. However, this feeling will fade away after some time if the sitting posture is the reason behind it. If the tingling in your feet is persistent, you should know that it could be the indication of the following concerns:
Diabetic neuropathy
Your diabetes could be one of the reasons for that tingling sensation on your feet. High-blood sugar damages your nerves, and as a result of that, you get nerve pain in the foot.
Symptoms
- Extreme thirst
- Frequent urination
- Itchy skin
- Dry mouth
- Numbness or pain in your feet and hands
- Breathe smelling fruity
- The unexpected loss of weight
- Increased hunger
- Yeast infections
- Very slow healing of sores or cuts
- Lethargy or drowsiness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Changes in vision
Treatment
The doctor will do a complete medical check-up of your body and look at your medical history. He or she will also run blood tests in order to determine the exact cause of this tingling sensation on your feet. Then the doctor will recommend lifestyle changes and medications like insulin that will help you to fight diabetes.
Pregnancy
Many women feel the tingling sensation in their feet during their pregnancy phase. When the size of the uterus increases, it will put some pressure on your nerves which goes down the leg and feet. This will cause a sensation of “pins and needles.”
Treatment
- Keep your feet up while resting
- Change your posture from time to time
- Drink plenty of water so that you stay hydrated
If this tingling on your feet during the pregnancy period persists and also cause swelling and weakness of your feet, then you should consult with your doctor in order to ensure that there is nothing to worry.
Vitamin deficiency
If you are facing vitamin deficiency with certain vitamins, then you can have this tingling sensation in your feet or nerve pain. This mostly happens due to the deficiency of vitamin B. The deficiency could be the reason for your poor diet or an underlying medical condition of your body.
Symptoms
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Coldness and tingling in hands
- Dizziness
- Several chest pain
- Vomiting or nausea
- A headache
- Enlarged liver
- Digestive issues
Treatment
Your doctor will check your medical and family history after doing a complete physical check-up and blood tests to determine that you are vitamin deficient. Certain vitamin medications or other treatment measures will be prescribed depending on the type of your condition.
Kidney Failure
Another reason for the nerve pain in the foot is kidney failure. High blood pressure and diabetes could cause kidney failure.
Symptoms
- Numbness, pain, and tingling in the feet and legs
- Cramps and muscle twitches in the legs
- The sensation of ‘pins and needles’
- Weakness in the muscles
Treatment
Your doctor will go through a number of tests that will determine kidney failure such as:
- Electromyography to measure the activity of the muscles
- A test for the velocity of nerve conduction
- Blood test
- Neurological examination
The general treatment for kidney failure will include kidney transplant or dialysis.
Autoimmune diseases
This happens when your body will attack itself. There are various autoimmune diseases that can cause nerve pain in the feet.
Symptoms
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Lupus
- Celiac disease
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Treatment
Your doctor will most likely check your family and medical history and check your physical condition thoroughly. After running several blood tests and determining the cause, he or she will most likely recommend medications and dietary changes to treat the autoimmune disease you have.
Infections
There are several infections that can cause foot nerve pain. The inflammation caused by these infections will lead to that tingling sensation in the feet.
Symptoms
- Shingles
- Lyme disease
- HIV
- Hepatitis B and C
- Leprosy
- AIDS
Treatment
If you think that you are having an infection, then you can consult with your doctor. He or she will run plenty of tests and check your physical condition and family history to determine the cause of your infection. After that, the doctor will include certain medications that will depend on the type of infection you have.
Finally, if you are facing lousy foot pain in your feet along with a severe headache and numbness on your face then you could be having a stroke. Look out for medical attention immediately in such a case since strokes pose a massive threat for your life.
