How Our Podiatrists in Camarillo Can Help

When you walk around on your feet all day, it can be difficult to ignore alarming or painful symptoms. Before we can get to the bottom of the issue, it is important to know what is causing it. There are several possibilities that might explain why you are experiencing sensations like burning, numbness, pins and needles, or tingling in the feet.

Some of these possibilities include:

• Peripheral neuropathy. This is a common disorder of the small nerve fibers in the extremities that most frequently lie in the feet. It presents as bothersome sensations that often occur during rest, especially in the evening. Patients often find that the tingling or burning sensations disturb their sleep.

Sometimes the cause originates in the feet and other times it a systemic cause. This means that there is an underlying condition taking place in the body that is manifesting in the feet. Systemic causes of neuropathy usually result in burning, tingling or numbness in both feet and often in a symmetric distribution (like the toes, ball of the foot, or entire bottom surface).

The number one cause of peripheral neuropathy in the United States is diabetes. Other common causes are alcoholism, Vitamin B deficiency, hypothyroidism, HIV, drug-induced conditions (like chemotherapy), exposure to heavy metals, and multiple sclerosis. Occasionally, patients have “idiopathic peripheral neuropathy.” These cases are the most difficult to treat because there is no clear cause.

• Compressed nerve in the lower back. When the burning or tingling sensation occurs in just one foot or leg, a compressed nerve in the lower back may be to blame. This condition is called radiculopathy, and it can occur in any part of the spine, but the lower back is the most common.

If the patient has a lower back problem, like a compressed vertebra or a slipped disc, it is important that they inform us during their appointment so that we can explore this possibility. If the cause of pain is wrongly identified, only the symptoms will be treated as opposed to the underlying condition. Our goal is to provide long-lasting relief, so we conduct open and compassionate discussions with our patients in order to paint a full picture of their medical background.

• Tight or improperly fitted shoes. Sometimes, the solution to this uncomfortable feeling is as simple as buying a new pair of shoes. This is because tight or improperly fitted shoes can cause numbness in the foot, particularly when the feet swell during exercise. Some patients have a bone spur on top of the foot in a position that causes the nerve to be pinched. This can be relieved by skipping eyelets in the shoe so the laces do not contact that area of the foot, applying a donut pad around the spur, or in extreme cases, surgically removing the spur. If shoes cause pain in only two toes, this is most often the result of a neuroma, a condition that causes the tissues around the nerve to thicken.

Personalized Treatment for Your Needs

When you visit one of our podiatrists to find relief for numbness or tingling in the feet, it is important that we identify the source of the sensations. You can help us do this by taking note of and communicating when the pain occurs, what part of the foot it occurs in, and how you have found relief. A more detailed history leads to a more accurate diagnosis and successful treatment, so your sensations can be gone for good.

Schedule an appointment with one of our skilled podiatrists at Performance Foot & Ankle in Camarillo today by calling (805) 380-3152 or by contacting us online.