Tingling in your feet may happen if your feet "fall asleep" after laying on your foot for too long. Other times, health conditions such as arthritis and diabetes that cause nerve damage or compression may lead to tingling in your feet.
"Tingling in the feet is a sensation or symptom that is described when there is the abnormal firing of the nerves in the body. Tingling can be felt in certain parts of the foot without affecting other parts depending on the condition involved,"Nelya Lobkova, DPM, a surgical podiatrist based in New York, toldHealth.
Here are some common causes of tingling in your feet, treatments, and when you may want to see a healthcare provider.
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Nerve root compression occurs if something confines or irritates the nerve roots, or the part of your nerves that extends from the central nervous system. Specifically, spinal nerve root compression may cause tingling in your feet.
“Wear and tear” that causes arthritis as you age is one of the most common causes of spinal nerve root compression. Injuries that cause a herniated disk may lead to spinal nerve root compression. Other times, there’s no apparent cause.
Your nerves send signals from your brain to other body parts. Spinal nerve compression may cause abnormal signals that your body identifies as tingling. Sometimes, that tingling may extend to your lower body parts, including your feet.
Other spinal nerve root compression symptoms include:
- Loss of reflexes
- Low back pain
- Numbness
- Weak muscles
Diagnosis
Nerve root compression may cause tingling in the balls of your feet. You may notice a burning sensation or numbness in your toes, said Lobkova.
A healthcare provider will likely ask about your health history and perform a physical exam to make a diagnosis.
Tests that help diagnose nerve root compression include:
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- X-rays
Treatment
Treatments for spinal nerve root compression vary depending on how severe your symptoms are. These treatments may alleviate back pain that extends to your feet.
First-line treatment typically involves pain relievers like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—like Advil (ibuprofen)—and Tylenol (acetaminophen). Steroid injections may alleviate painful symptoms, too.
Other treatments include:
- Acupuncture
- Physical therapy
- Spinal adjustment
- Traction, which uses pulleys and weights to reposition your joints
In severe cases, a healthcare provider may advise surgery.
2. Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage that affects your feet and legs. In some cases, peripheral neuropathy involves the arms and hands.
Peripheral nerves in your feet send sensory information to your central nervous system. For example, peripheral nerves sense when your feet are cold. Your body may interpret sensory information as tingling in your feet if something damages those nerves.
Peripheral neuropathy is common, especially among people with diabetes. Uncontrolled high blood sugar may damage your nerves and the capillaries, or small blood vessels, that supply them.
Other peripheral neuropathy symptoms include:
- Burning
- Numbness
- Pain
- Trouble sensing changes in temperature or pain
- Weakness
Symptoms may affect one or both sides of your body. Typically, symptoms worsen at night.
Diagnosis
Several tests can diagnose peripheral neuropathy, such as:
- Blood tests:These help detect health conditions that may cause peripheral neuropathy, such as diabetes
- Electromyography (EMG):Records the electrical activity of muscle tissue
- Nerve biopsy:Removal of a nerve sample for testing
- Nerve conduction studies:Track how long it takes for signals to travel along nerves
- Skin biopsy:Removal of a skin sample for testing
Treatment
A podiatrist can figure out if an underlying condition exists. Other treatments vary depending on the cause.
"Treatment is geared at addressing the root cause of peripheral neuropathy," said Lobkova. "For instance, for people with diabetes, keeping the glucose levels in the blood low and under control will help to minimize tingling associated with peripheral neuropathy."
A podiatrist may advise lifestyle changes like abstaining from habits such as smoking, which may constrict blood vessels. They may recommend exercising, which helps send blood, nutrients, and oxygen to your body parts.
Other treatments include medicines that alleviate chronic neuropathy pain, like gabapentin. Topical application of capsaicin may relieve pain. Some evidence suggests that Metanx, a supplement of folate and vitamins B6 and B12, may help.
In severe cases, a healthcare provider may advise surgery.
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Raynaud's disease causes decreased blood flow to your fingers, toes, and other body areas.
Raynaud's disease occurs if your blood vessels narrow when you are cold or stressed. Narrowed blood vessels prevent blood from getting to your skin's surface. As a result, the affected skin areas may appear blue or white.
You may notice tingling in your feet as your blood vessels expand, allowing blood flow to return.
Other Raynaud's disease symptoms include:
- Burning
- Numbness
- Redness
- Swelling
- Throbbing
Diagnosis
Blood tests and nail fold capillary microscopy help diagnose Raynaud's disease. Nail fold capillary microscopy involves a healthcare provider examining the base of your fingernails under a magnifier. They will look for changes in the capillaries.
Treatment
Treatment initially involves soaking in Epsom salt and warming the affected areas with socks, said Lobkova. Avoiding exposure to the cold helps prevent attacks.
There are no medicines approved for treating Raynaud's disease. Instead, a healthcare provider may prescribe medicines for off-label use.
In severe cases, sympathectomy, a surgery that targets the nerves causing blood vessel narrowing, may relieve symptoms.
4. Spinal Cord Compression
Any disease or injury that puts pressure on the spinal cord may cause spinal cord compression. "Wear and tear" commonly causes spinal cord compression in people over 40. People who have narrow spinal canals may develop spinal cord compression.
Your spinal cord sends messages between your brain and muscles. Tingling in your feet may occur if something interrupts those messages.
Other spinal cord compression symptoms include:
- Coordination problems (e.g., imbalance)
- Loss of fine motor skills (e.g., handwriting and picking things up)
- Numbness
- Painful and stiff neck
- Weak muscles
Diagnosis
A healthcare provider will likely ask about your health history. They may perform a physical exam to check your balance, muscles, and reflexes. Imaging tests like CT scans, MRIs, and X-rays can provide pictures of your spinal cord. That allows healthcare providers to check for herniated discs and soft tissue damage.
Treatment
First-line treatments for mild cases of spinal cord compression typically include conservative methods like:
- Avoiding vigorous physical activity
- NSAIDs
- Muscle relaxants
- Physical therapy
- Steroid injections
Surgery is an option for moderate to severe cases of spinal cord compression that do not respond to first-line treatments.
Tarsal tunnel syndrome causes the tibial nerve to compress. The tibial nerve, located in your ankle, creates feeling and movement in your foot. Tingling in your feet results directly from compression of the tibial nerve.
Other tarsal tunnel syndrome symptoms, which typically affect the bottom of your feet, include:
- Numbness
- Weakness
- Muscle damage
Diagnosis
A healthcare provider will likely ask about your symptoms and perform a physical exam. They may ask you to curl your toes, push your feet down, and twist your ankle inward.
Other tests that diagnose tarsal tunnel syndrome include:
- Blood tests
- EMG
- MRI
- Nerve conduction studies
- Ultrasound
- X-rays
Treatment
Treatment may involve a conservative or surgical approach. Conservative treatment includes icing your ankle and NSAIDs and other medicines that alleviate pain.
Other conservative treatments include:
- Kinesiology tape
- Orthotic shoes
- Physical therapy
- Topical medicines like creams and ointments
Ankle foot orthotics, braces, and orthotic shoes help reduce overpronation in some people with tarsal tunnel syndrome. Overpronation happens when your feet roll inward while moving. People with flat feet commonly overpronate.
Surgery may be the next step if conservative treatments do not work.
When To See a Healthcare Provider
You do not need to see a healthcare provider if you occasionally notice tingling in your feet if they "fall asleep" from compression or a lack of movement. That sensation may occur when you lay on your foot for too long, which compresses the nerves.
Still, you may want to consult a healthcare provider if the tingling in your feet does not go away with movement or happens consistently. Typically, if the cause of the tingling is going to go away, it will relatively quickly. If you notice the sensation in your feet for a week or more, it's best to seek out help from a healthcare provider to determine what the cause is.
Try to log how often, when, and where you notice tingling in your feet, said Lobkova. That record can help a podiatrist make a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
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You may notice tingling in your feet if it "falls asleep" after laying on it for too long. Other times, nerve damage and compression from arthritis or injuries cause a tingly feeling. Tingling in the feet may signal health conditions like peripheral neuropathy, Reynaud's disease, and tarsal tunnel syndrome.
Consult a healthcare provider if the tingling in your feet lasts longer than one week or if you have numbness and weakness.
