Why do I Have Numbness in my Feet?
Why do I Have Numbness in my Feet?
There are times numbness is felt in your feet due to putting pressure on nerves or by sitting in a position that reduces blood flow. A sensation loss, typically referred to as “going to sleep” occurs as a result of nerve compression while you sit. After getting up and moving around, a pins-and-needles sensation happens before the circulation returns to an optimal level in your foot. However, persistent numbness in your foot typically stems from a chronic condition.
Sensation can be lost more and more over time, and accurate diagnosis is necessary in developing a treatment plan that reduces symptoms. The treatment goal is always to restore patients back to an active, pain-free lifestyle.
What are the symptoms of foot numbness?
The main symptom for numbness in your feet is the loss of sensation in the foot. This symptom can affect both your sense of touch and balance as you can lack the ability to feel your foot’s position on the ground.
While sensation loss is the main sympton felt, many people also experience additional nerve damage symptoms such as:
- tingling
- prickling
- burning sensation
- pins-and-needles
- itching
- difficulty with or loss of balance
What are the causes of numbness in my feet?
The body is made up of a complex network of nerves extending from your toes to your fingertips to your brain. There are many conditions that can effect the nervous system, with chronic numbness in the feet typically signaling an underlying medical condition.
Conditions associated with foot numbness include:
Injury: Physical injury from accidents, sports, and falls can compress and stretch the nerves, resulting in neuropathy, causing the legs and feet to go numb.
Diabetes: Diabetic Neuropathy is a complication of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It’s a condition that’s developed slowly, resulting in nerve damage caused by long-term high blood sugar levels. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, and pain in the feet.
Sciatica: The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back down the back of each leg. Injury or pressure to the nerve can cause pain in the lower back, leading to numbness, pain and tingling in the legs and feet.
Chemotherapy: The chemical toxins in chemotherapy can damage healthy cells that affect the feeling in the hands and feet. One of the most common side effects of chemotherapy can cause neuropathy resulting in tingling and numbness in the extremities.
Regardless of the cause of neuropathy, symptoms are due in large part to damage to the motor and sensory factors of the affected nerve.
What treatments are available for foot numbness?
When it comes to treating numbness in the feet, an examination and screening is necessary to verify the cause of the neuropathy. Diagnostic tests such as an MRI of the spine, nerve conduction studies, and blood work may be necessary to determine what the course of treatment will be.
Some therapy options to consider:
MicroVas Therapy
MicroVas Therapy is an FDA cleared technology that has effectively treated neuropathy for over a decade. MicroVas works by causing gentle passive muscle contraction and relaxation cycles to the muscles of the affected limbs, via electronic muscle stimulation. This process increases tissue oxygen levels to damaged nerves, thus greatly accelerating the healing process.
Our experience dictates that patients continue to report sustained results months and even years after the treatment has been completed. This supports the theory that MicroVas is building new blood vessels (angiogenesis) that result in sustained increased oxygen levels, decreased symptoms and returning you back to the activities you enjoy.
Robotic MLS Laser Therapy
Robotic Regenerative MLS Laser Therapy is an advanced, FDA-cleared, non-surgical laser technology that works to eliminate pain and reduce inflammation in the body in a safe, painless, and non-invasive way. This therapy utilizes dual wavelengths of infrared light to penetrate deep into the tissue and stimulate regeneration at the cellular level.
HF10 Spinal Cord Stimulator
For cases including post-surgical numbness, diabetic neuropathy or numbness resulting from a severe spinal condition, HF10 Spinal Cord Stimulation Therapy offers an advanced treatment for pain, tingling and numbness.
HF10 Therapy works by calming the nerves that carry pain signals to your brain. It’s FDA approved and clinically demonstrated to give superior relief compared to traditional spinal cord stimulation (SCS). The procedure is both quick and minimally invasive, making this a preferred treatment that is proven to deliver long lasting pain relief while also eliminating numbness.
If you are suffering from neuropathy related symptoms, please feel free to call one of our Patient Care Coordinators today at 908-754-1960 to make an appointment or book an appointment online.