Neurological foot and ankle issues can be a burning or shooting pain, numbness, weakness or just a "pins and needles" sensation. Nerves can be affected by compression at the spine level, knee level, ankle level, or in your foot. Neuropathy can be a subtle nerve degeneration from aging, diabetes, and a myriad of other causes. Do not assume you nerve problems will go away or that nothing can be done to help! A proper diagnosis can lead to alleviation of you nerve troubles!
Common Nerve Related Foot Problems
Neuroma: One of the most common problems we see at FAANT are neuromas. The pain often occurs just behind the toes and can feel like aching, throbbing, sharp, tingling, burning, numbness, tenderness, or the feeling of a rolled-up sock in your shoe. There are many treatment options available for neuromas, so get your ball of foot pain checked out today!
Dorsal Neuritis: Dorsal neuritis is the impingement of the nerve branches providing sensation to the top of the foot. When the dorsal sensory nerve branches get compressed, the top of the foot can experience a range of annoying sensations, including the feeling like the top of your foot is being stabbed by a sharp object, a hot poker, or tingling like you laid on it wrong. There are several things that can cause pressure to the dorsal cutaneous nerves, so it is important to see your podiatrist!
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition where the posterior tibial nerve (the nerve in the bottom of the foot) is compressed. Along with the artery, veins, and tendons running in the same location in the inside of the ankle, the posterior tibial nerve is in constant competition for space! When the space becomes too tight, symptoms like shooting pain, numbness, tingling, or burning can occur on the inside of the ankle or the bottom of the foot.
Neuropathy: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage that results from diabetes. Neuropathy can include numbness, burning, tingling, and total loss of feeling. The nerve damage in your feet can lead to ulcerations and ulcerations can lead to amputations. Be sure to have your neuropathic feet checked regularly!
Lumbar Radiculopathy: Lumbar Radiculopathy is pain in the lower extermities along the course of a nerve coming from the lower back. It most commonly comes from the sciatic nerve, which controls many of the muscles in your lower legs and provides feeling to your thighs, legs, and feet. Symptoms of this condition include radiating pain from your lower back into the buttocks, down the legs, and into the feet.