These Feet are on Fire!
Do you feel like you’re walking on coals sometimes? Or like you’re gingerly stepping on a bed of nails perpetually? Any burning or tingling sensation anywhere in our body is a cause for concern and is often a huge warning sign of something going on internally. Often, a nerve issue is at the bottom of this sensation. There’s a range of these feelings from a slight, mildly annoying numbness to super-painful debilitating burning sensations that can leave you bedridden for their duration.
What could lead to burning or hot feet?
- Nerve issues, particularly peripheral neuropathy
- Morton’s neuroma
- Kidney disease
- Athlete’s foot
- Fungal nails
- Hypothyroidism
- Medication side effects
- Excessive alcohol consumption leading to nerve damage
- Vitamin deficiency
- Dehydration
- Artery diseases
How do I treat hot feet?
If you’re a diabetic patient, treatment could include controlling blood sugar, changing your diet, or oral medication, but a comprehensive treatment plan should always be discussed with your podiatrist.
Other common ways to alleviate this sensation could be:
- Eliminate alcohol consumption – alcohol consumption in high volume leads to nerve damage. Removing alcohol can allow the nerves to heal.
- Kidney dialysis – removing toxins that have built up in the kidneys could help alleviate the burning sensation.
- Vitamin supplements – since a lack of B-12 vitamins can lead to burning in your extremities, a supplement, or in more extreme cases, an injection, can help.
- Orthotic inserts – if the burning is caused by mechanical deformities, custom orthotics can help isolate and alleviate pressure from the burning area to allow healing.
As you can see, hot feet can be caused by a myriad of things. Your doctor may recommend other solutions to alleviate the pain and may perform a number of tests to determine the best course of action. If you’re experiencing burning, tingling, pain, or any other sensation in your feet, Dr. David R. Sullivan at Westfield Foot and Ankle, LLC, is here for you. He can assess the issue and get you on the path to happy, healthy feet. To schedule an appointment, contact us today. You can call our conveniently located Westfield, IN office at 317-896-6655.