5 Reasons For “Pins and Needles” in Your Feet

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Have you noticed lately that your feet feel tingly, numb or like they have “pins and needles?” All of us have had this happen after sitting with our foot cramped in an awkward position, but at Texas Foot Specialists we want patients to know that unusual sensations in your feet that are ongoing could be the sign of a potentially serious problem. That’s why it’s important that you make an appointment to see one of our podiatrists, Dr. Gregory Mangum or Dr. Bruce Miller, to find the cause of the funny feeling in your feet and get it treated promptly. Below are 5 potential causes of tingling in your feet and toes:

1.       You have diabetes. Your feet can be an “early warning system” for your body with several conditions showing early signs there. Diabetes is one of these. Although this disease has to do with your blood sugar levels, neuropathy or nerve damage is often associated with it.

2.       You’ve overdone it with your exercise program. If you participate in a sport or activity that involves repetitive pounding of your feet such as running or basketball, you may have developed a neuroma. Patients with this condition often experience the feeling that they are walking with a pebble in their sock and may also have pain in their toes or the ball of the foot.

3.       A bunion is getting progressively worse. As the big toe begins to drift more toward the second toe, it can start to compress nerves in the foot. This in turn results in numbness or a tingling or burning sensation.

4.       You’ve injured your back. A herniated disc can push into the spinal canal and aggravate the sciatic nerve which runs from your lower back down to your toes.

5.       Your shoes are too small. If your feet spend hours squeezed into shoes or sneakers that are too tight, numbness and tingling may occur. Fortunately, this is an easy problem to correct. You may get relief simply by loosening up the laces of your shoes. If this does not work, however, you should get your foot professionally measured and evaluate your current footwear. You may be wearing the wrong size shoe or need to change to styles with a deeper, roomier toe box.

If you are experiencing tingling, numbness, loss of sensation or any unusual feelings in your ankle, feet or toes, contact our Pasadena (281) 991-0600, Sugar Land (281) 242-4448 or Houston (713) 664-6677 office so that the foot doctor can diagnose the problem and prescribe the correct treatment.