What Causes Feet to Tingle?

05 Nov What Causes Feet to Tingle?

Why Are Your Feet Tingling?

You’ve been sitting at your desk or on the couch for a couple of hours, and you stand up. When you uncross your legs, you get a sharp tingling along your feet. What causes this, and should you worry about it?

When You’re on Pins and Needles

That tingling sensation has a name. Doctors call it paresthesia, and it’s very common. It happens when staying in one position exerts pressure on your nerve endings. In most cases, it fades as soon as you get up and start moving your feet. You may have to shake or wiggle your feet to get rid of the sensation.

If it persists beyond a few minutes, try these remedies.

Relieve the Pressure

You get pins and needles when there’s excess pressure on one part of your leg or foot. This constricts your blood vessels and cuts off circulation. Relieve the pressure instantly by changing your position to remove the pressure. This is usually enough to relieve the pressure and get rid of the pins and needles.

Get Moving

Brisk activity will rush blood to your compressed nerves. Standing up will help get the blood to your feet. If you can, take a short walk to get the blood flowing quickly. If you’re not able to stand or walk, try bouncing your knee up and down while you’re sitting.

Soak Your Feet

If you regularly get pins and needles, you may have persistent tension in your foot muscles. Ease the tension by soaking your feet in warm water. Stretch the muscles of your feet to keep them flexible.

Wear the Right Shoes

The wrong shoes can pinch your nerves and cause paresthesia. Shoes that are too tight can cause intense pressure on your toes. When you buy shoes, be sure they fit comfortably right away. You should never have to “break-in” shoes to make them comfortable.

Many women complain of numbness in their toes after wearing high heels. If you’re wearing heels, remove them occasionally so you can massage and stretch your feet.

Massage Your Feet

Massaging your feet will improve blood flow and keep your toes flexible. If you’re prone to getting pins and needles, try massaging your feet for a few minutes every day.

What If Your Parasthesia Is More Serious?

If your tingling doesn’t go away with these simple remedies, you could have persistent paresthesia. This could be a symptom of peripheral neuropathy, which is nerve damage. Neuropathy is often a symptom of a serious condition.

What Can Cause Consistent Parasthesia?

Do you frequently get tingling in your feet that doesn’t go away? One of these conditions could cause it.

Pregnancy

If you’re pregnant, your uterus may press on the blood vessels in your legs. That can cause nerve pain and tingling. You can prevent it by occasionally raising your legs from the floor while you’re sitting.

Kidney Disease

Diabetes and high blood pressure can cause kidney disease. The parasthesia associated with kidney disease is more severe and long-lasting than normal pins and needles. If you experience cramping, painful tingling, or muscle weakness, consult a doctor.

Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by high blood sugar. This is a dangerous condition that builds up slowly after years of high or uneven blood sugar levels.

In advanced cases of diabetic neuropathy, your feet can develop ulcers that don’t heal. This happens because you can’t feel injuries to your feet. In extreme cases, you can develop gangrene. That may lead to the amputation of a foot or leg. If you have diabetes and you experience foot tingling, talk to a foot care professional.

Medical Conditions

Some illnesses can cause your feet to tingle. These include shingles, Lyme disease, HIV/AIDS, and leprosy. Autoimmune conditions like celiac disease and rheumatoid arthritis can also cause these symptoms.

Get Help for All Your Foot Problems

At Shuman Podiatry, we treat all foot problems. If your feet tingle too much for your comfort, make an appointment to talk with us.