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Jun 7, 2023 · Numbness in your toes can be a sign of diabetes, nerve damage, or other conditions. Learn about 11 possible causes of numb toes and when to see a doctor.
- Overview
- What are the signs of toe numbness?
- What causes toe numbness?
- When should I get medical help?
- How is toe numbness diagnosed?
- How is toe numbness treated?
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You may lose feeling in your toe or have a tingling sensation due to an injury, such as a herniated disc or spinal cord injury. It can also result from some health conditions, including diabetes and MS.
Toe numbness is a symptom that occurs when the sensation in your toes is affected. You may experience the absence of feeling, a tingling, or even a burning sensation. This can make walking difficult or even painful.
Toe numbness is an abnormal sensation that often reduces your ability to feel your toes themselves or the ground underneath you. You may also feel tingling up your legs or in your toes as sensation returns and the numbness goes away.
Numbness can also cause a pins-and-needles feeling in your toes. This can occur in only one foot or in both feet, depending upon its cause.
Your body contains a complex network of sensory nerves that provide your sense of touch. When nerves are pressed, damaged, or irritated, it’s as if a telephone line has been cut and the messages can’t get through. The result is numbness, whether temporary or long-lasting.
A number of medical conditions can cause toe numbness, including:
•alcoholism or chronic alcohol misuse
•Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
•diabetes and diabetic neuropathy
•frostbite
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience toe numbness along with any of these symptoms:
•difficulty seeing out of one or both eyes
•facial drooping
•inability to think or speak clearly
•loss of balance
•muscle weakness
Your doctor will first take an inventory of your medical history and symptoms before conducting a physical examination. If you’re experiencing stroke- or seizure-like symptoms, the doctor may recommend a CT or MRI scan. These can detect bleeding in the brain that could indicate a stroke.
MRI and CT scans are also used to detect abnormalities in the spine that could indicate sciatica or spinal stenosis.
Your doctor will perform a comprehensive foot exam if your symptoms seem to be concentrated in the feet themselves. This includes testing your abilities to sense temperature and other sensations in the feet.
Other tests include nerve conduction studies, which can detect how well electric current is transmitted through the nerves. Electromyography is another test that determines how muscles respond to electrical stimulation.
Treatments for toe numbness depend upon its underlying cause.
If diabetic neuropathy is the cause, your doctor will recommend medications and treatments to ensure your blood sugar stays at appropriate levels. Increasing your physical activity and paying careful attention to your diet can also help.
If the numbness is due to compression of the nerve in the foot, changing the type of shoes you wear might help. If the numbness is related to alcohol, you should stop drinking and begin taking a multivitamin.
In addition to these steps, a doctor may prescribe pain-relieving medications. These can include:
•antidepressants and anticonvulsants to treat diabetic nerve pain, including duloxetine (Cymbalta) and pregabalin (Lyrica)
•opioids or opioidlike medications, such as oxycodone (Oxycontin) or tramadol (Ultram)
Toe numbness is a symptom of reduced sensation in the toes, which can be temporary or chronic. It can be caused by various conditions, such as diabetes, nerve compression, or spinal cord injury. Learn how to diagnose and treat toe numbness and when to seek medical help.
- Morton neuroma. Morton neuroma, also called by the older name Morton's neuroma, is a thickening of fibrous tissue in the ball of the foot. This tissue encapsulates the nerve leading to the third and fourth toes.
- Chronic idiopathic peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy refers to the feeling of numbness, tingling, and pins-and-needles sensation in the feet.
- Low calcium level. Hypocalcemia is a condition where there is not enough calcium in the blood. Calcium is a mineral contained in the blood, which helps the heart and other muscles function properly, and is needed to maintain strong teeth and bones.
- Sciatica. Sciatica is a general term describing any shooting pain that begins at the spine and travels down the leg. The most common cause is a herniated or "slipped" disc in the lower spine.
Mar 31, 2023 · Numbness in toes can be a sign of a problem with the nervous system or circulation. Learn about the possible causes, such as tight shoes, cold exposure, diabetes, and more, and when to see a doctor.
Peripheral neuropathy happens when the nerves that are located outside of the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves) are damaged. This condition often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in the hands and feet. It also can affect other areas and body functions including digestion and urination.
Mar 29, 2023 · Numbness of foot can be a sign of nerve damage, blood flow problems, or other medical conditions. Learn how to diagnose and treat numbness of foot, and when to seek medical help.
People also ask
What is toe numbness?
Why are my toes Numb?
What is the treatment for toe numbness?
Jan 26, 2024 · Tingling in the feet may be a sign of a chronic condition, such as diabetes, MS, or hypothyroidism. Learn about the possible causes of tingling feet and how to treat them.
