Have you noticed a strange burning sensation in your feet? It’s not uncommon! Experiencing burning feet can have many different causes and, luckily, solutions. Here is everything you need to know about burning feet and how you can beat it!
Causes
Foot fatigue or a skin infection might create temporary burning. But consistent burning is usually due to some type of nerve damage. Damaged nerve fibers can become overactive and misfire, sending pain signals to the brain despite there being no injury. You may experience tingling or numbness in your feet or legs before you have any burning sensations. The most common causes for burning feet are…
- Excessive alcohol use
- Drug side effects
- Athlete’s foot
- AIDS/HIV
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Chronic kidney disease
- Peripheral artery disease
- Chemotherapy
- Hypothyroidism
- gastric bypass surgery
- Vitamin deficiency anemia
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome
- Heavy metal poisoning
Treatment
If you’re experiencing burning feet, the first step to overcoming it is contacting your podiatrist for help. From there, they will help figure out the root problem. Nerve damage is easy to diagnose, but if your case is more complex or severe, you may need additional testing. Your podiatrist will likely choose one of the following to help diagnose your burning feet:
- Electromyography or EMG
- Nerve conduction study
- Lab test
- Nerve biopsy
Because there are so many causes for burning feet, the treatment you’ll receive may vary. For those with nerve damage, the goal is to stop any further damage and prevent it from worsening. If you have a more complicated case of burning feet, you will focus on bettering your symptoms. Specific treatments include:
- Getting diabetes under control
- Prescribed medications
- Additional vitamins, like B12
- Limiting alcohol intake
- Dialysis, for chronic kidney disease
- Antifungal prescription
- Buying more comfortable shoes
Dr. Ryan L. D’Amico, Dr. Donal M. Erickson, Dr. Keith Sherman, Dr. Anne-Louise Smith, Dr. Justin Muser, and the rest of the staff at Syracuse Podiatry in East Syracuse, New York, can help treat and care for your feet. Call us at 315-446-3668 or make an appointment online to get help today.