Peripheral neuropathy is a condition caused by damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, and it often affects the feet first. Because it can reduce sensation, it can make small foot problems easy to miss, which is why understanding the condition and caring for your feet consistently matters.
What Is Peripheral Neuropathy?
According to the Mayo Clinic Care Network, peripheral neuropathy is the result of nerve damage, and it often causes numbness and pain, usually in the hands and feet. Mayo Clinic adds that people with peripheral neuropathy generally describe the pain as stabbing, burning, or tingling.
Common Causes
Mayo Clinic lists traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems, inherited causes, and exposure to toxins as possible causes, and notes that one of the most common causes is diabetes. Mayo Clinic's patient education explains that excess sugar in the blood can injure the walls of the tiny blood vessels that deliver blood to the nerves, and that for people with diabetes, neuropathy is more common in the feet.
Symptoms
- Numbness or reduced sensation in the feet
- Tingling, burning, or stabbing pain
- Weakness in the feet or legs
- Sensitivity to touch
- Cuts, blisters, or sores that go unnoticed because they are not felt
Why Foot Care Matters with Neuropathy
When sensation is reduced, a blister, cut, or pressure point can go unnoticed and may become more serious before it is found. Mayo Clinic notes that because peripheral neuropathy can sometimes begin slowly with just numbness in the feet, it is important to be vigilant about foot care, and to talk to your health care provider right away if you notice foot numbness or pain, since early diagnosis and treatment offer the best chance for controlling symptoms and preventing further nerve damage.
Daily Foot Care Habits
- Inspect both feet every day, including the soles and between the toes
- Wash and dry feet thoroughly
- Wear well-fitting, protective shoes and avoid going barefoot
- Check the inside of shoes for anything that could rub or irritate
- Keep nails trimmed carefully and straight across
- Report any new sore, color change, or swelling promptly
Treatment and Management
Treatment generally focuses on the underlying cause and on managing symptoms. The Mayo Clinic Care Network notes that medications can treat painful symptoms, which may improve over time, especially if the underlying condition is treated. Mayo Clinic's patient education also notes that keeping blood sugar under control is the best thing you can do to help prevent peripheral neuropathy in people with diabetes, and that smoking can affect circulation and raise the risk. In our office, we can examine your feet, check sensation and circulation, look for areas of pressure or skin breakdown, and recommend protective footwear.
When to Schedule a Visit
Schedule an evaluation if you notice numbness, tingling, or burning in your feet, if you have diabetes and have not had a recent foot exam, or if you find a sore or blister that is not healing.
Don't Take Our Word for It
Our office includes four exam rooms, an on-site surgical suite, and free parking, making regular foot checks simple and convenient. Schedule an appointment with our office and keep your feet healthy for all the wonderful activities the Willamette Valley has to offer.
This article is for general information only and isn't a substitute for proper evaluation.