Is Foot Numbness Dangerous?

The treatments recommended by your doctor will help slow down the progression of foot numbness or completely heal the numbness altogether. In this article, we will go over the major causes of foot numbness, when you should reach out to a doctor, and what treatments may be prescribed to you in return.

Causes of Foot Numbness

Before we answer the question, "Is foot numbness dangerous?" the following are the possible causes of foot numbness:

1. Nerve Compression

Your body features a complex network of nerves running from the tip of your toes to your brain, allowing you to coordinate body function. If you ever experience damage or compression to a nerve of the foot, you may begin to experience a numbing effect or even pain in the heel and sole.

2. Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is a disorder in which nerve damage leads to weakness, numbness, and pain, typically in the hands and feet. It can develop due to diabetes, infections (such as shingles), alcoholism, vitamin deficiencies, and more.

3. Vascular Problems

Vascular diseases are conditions that affect the body's vascular system, the network of blood vessels responsible for the transport of oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body. If you have some specific types of vascular disease, you might experience pain, paleness, numbness, and tingling on the affected foot or limb.

4. Vitamin Deficiency

Certain vitamin deficiencies may also cause foot numbing. Vitamin B12 deficiency, for example, has a list of common symptoms, including strange sensations of numbing or tingling in the appendages. The same applies to people with calcium deficiency, who may experience spasms, foot pain, and numbness.

5. Disc Herniation

Is foot numbness dangerous? It can be if it is caused by other serious conditions, such as disc herniation. This is a spine condition in which the nucleus pulposus located at the center of the disc herniates and compresses the nearby nerves and spinal cord. If the affected disc is at lumbar segment 5 and sacral segment 1, it can lead to weakness while standing on the toes. In addition to weakness, you may experience pain and numbness in feet, which will radiate down the sole.

6. Alcoholic Neuropathy

Alcoholic neuropathy is a type of damage that occurs to the nerves as a result of long-term excessive drinking of alcohol. Common effects include numbing hands and feet, loss of sensation, tingling, pain, and heat intolerance.

7. Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a disorder that impacts the brain and spinal cord, causing various symptoms for the patient, which may include problems with vision, poor balance, and a numbing sensation along the arms and legs, including the feet.

8. Stroke

A stroke or brain attack may result from poor blood flow to the brain. After recovering from a stroke, it is common to experience numbness or tingling in the limbs. It is also normal for a stroke to cause numbness on one side of the body while the other remains fully functional.

9. Anxiety

Another common cause of foot numbness is anxiety. Anxiety may be due to a number of external factors, but it can lead to a feeling of numbness in the extremities. It triggers blood vessel constriction, an increase in the heart rate, and a rise in blood pressure. This reduces blood flow to other parts of the body, particularly the hands and feet, causing the numbing effect.

10. Side Effects of Certain Medications

Finally, the numbness may be the result of the intake of certain kinds of medications. This includes medicines used to treat cancer and HIV, medications for cardiovascular disorders, or even anti-infection drugs.

Is Foot Numbness Dangerous? When to Find a Doctor?

Foot pain and numbness can be sudden, and you may brush them off as no cause for alarm. However, it may not be the same sometimes. Is foot numbness dangerous? Considering the wide variety of potential causes behind the numbing, you should consider getting medical attention. You should consult with a professional if:

• The numbing sensation persists or grows over time
• You experience difficulty talking, confusion, dizziness, severe headaches, trouble breathing, or multiple spasms
• You have a rash, inflammation, or an injury that may have caused skin damage
• You trip or fall easily as a result of foot numbing
• You have existing health concerns such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, or peripheral neuropathy.
• You cannot alleviate the numbnessdespite self-mediated care.

Common Diagnostic Tests for Foot Numbness

Is foot numbness dangerous? Yes, it can sometimes be, which is why early diagnosis is important. Diagnosing foot numbness will include an initial evaluation where the doctor will assess your medical history and note down your symptoms. You may be asked how long the numbing lasts, what other symptoms you experience, and when you first noticed it, among other questions.  

Alongside the doctor's evaluation, you may be sent for diagnostic tests to better assess the underlying cause behind the numbness. Tests may include:

• Nerve Conduction Studies and Electromyography (EMG) to detect how well nerves and muscles work
• X-ray imaging to visualize the skeletal structure issues that might be causing your symptoms
• Computed Tomography Scans (CT scans) to determine whether any blockages or bleeding in the brain might be causing foot numbness.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to visualize soft tissue lesions that might be compressing a nerve
• Blood Tests that may detect nutritional deficiencies, peripheral neuropathy, or other medical concerns that may be responsible for foot numbness

How to Treat Numbness in Feet

Is foot numbness dangerous? Now that you know it can be, getting your foot numbness treated on time is essential. A numb foot is at a much higher risk of foot wounds, tripping, and falling. Following your diagnosis, your doctor will provide a treatment plan that should help alleviate your symptoms. Here are the most common treatments doctors prescribe:

• Medications such as Neurontin or pregabalin to treat nerve pain or numbness.
• Cold and heat therapy may help manage numbness, reduce inflammation, and enhance blood flow, providing relief.
• Your doctor may have you make adjustments to your lifestyle, such as reducing alcohol intake, maintaining regular exercise to improve blood flow to affected nerves, and eating a balanced diet to alleviate deficiencies.  
• In case the numbness is the result of conditions such as a herniated disc, you may need surgical treatment.

How to Relieve Foot Numbness (Home Remedies)  

If you can't get medical help immediately, try some momentary home remedies to alleviate the numbness. These include:

• Giving yourself ample rest by staying off your feet
• Icing the affected area, particularly if the numbing followed an injury
• Applying heat compresses to increase blood flow to the affected area
• If you experience too much pain or pressure along with numbness, you can try wearing a foot or ankle brace support to help relieve the pain.

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• Massage the feet regularly to keep blood circulating
• Soak your feet in Epsom salt baths to increase blood circulation

But the ultimate solution is always turning to a professional doctor to have the necessary tests to find out the reason and cure method.

Is foot numbness dangerous? The good news is that they are not life-threatening most of the time. However, a sensation of numbness in the foot can result from several causes. If you feel that your symptoms are not alleviating or that they only grow over time, you should seek help from a medical professional. Without knowing it, your foot numbness and tingling may be the result of a more mortifying health condition.

In the meantime, a foot or ankle brace support may be what you need to relieve the numbness in feet. Visit Fivali to see diverse foot and ankle support solutions. They are carefully designed to provide the support your foot needs to heal itself over time!