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What Causes Chronic Feet Pain And Numbness In The Ball Of My Foot?
Question: I have been having escalating pain in my feet for more than six months (I honestly can't remember when they haven't hurt in the past year) It's gotten worse in the past two or three months. The part that is confusing is the type of pain. Sometimes it is a thick, numbness in the ball of my foot with stinging sharp pains now and then. They get terribly cold and sometimes very warm (still ball of foot and toes) I went to the doctor and they said it was possibly neuropathy, Morton's syndrome or metatarsalgia. I was prescribed gabapentin, but was too scared to take it because it was off label and the possible side effects. The doctor says my pulse on my feet seems strong, but I retain water a bit. I take enalipril for moderate high blood pressure. I was also given sole inserts for my foot, which made my heels hurt horribly. My friend says it sounds like her fasciitis. I have always hated shoes because I have pretty high arches and they always seemed too tight across the arch, so I go barefoot a lot. I am 49 and in pretty good health. I weigh about 170 and am about 5'4" (I could stand to lose about 30 lbs)
Brief Answer:
It's the nerves
Detailed Answer:
several points. Let's start with what is in the foot. There's the skin and the surface, things can irritate it. Yeast infections can cause erosions into the skin with cracks, redness, itching peeling... you don't have this.
Next is the muscle. One can have muscle pain from a number of causes. It is tender both to the touch and with moving the muscles. Or, with poor circulation, the pulses would be ABSENT, it would be cold, discolored, and ache like a sore muscle with exertion... you don't have this.
Next is the tendons and connective tissue. Those are in the center of the foot mainly. they are deep and central to the foot and hurt like a sore tendon. They have no temperature component, they hurt to move, etc. Not likely
Nerves are all over the foot. The pain is variable but often has sharp, numb, electrical, or temperature components. The same nerves control circulation of the foot so big sudden changes in the circulation of the foot going from hot to cold to white to red or blue are usual with nerve problems.
These can be from cigarettes, diabetes, thyroid, changes in mineral, vitamin, or hormone levels (can occur as part of menopause). Anything that is a nerve damper will work on it. There may not be a safer drug than gabapentin. Look up the overdose literature on it; see what is a fatal dose. There almost isn't one (unlike, say, water or iron or tylenol or asprin or most everything which are fatal at high doses).
Generally for any disease we would try to find if there is an underlying condition and also treat the symptoms.
It's the nerves
Detailed Answer:
several points. Let's start with what is in the foot. There's the skin and the surface, things can irritate it. Yeast infections can cause erosions into the skin with cracks, redness, itching peeling... you don't have this.
Next is the muscle. One can have muscle pain from a number of causes. It is tender both to the touch and with moving the muscles. Or, with poor circulation, the pulses would be ABSENT, it would be cold, discolored, and ache like a sore muscle with exertion... you don't have this.
Next is the tendons and connective tissue. Those are in the center of the foot mainly. they are deep and central to the foot and hurt like a sore tendon. They have no temperature component, they hurt to move, etc. Not likely
Nerves are all over the foot. The pain is variable but often has sharp, numb, electrical, or temperature components. The same nerves control circulation of the foot so big sudden changes in the circulation of the foot going from hot to cold to white to red or blue are usual with nerve problems.
These can be from cigarettes, diabetes, thyroid, changes in mineral, vitamin, or hormone levels (can occur as part of menopause). Anything that is a nerve damper will work on it. There may not be a safer drug than gabapentin. Look up the overdose literature on it; see what is a fatal dose. There almost isn't one (unlike, say, water or iron or tylenol or asprin or most everything which are fatal at high doses).
Generally for any disease we would try to find if there is an underlying condition and also treat the symptoms.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
What do I need to ask the doctor in order to find out what the underlying problem is? Where do we start?
Brief Answer:
not quite sure about the question
Detailed Answer:
Certainly without actually being there I cannot prescribe, or order tests or give definite information.
And, there's generally useful information.
Pain that is a THICK NUMBNESS and episodic and not with obvious trauma is VERY LIKELY TO BE FROM A NERVE PROBLEM (NEUROPATHY).
Causes of nerve problems can be cigarettes, diabetes, thyroid, changes in mineral, vitamin, or hormone levels (can occur as part of menopause).
Anything that is a nerve damper will work on it. There may not be a safer drug than gabapentin.
Generally, naming the disease for the underlying symptoms then listing nearly all the underlying causes is considered answering what the underlying cause is.
not quite sure about the question
Detailed Answer:
Certainly without actually being there I cannot prescribe, or order tests or give definite information.
And, there's generally useful information.
Pain that is a THICK NUMBNESS and episodic and not with obvious trauma is VERY LIKELY TO BE FROM A NERVE PROBLEM (NEUROPATHY).
Causes of nerve problems can be cigarettes, diabetes, thyroid, changes in mineral, vitamin, or hormone levels (can occur as part of menopause).
Anything that is a nerve damper will work on it. There may not be a safer drug than gabapentin.
Generally, naming the disease for the underlying symptoms then listing nearly all the underlying causes is considered answering what the underlying cause is.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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