12 Most Common Causes Of Burning In The Feet

Introduction

The hot, painful, pricking and tingling sensation in the feet can be described as burning in the feet. The sensation can vary from acute (short-lived) to chronic (long-lived) in nature. The burning sensation in the feet can range from mild to severe. It affects patients of all ages. The patients above the age of 50 are mostly affected.

Symptoms Of Burning In The Feet

Symptoms of burning in the feet are:

• Redness
• Tickling sensation in feet
• Swelling
• Change in temperature (affected area gets hot)
• Sweating
• Numbness in the feet
• Muscle weakness
• Pain while walking and often during the night
• Sensitivity to touch

There are many causes of burning in the feet. The reason may vary from simple fatigue to severe conditions like diabetes or nerve damage. You should consult the doctor if there are more symptoms to prevent nerve damage.

Causes Of Burning In The Feet

Some of the causes of burning in the feet are:

• 1. Alcoholism:

  Heavy alcohol abuse is one of the causes of burning in the feet. It may cause alcoholic neuropathy. The nerve damage due to alcoholism may be irreversible. Stop alcohol abuse as it may worsen the condition.

• 2. Diabetes:

  It is one of the common causes of burning in the feet. High blood sugar (diabetes) damages the nerves and blood vessels for a prolonged period. It reduces the transmission of signals from the nerves. It affects sensations in different parts of the body, including the nerves. As per the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney diseases, almost 50-70% of people affected by diabetes are seen to have some nerve damage. When the nerve in the legs and feet is damaged, it is called peripheral neuropathy. Diabetes is the main cause of peripheral neuropathy.

• 3. Nutritional deficiency:

  Vitamins are one of the essential food components of the body. Vitamin B plays a vital role in our body. It is also involved in the functioning of the Nervous system. It also play important role in blood cell synthesis. The deficiency of Vitamin B in the body can cause burning in the feet. Deficiency of Vitamin B12 (lack also leads to anaemia), Vitamin B-9, and Vitamin B-6 may cause burning in feet.

• 4. Hypertension:

  The increased blood pressure in the blood vessels is called high blood pressure. One of the expected effects of hypertension is neuropathy, causing a burning sensation in the feet, mainly at night.

• 5. Small Fibre Sensory Neuropathy (SFSN):

  It is the painful neuropathy that also leads to burning in the feet. It occurs due to loss of myelin sheath (covers and protect nerve fibres). It also leads to numbness and swelling in the feet and pain.

• 6. Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease:

  It is named after the three doctors who first described it in 1886. It is an inherited nerve disease. It is progressive (worsening with time) in nature. CMT affects the nerve which controls muscles. Its symptoms include pins and needles in the feet, burning, clumsiness, and muscle atrophy (muscles waste away, making it difficult to walk or move legs).

• 7. Vasculitis:

  The inflammation of blood vessels is known as vasculitis. When the blood vessels of the legs are infected, the immune system attacks it, causing inflammation and burning sensation in the feet.

• 8. Hyperthyroidism:

  A low level of thyroid hormone changes the balance of hormones in our body. It puts pressure on your nerves, causing burning feet, swelling, fatigue, dry skin or weight gain.

• 9. Infectious Disease:

  Many Infectious diseases may cause neuropathy. Burning in the feet may be one of the symptoms of many diseases such as HIV, AIDS, Lyme disease, and syphilis. You must consult the doctor if you face burning in the feet along with symptoms of infection.

• 10. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS):

  The CPRS is most common after leg surgery and wound. It occurs due to nerve injury, which affects the nerve signals between the brain and spine.

• 11. Chemotherapy:

  Chemicals used to treat cancer have many side effects. One of the side effects of chemotherapy is peripheral neuropathy causing burning in the feet. The other nervous system side effects of chemotherapy are coordination problems, irritation and discomfort, weak and itchy sensation in the body, and muscle deficiencies.

• 12. Athlete’s foot:

  It is primarily seen in athletes. It is a contagious fungal disease. It also affects the toes and nails along with the feet. It causes burning in the feet along with itching and tingling sensation.

Diagnosis And Treatment

Consult your doctor if you have burning, swelling or numbness in the feet. Your doctor will conduct the physical examination and some tests if needed to find the cause. One of the causes is detected. The treatment of burning feet would be according to the cause of the disease.