When you often experience a burning sensation in your feet, it is most likely that you suffer from nerve damage in the legs, known as neuropathy.
Neuropathy can be caused by various different medical conditions, but the most common one is diabetes. Most treatments for dealing with burning feet focus on preventing further nerve damage as well as reducing pain.
What Causes Burning Feet?
As mentioned, it is most often caused by neuropathy. When the nerve fibers become damaged, they are more likely to become overactive and misfire. The damaged nerves can send false pain signals to the brain even though there is no wound or injury.
In most cases of neuropathy, the nerves in the legs become damaged first. Apart from burning feet, this can also cause numbness and tingling in the feet. Symptoms of burning feet usually include the feet becoming overly sensitive to touch; and then of course the burning sensation which can range from mild to disabling.
Second to diabetes, alcohol abuse is the most common cause of neuropathy in the legs. Some of the other conditions that can cause neuropathy or a burning sensation in the feet include:
- Chronic kidney disease (uremia)
- Small fiber neuropathy
- Vitamin deficiency (vitamin B12 and occasionally vitamin B6)
- Low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism)
- Lyme disease
- HIV/AIDS
- Amyloid polyneuropathy
- Side effects from certain drugs (chemotherapy drugs, vitamin B6 overdose, HIV medicines, isoniazid, amiodarone, metformin, etc.)
- Erythromelalgia
- Heavy metal poisoning (lead, mercury, arsenic)
- Vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels)
- Sarcoidosis
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Edema or fluid retention
- Hypertension
Apart from neuropathy, there are also other root causes for the burning sensation in the feet. Some of these include:
- Infections and inflammation of the feet. The most common of these is athlete’s foot, which is an infection of the skin caused by fungus.
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD). The poor circulation of blood to the feet may frequently cause pain, tingling, and burning feet, especially while walking.
- Gastric bypass surgery. Some people experience a burning feet sensation weeks or even months after surgery. Poor absorption of B vitamins after gastric bypass can cause neuropathy in the legs and a sensation of burning feet.
Diagnosing Burning Feet
It is important to consult your doctor or other healthcare professional in order to get an accurate diagnosis.
Firstly you would be tested for diabetes, seeing that this is the main cause of neuropathy. If this is the case, the diagnosis process is relatively straightforward.
However, if this does not seem to be the cause of your burning feet, further testing may be needed. These tests may include:
- Electromyography (EMG)
- Nerve conduction study
- Laboratory tests
- Nerve biopsy
Tips for dealing with Burning Feet:
The goal of treating burning feet should not just be to treat the symptoms, but to tackle the root cause. This is the best way to prevent further nerve damage, and in doing so try and relieve the burning sensation in the feet.
In the case of diabetic neuropathy, treatment will include learning to control blood sugar levels, which usually means making a few changes to your diet, exercise routine, and even medication.
For people with neuropathy due to other causes, preventing further nerve damage is equally important. Specific conditions and their treatments include:
Vitamin deficiency
Taking additional vitamin B12 orally or by injection can replace low levels of this nutrient.
Alcoholism
Cutting out excessive drinking prevents ongoing nerve damage and allows nerves to heal.
Chronic kidney disease
Dialysis may be necessary to eliminate toxins causing neuropathy and burning feet symptoms.
Hypothyroidism
Taking oral synthetic thyroid hormone raises low thyroid levels, often reversing neuropathy as well as burning feet symptoms.
Recommendation
If you struggle to get blood sugar under control, follow the Manna Diet and take the Manna Blood Sugar Support Supplement to prevent further nerve damage. Eliminating sugars and starches from your diet is always a good idea for all over well being.
If you have blood circulation problems, you need to move more. Start with walking, if possible, or swimming can also be a very good alternative, as long as you get the blood flowing. Sitting too long hours behind a desk can also cause nerve damage which can lead to burning feet. Stand up and walk around for a few minutes every hour.
Take the Manna Blood Circulation Support to increase blood flow the natural way.