burning sensation in feet is a common medical condition. This occurs due to disorders affecting nerves of your legs and feet. Some may have severe pain, present-ing more at night. This may be associated with numbness and tingling sensation, like pins and needles pricking your feet or soles. There are many causes, however, some disorders may present for the first time with these symptoms of burning feet.
What are the common causes of burning feet sensation?
This occurs due to peripheral neuropathy. Chronic alcohol intake, long-standing diabetes mellitus, deficiency of certain vitamins, HIV and AIDS, certain drugs and toxins are the common causes. Chemotherapy, chronic kidney disease, certain autoimmune disorders and thyroid hormone deficiency may at times be responsible. It can have a genetic basis as well.
Other than peripheral neuropathy can one have burning feet?
Besides polyneuropathy, infections and inflammation of the feet can cause burning feet. Infection of feet caused by a fungus, known as athlete’s foot causes burning feet. If the blood circulation to your feet is compromised due to smoking or diabetes and hypertension, you may have a burning sensation in your feet, especially on walking. Few patients develop Vitamin B complex deficiency after few months of Bariatric surgery and have burning feet.
Are tests necessary if you have burning feet?
Extensive diagnostic testing is not required in patients presenting with mild symptoms. Many have a known underlying reason like diabetes, alco-how abuse or chemotherapy. Patients with rapidly progressive disease, those with severe symptoms and those with atypical features require diagnostic evaluation.
What are the tests required?
Routine blood counts, tests to assess diabetes control, estimation of Vitamin B 12 or folic acid, tests for myeloma and certain autoimmune disorders may be required. Nerve conduction studies and electromyography differentiate between axonal and demyelinated-ing neuropathy which helps to narrow down the need for other tests. Nerve biopsy or skin biopsy may also be required in a few cases.
How to treat diabetic polyneuropathy?
Tight control of blood glucose may help to alleviate symptoms. Make sure that blood circulation to your legs is ade-quate. Avoid smoking and alcohol. Make sure to examine your feet daily and have well-fitting footwear. Vitamins may not help. Pregabalin, Gabapentin, Baclofen, Topiramate, Duloxetine, Amytriptiline may give symptomatic relief. What are the drugs causing burning feet sensation? Some anti-tuberculosis drugs, some anti-cancer and certain heavy metals may all cause burning feet like symptoms. Dapsone, Quinolones, Nitrofurantoin, Amiodarone, Phenytoin are commonly used drugs causing neuropathy associated with burning feet. Do local ointment therapies work? Most of them can give mild temporary relief due to the placebo effect. Trying to find out a treatable cause is of significant importance. There are many many causes of peripheral neuropathy associated with burning feet. A judicious clinical approach with plenty of patience, both for the caregiver and receiver is necessary.
Do you definitely get relief?
Certainly, in few instances like if blood glucose is controlled in diabetics or deficiency of B12, Thiamine, Pantothenic acid is treated or elimination of certain drugs and toxins causing burning feet should have a better prognosis. In fact, few do not get appreciable relief in spite of all possible care.
Burning feet syndrome throws enormous challenges to both the care provider and receiver. Proper evaluation by necessary investigations and the elimination of toxins and drugs are necessary. Diabetes, excess alcohol and vitamin deficiency are few common causes.
