3 Sources of Nerve Pain in Your Feet

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Although all of us have experienced foot pain at one time or another, the discomfort that stems from a nerve condition may be less familiar. At Pasco-Hernando Foot & Ankle, we want to educate our Nature Coast patients about the symptoms and causes of some common nerve problems that affect the feet.

In general, sensations associated with nerve damage or inflammation can include one or more of the following:

  • Aching, burning, or tingling

  • Pain

  • A feeling comparable to electric shocks

  • Numbness

  • Weakness

If you have noticed any of these symptoms in one or both of your feet, it’s important you make an appointment at your earliest convenience with the podiatrist, Dr. Lawrence J. Kales, by contacting our Hudson office at 727-868-2128 or 352-683-5799. The foot doctor will examine your feet, get a complete medical history, and conduct any necessary tests to diagnose your condition.

Three common nerve disorders

  1. Morton’s Neuroma—a thickening of the nerve tissue in the body, is referred to as a neuroma. In the foot, the most frequently diagnosed is called Morton’s Neuroma, and it occurs in the ball of the foot between the third and fourth toes. A neuroma develops due to compression and/or irritation of a nerve. Shoes with high heels and/or narrow toe boxes are a common cause due to the stress they place on the toes and ball of the foot. Repetitive action from a sport and certain deformities such as bunions and hammertoes can also raise Morton’s Neuroma's risk.

  2. Peripheral Neuropathy—this is a general category of nerve damage that can have many root causes, including diabetes or another disease, infection, alcoholism, or a vitamin or nutrient deficiency. In some cases, no known cause for the neuropathy is detected.

  3. Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome—perhaps the easiest way to understand this condition is to think of the more common Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. In both syndromes, nerve pain and discomfort causes are from compression of the nerve within a narrow space or tunnel. Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome is the compression of the posterior tibial nerve within the Tarsal Tunnel that runs along the back of the lower leg near the ankle. Injuries, diseases, and growths within the tunnel can all be the source of this nerve problem.

Nerve damage can become permanent if left untreated. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, don’t wait. Contact us today.

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