Uncovering the Reasons Behind Numb Heels
It can be alarming to suddenly lose sensation in your heels or any part of your feet. Numbness signals potential nerve damage or underlying medical issues needing diagnosis. While conditions like multiple sclerosis and diabetes are common culprits, various other explanations also contribute to heel numbness.
What Causes Numb Heels?
A wide range of issues can spark uncomfortable or concerning heel numbness, including:
- Sciatic nerve impingement - Irritation of the sciatic nerve rooted in the lower back often radiates symptoms down to the heel due to nerve branching.
- Compartment syndrome - Excess pressure buildup within lower leg muscle sheaths compresses nerves feeding the heel and foot.
- Varicose veins - Swollen, enlarged leg veins linked to poor circulation disrupt adequate nerve signal transmission.
- Diabetes - Excess blood sugar damages nerves over time, commonly affecting far reaches like heels first.
Less Common Causes
While diabetes tops the list for instigating nerve troubles, various other unlikely culprits could secretly be the root cause of heel numbness, such as:
- Alcohol abuse - Toxic effects from heavy alcohol intake can produce peripheral neuropathy symptoms like numb heels.
- Nutrient deficiencies - Lacking vitamins B12, E, and niacin diminishes nerves healing capacities.
- Chemotherapy - Certain cancer drug side effects include inflicting extensive nerve damage.
- Infections - Bacterial or viral illnesses sometimes disrupt nerve cell communications.
Everyday Explanations
Before sounding diagnostic alarms about dire health afflictions, first assess lifestyle factors that commonly, albeit temporarily, lead to numb heel discomforts, like:
- Excess standing/walking - Extreme periods on the feet inflames heel tissue and irritates connective leg nerves.
- Restrictive footwear - Tight shoes excessively compress heels and restrict circulation.
- Cold exposure - Freezing temps constricts blood vessels also reducing nerve function in heels.
- Leg crossing - Cutting off calf circulation via prolonged leg crossing goes hand-in-hand with heel numbness.
Seeking a Diagnosis
While home remedies can alleviate short term heel numbness, lingering lack of sensation for several weeks warrants medical attention. Podiatrists specifically diagnose and treat lower limb conditions including loss of heel padding and nerve disorders contributing to numbness. They employ advanced diagnostic techniques to pinpoint the issue like:
- Blood tests - Check blood sugar and vitamin levels that impact nerve health.
- Nerve conduction tests - Measure how well nerves transmit electrical signals.
- EMG - Needle electrode monitoring of electrical nerve and muscle activity highlights damage.
Once determining the cause - whether nerve compression, nutrient deficiency, or something else - specialized treatment gets underway.
Treatment Targets the Trigger
Doctors tailor heel numbness treatment plans according to the diagnosis results. For example:
- Diabetes requires strict blood sugar control paired with nerve pain medications.
- Vitamin deficiencies are corrected through supplementation.
- Nerve entrapment is relieved via cortisone injections or surgical release.
- Podiatry physical therapy rebuilds strength, flexibility, and stability.
Catching numb heel causes early maximizes the chances that any nerve damage improves or resolves over time. Delaying intervention risks the numbness spreading across the entire foot and becoming permanent.
When to Seek Emergency Care
Amid managing heel numbness, promptly seek emergency podiatry help if also experiencing:
- Difficulty moving the ankle / foot
- Visible foot bruising or deformity after injury
- Lower leg swelling or inexplicable pain
- Loss of balance, falling, or difficulty walking
While numbness alone causes worry, paired with these other urgent symptoms could signal a dire neurological or vascular condition needing immediate care to prevent lasting damage.
Simply tolerating unexplained heel numbness is never wise. Call your doctor without delay, describe all symptoms, and ask about the best diagnostic process to pinpoint the true underlying cause, whether simple or complex. Catching issues early can possibly prevent numbness from becoming long term.
FAQs
What are the most common causes of heel numbness?
The most common causes of heel numbness are sciatic nerve compression, compartment syndrome affecting lower leg muscles and nerves, varicose veins linked to poor circulation, and diabetes inflicting peripheral nerve damage.
Can vitamin deficiencies cause temporary heel numbness?
Yes, lacking key nutrients like vitamins B12, E or niacin hampers the body’s ability to heal and repair damaged nerves. Correcting any deficiencies through supplementation usually resolves associated numbness.
What footwear habits contribute to short term heel numbness?
Wearing excessively tight shoes that compress the heels, as well as standing or walking for prolonged periods which inflames tissues can temporarily induce heel numbness in otherwise healthy people.
How do doctors test for the cause of heel numbness?
Doctors use blood tests, nerve conduction tests, EMG monitoring, range of motion assessments, and neurological exams on feet and legs to diagnose causes of heel numbness like diabetes, nerve compression, or poor circulation.
Is permanent damage possible if numb heels are ignored?
Without determining and addressing the root cause, numb heels that are dismissed instead of treated can worsen over time potentially spreading to the entire foot. Catching it early prevents lasting peripheral nerve damage.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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