If you are suffering from numbness in your toes or the surrounding area of your foot, it can be quite worrying and certainly requires further investigation. The two possible reasons why this might be happening could be because of nerve damage or circulation problems.

In some cases, numbness can come on quickly and disappear just as rapidly and is generally nothing to worry about. If your symptoms persist or keep recurring, however, you may want to consult with a podiatrist or your GP.

Numb Toes and Your Nerves
Numb feet or toes could well be down to a temporary nerve compression. This happens if you have been sitting in an awkward position or putting pressure on the nerves in that area. Even some sporting activities could cause this to happen. It means your foot or just some toes ‘go to sleep’ but with a bit of shaking and massaging the problem subsides and then disappears. Many people have had this kind of experience occasionally.

Damage to the nerves serving your feet is another thing altogether. This can happen when there is a problem with your peripheral nerves and doesn’t go away when you massage or shake your foot. The numbness may stay for prolonged periods or it could come and go.

There are a number of conditions that can cause nerve damage including diabetes, narrowing of the blood vessels and medical conditions such as liver disease. It can be the side effect of certain medications or a result of nutritional deficiencies or even drinking too much alcohol.

Numb toes can also be caused by problems further up the body such as a herniated disc in the spine or the spinal canal narrowing and putting pressure on the nerves that spread out towards your feet and toes.

Numb Toes and Your Blood Supply
The other factor that can cause numb toes is a problem with the supply of blood. Conditions such as deep vein thrombosis or peripheral artery disease reduce blood flow and that prevents oxygen and other nutrients getting to the nerves.

Treating Numbness in the Toes
Much will depend on what the cause of the numbness is. In diabetes, for example, changes in diet can help reverse symptoms while problems with blood flow can be treated with medication or exercise. You might also be given physiotherapy to improve things.

Can We Help at the Beauchamp Foot Care Clinic?
While we are skilled at dealing with foot care at the clinic, there are a wide variety of reasons why you could be suffering from numb toes. Yes, it could simply be down to poorly fitting shoes and being on your feet too much. But, if in doubt, you really do need to make an appointment with a podiatrist or your GP to see what is going on and get a formal diagnosis.

In the UK, one of the biggest causes of peripheral neuropathy is diabetes where high blood sugar levels can lead to damage to the nerves. While we don’t get involved in treating the underlying condition at Beauchamp Foot Care in Knightsbridge, we can still help with preventing and managing foot conditions that arise as a result of diabetes. Owing to the nature of the condition, patients with diabetes come to us because we have highly qualified podiatrists on site who understand much more than your average nail bar and deliver a high standard of care.

If you suffer from numbness in your toes, or any other foot condition that is causing you concern,  contact us today to arrange an appointment.