What is tingling, really?
If you sit with your legs folded for a long time, your feet tingle and the feeling goes away as soon as you move a little. That is normal. But repeated tingling for no reason, burning, a pins-and-needles feeling or numbness in the feet points to a nerve problem.
The main causes
- Diabetes: high blood sugar over a long time damages the nerves of the feet (diabetic neuropathy). It usually starts in the soles of both feet.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency: especially in people who take certain medicines for a long time or eat little animal protein.
- Pressure on a nerve in the lower back: a slipped disc or a narrowed spinal canal can cause tingling and pain in one leg.
- Thyroid problems, kidney disease and excess alcohol.
- A trapped nerve near the ankle (tarsal tunnel syndrome).
Which tests may be needed
Depending on the symptoms, blood sugar, vitamin B12 and thyroid tests, a nerve conduction study or an MRI of the lower back may be done. Once the cause is found, treatment becomes easier.
What to do
- If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under control and check your feet every day
- Don’t walk barefoot; wear comfortable shoes
- Don’t sit with your legs folded for long periods
- Find the cause instead of taking vitamins or painkillers on your own
To control nerve pain and burning, pain management methods such as nerve blocks are also used alongside medicine when needed.
This article is for general health information. Always consult a doctor for your own diagnosis and treatment.
