Numbness and tingling sensations in the feet and ankles can be caused and exacerbated by a wide variety of factors ranging from injury to systemic diseases like diabetes or peripheral artery disease. Catching problems early by having regular visits with your foot doctor can avoid serious complications.

Some possible causes of numbness in your feet and ankles include the following:

• Nerve damage from diabetes—This is one of the major complications of diabetes. Excess sugar in the blood damages peripheral nerves causing numbness and tingling that is often felt in the feet before other areas.
• Neuroma—A neuroma is a growth around a nerve. Morton’s neuroma occurs between the third and fourth toes causing numbness and tingling.
• Wearing poorly fitted shoes—Avoid wearing shoes that constrict your feet and pinch nerves. Also, tight shoes can interfere with blood circulation which can cause numbing and tingling.
• Sitting in one place for too long—Staying seated in one position for a long time such as during a long plane or train trip can cause some of the nerves in the legs and feet to become pinched or pressured. Stretch your legs periodically to improve circulation and regain feeling.
• Foot or ankle injury—An injury like a sprain or fracture to the foot or ankle can result in numbness and tingling.
• Spinal cord injury—Spinal cord problems from a protruding disc or other problems can cause foot and ankle numbness and tingling.

If you have a numb sensation in your foot, be sure to see your foot doctor for the proper diagnosis and treatment.

You can count on the foot doctors at Foot & Ankle Specialists, PC to provide fast relief for your aching feet using a full range of both conservative and surgical therapies. Our expert team, including board-certified podiatrists Dr. Scott E. Hughes, Dr. Greg P. Vogt, and Dr. Christine I. Tumele, serves patients of all ages with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment technologies including onsite digital x-ray, ultrasound, diabetic shoes, and digital scanning for custom orthotics. For any questions or to make an appointment, please contact us at one of our Southeast Michigan facilities in Monroe (734-241-0200) and Lambertville (734-856-8900) (Bedford and Monroe counties). We also offer convenient house calls Monday through Thursday, so give us a call!