Do you have numbness or tingling in your foot or feet? When people experience these symptoms, they often wonder what the source or cause is. Well, the answer depends on exactly where the symptoms are and what makes it worse or better. Let’s discuss some of the more common reason for numbness or tingling in your foot.

1. Morton’s Neuroma. This is a condition where the tiny nerve bundles between your toes become irritated. When this happens, people will experience numbness or tingling between their toes, most often when walking. Treatment for this condition could be as simple as a shoe insert or potentially an injection if bothersome and non-responsive to other treatments.
2. Local nerve irritation at the ankle. It is possible to get compression or irritation of the tibial nerve on the inside and the sural nerve on the outer foot. These issues can happen due to poor footwear or possible as a result of a sprained ankle. Treatment recommendations often include addressing footwear for comfort along with ankle mobility work and potentially nerve gliding.
3. Peroneal nerve irritation at the fibular head. If you even pressed behind your fibular head you may have felt/experienced a twinge or tingling sensation running down the outside of your shin. This is because you poked at the peroneal nerve…similar to hitting your not so funny bone of the elbow. With certain injuries it is possible to develop irritation of the peroneal nerve behind the knee. Treatment for this issue can include: knee mobilization or stretching, soft tissue work, and nerve glides.
4. Referral from the low back. Yes, it is possible to get numbness or tingling into your foot as a result of a low back issue. Typically this would involve irritation of the L4, L5, or S1 nerve root. Often this is called a lumbar radiculopathy. This may be amenable to direct treatment for the spine or possibly working on nerve gliding as well. Additionally, patients with lumbar spinal stenosis could also develop similar numbness or tingling most notable standing or walking that will disappear upon sitting. The individuals symptom presentation and irritability would dictate the best type of treatment.
5. Neuropathy or other neurological issues. In this instance, often both feet may be involved but it could be just one. There is the possibility that active movement and exercise will help, but there is no guarantee. Frequently medication will be provided in an attempt to alter the perception of numbness or tingling. For some it helps, but not for all.

There you have it. Here are the top 5 reasons a person may have or experience numbness or tingling in the foot. If you have questions about similar issues impacting daily activities, click this BUTTON to request to speak with an expert who may be able to help.