Home > Why are My Feet Burning? Top Causes and Treatments

Why are My Feet Burning? Top Causes and Treatments

We’re hard on our feet. We stand for too long. We play sports that make our feet hit the ground – hard. And we can walk for hours on end if we want to.

But all of these activities add up to one thing: foot pain. Foot pain can come in many forms, but many people experience a burning sensation.

Burning can occur for a number of reasons, and no one wants to deal with this type of pain. There are many home remediesyou can try to alleviate the pain, but it’s important to understand the root cause of the problem.

The condition is a complicated one to self-diagnose simply because the pain can be caused by so many different things.

What Causes Burning Foot Pain?

Nerve damage is one of the most common causes of burning foot pain. This condition is called neuropathy, and it’s caused by damaged nerve fibers in the legs. These fibers now misfire and are overactive, which causes them to send pain signals to the brain. These signals are sent even if there are no wounds or injuries.

If you have neuropathy, you’re probably also experiencing tingling or numbness in your feet.

Nerve damage isn’t the only thing that can cause burning pain in your feet; it can also be caused by improper footwear. If your shoes aren’t wide enough, for example, it can put excess pressure on the bone in the inner part of your foot.

That excess pressure will cause a lot of pain, and you may not know the cause of that pain right away. Orthotic inserts can help, but buying a new pair of properly-fitting shoes is the only real solution.

Simply switching to the right pair of shoes can make the pain completely disappear.

If you’re experiencing burning sensations on the bottom of your feet and not an area of the bone, you may be suffering from pressure pain.

When pressure is applied to any part of the body, especially the feet, it can cause pain. That pressure causes blood to pool in the area. Eventually, it becomes sore and uncomfortable.

Here’s the good news: proper insoles can help with this. Insoles that use acupressure techniques – you can read about them in Mindinsole reviews – can provide you with much-needed relief.

Along with all of the conditions I’ve already mentioned, burning foot pain can also be caused by:

  • Diabetes
  • Lymes disease
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Kidney disease
  • Vitamin deficiencies
  • Vasculitis
  • Medication side effects
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Sarcoidosis
  • GBS

These are just a few of the many things that can make your feet feel like they’re burning. Any time you have pain in your feet, burning sensations can follow.

How to Diagnose the Cause of Your Burning Feet

Your burning feet have to be caused by something. You may assume that it’s your shoes, but the issue may go much deeper than that.

If your shoes are too tight or uncomfortable, then by all means, replace them. If your shoes were the culprit, you should experience immediate relief and the pain should not return.

If the problem is caused by a medical issue, you may need to undergo some tests to determine the issue.

These tests may include:

  • Nerve biopsy
  • Nerve condition test, which measures your nerves’ ability to properly transmit impulses
  • Lab test to check for different levels in the urine, blood or spinal fluid
  • EMG, or muscle function, test

Your doctor will need to be the one to conduct these tests. In most cases, the conditions that cause burning foot pain can be treated, and you can go on with your life without pain.

Insoles will help with common issues, but if you have a medical issue that’s causing your pain, they will only provide temporary relief. You need to address the medical issue if you want to get rid of the problem entirely.

Neuropathy is the most common cause of burning foot pain, and treatment will typically start with trying to prevent the damage from progressing. This may include treating the underlying condition causing the issue, which will help improve your symptoms and the neuropathy itself.

If you have small fiber neuropathy, your doctor may not be able to find a cause for the problem. In this case, you may need to treat the symptoms only, which may include:

  • Dietary changes
  • Medication
  • Lifestyle changes

Of course, every cause for burning pain is different. You may need one of the following treatments or another treatment entirely, depending on the issue:

  • Stop drinking alcohol if the nerve damage is caused by alcoholism.
  • Vitamin injections or supplements if the issue is caused by a vitamin deficiency.
  • Thyroid medications if the issue is thyroid-related.
  • Dialysis for those with kidney disease.

It’s also possible that there may be other issues that are contributing to your symptoms. Your doctor may recommend a variety of changes that may address the root cause of the problem so that you can live a normal, pain-free life.

In serious cases where the burning sensation may be negatively affecting your life, pain medications may be prescribed.

A physical examination may also be conducted by your doctor, which will look at:

  • Sensation level to determine if you’re suffering from “lack of feeling.”
  • Structural issues in your feet and legs, which may be causing you to put excess pressure on your feet. Orthotics can usually help resolve this issue.
  • Reflexes to determine if there are neurological issues that may be causing the discomfort and pain.
  • Fungal infections, which can typically be cleared with antibiotics.

You’ll have to go through your medical history with your doctor so that he or she may have a better understanding of your overall health. This may give your doctor a clue as to the underlying cause of the problem.

Here’s the good news: treatment is usually straightforward. Treatment may include dietary and lifestyle changes, medication and/or physical therapy. If, for example, diabetes is the cause of your burning foot pain, your doctor will likely prescribe medication, recommend that you change your diet and begin an exercise regimen to get the condition under control.

September 5, 2020
  • Blog

Comments


There are no comments available.

 

BEST CHOICE 2021

MindInsole Review 2021

#1
Get yours now!
Jim

My MindInsole was launched out of a passion for finding true, lasting pain relief. Did you know that 75% of the world’s population has foot pain of some kind? That’s a lot of people, and the footwear industry has done little to correct the issue.

BEST CHOICE 2021

MindInsole Review 2021

#1
Get yours now!