Symptom: Foot numbness

Introduction: Foot numbness

Numbness usually arises from damage or disease of nerves. Numbness is often associated with or preceded by abnormal pain-like sensations often described as pins-and-needles, prickling or burning sensations called paresthesias; see foot paresthesias. Any numbness or abnormal sensations need prompt professional medical advice.

» Review Causes of Foot numbness: full list

Causes of Foot numbness:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Foot numbness. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Paresthesias
• Foot paresthesia
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Diabetes
• Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
• Intermittent claudication

See full list of 22 causes of Foot numbness

» Review Causes of Foot numbness: full list

Causes of Types of Foot numbness:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Foot numbness:

• Numbness in Both Feet (41 causes)
• Numbness in one foot (47 causes)

More types of Foot numbness

Foot numbness: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Foot numbness, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Foot numbness: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Foot numbness and Pain (19 causes)
• Foot numbness and Leg numbness (18 causes)
• Foot numbness and Leg symptoms (18 causes)
• Foot numbness and Nerve symptoms (18 causes)
• Foot numbness and Numbness (18 causes)
• Foot numbness and Sensations (18 causes)
• Foot numbness and Foot symptoms (17 causes)
• Foot numbness and Paresthesias (16 causes)
• Foot numbness and Arm symptoms (15 causes)
• Foot numbness and Hand symptoms (14 causes)
• Foot numbness and Foot paresthesia (14 causes)
• Foot numbness and Leg paresthesia (14 causes)
• Foot numbness and Arm numbness (13 causes)
• Foot numbness and Hand numbness (12 causes)
• Foot numbness and Muscle symptoms (11 causes)
• Foot numbness and Weakness (11 causes)
• Foot numbness and Arm paresthesia (11 causes)
• Foot numbness and Foot pain (10 causes)
• Foot numbness and Hand paresthesia (10 causes)
• Foot numbness and Muscle weakness (9 causes)

See full list of 834 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Foot numbness

Home Diagnostic Testing and Foot numbness

Home medical tests possibly related to Foot numbness:

• Diabetes: Related Home Testing:
  • Home Diabetes Tests
  • Home Blood Glucose Tests
  • Home Urine Glucose Tests
  • Home Urine Ketone Tests
  • Home Diabetes HbA1c Tests
  • Home Microalbumin Tests (Kidney)
  • Home Urine Protein Tests (Kidney)
  • Home Kidney Tests
  • Home Eye Tests

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Foot symptoms (685 causes)
• Numbness (242 causes)
• Leg numbness (54 causes)
• Pain (2979 causes)
• Sensations (3178 causes)
• Nerve symptoms (3463 causes)
• Leg symptoms (1064 causes)
• Common symptoms (4552 causes)
• Limb symptoms (1029 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Foot numbness

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Foot numbness:

• Foot paresthesia (33 causes)
• Foot burning (19 causes)

Diagnostic Guides for Foot numbness

Medical Books Excerpts Read excertps from published book sections related to Foot numbness from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Foot numbness. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Foot numbness

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Foot numbness

Rare neurological disorder misdiagnosed as anxiety condition: Posterolateral sclerosis is an uncommon neurological disorder that can be misdiagnosed as an anxiety disorder. Symptoms such as peripheral numbness...read more »

Leg cramps at night a classic sign: The symptom of having leg muscle cramps, particularly at night, is a classic sign of undiagnosed diabetes. However, there are also various other causes. See causes of leg cramps or misdiagnosis of...read more »

Vitamin B12 deficiency under-diagnosed: The condition of Vitamin B12 deficiency is a possible misdiagnosis of various conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (see symptoms of multiple sclerosis). See symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency or ...read more »

Infectious Diarrhoea related to Gullain Barre syndrome: Gullain Barre syndrome (GBS) is a demyelinating syndrome involving the peripheral nerves system. It is the most common form of post infective polyneuropathy...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Foot numbness

Diagnostic tests for Foot numbness:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Foot numbness. Some of these are listed below :

• Physical examination
  • Feel the pulses in the legs - if reduced or absent should suggest peripheral atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) or obstruction of the abdominal aorta and its branches by atherosclerosis.
  • Examine for a positive straight leg raising test (straightening the leg at the knee while lying on a bed causing pain in thigh, buttock and back) - indicates herniated disk of L4-5 or L5-S1, lumbar spondylosis, spinal stenosis, cauda equina tumor or spondylolisthesis.
  • Examine for a positive femoral stretch test (with the person laying on their stomach, flex knee with hip lifted in extension causes pain in the front of the thigh and the back) - indicates a herniated disk of L3-4 or L2-3 or lumbar spondylosis.
  • Examine the peripheral reflexes. If diffusely overactive may suggest multiple sclerosis, pernicious anemia, spinal cord tumor, syringomyelia (presence of cavities within the spinal cord) or anterior spinal artery occlusion. If diffusely under active may suggest peripheral neuropathy, poliomyelitis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, cauda equina tumor, metastatic tumor of the lumbar spine and occasionally pernicious anemia or peroneal neuropathy (disease of the peroneal nerve)

See full list of 29 diagnostic tests for Foot numbness

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Foot numbness. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• How long have you had the foot numbness? - to determine if acute or chronic.
• Is it unilateral or bilateral? - symmetrical involvement of both feet suggests peripheral neuropathy. If numbness is asymmetrical or confined to one limb this may suggest individual nerve disease.
• What area of the foot is affected by numbness? - may help determine the cause.
• History of trauma or injury to leg? - e.g. broken leg or foot may damage nerves and cause numbness.
• Risk factors for peripheral atherosclerosis? - e.g. smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Foot numbness (13 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Foot numbness) may include:

• Pain in the involved leg or foot? - may suggest lumbar spine spondylosis (degeneration), spinal stenosis, tumor of the cauda equina (distal tip of the spinal cord and its nerves), spondylolisthesis (forward movement of one lumbar vertebrae on the one below it), herniated disk or pelvic tumor.
• Incontinence of urine? - If incontinence or urine is associated with under active reflexes this may suggest poliomyelitis, cauda equina tumor or metastatic tumor of the lumbar spine.
• Symptoms of peripheral atherosclerosis? - e.g. intermittent claudication (cramp like pain in the calves with exercise, relieved by rest), calf pain with rest.
• Symptoms of Diabetes mellitus? - e.g. frequency of urination, excessive thirst, weight loss, fatigue, increased infections. Diabetes may be complicated by a painful peripheral neuropathy with a glove and stocking pattern numbness.
• Symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome? - e.g. symptoms begin 7-10 days after an infective illness. It results in muscle paralysis which typically ascends from the lower to the upper limbs. Sensory loss (numbness) is usually minimal.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Foot numbness (13 listings)

Stories from Users for Foot numbness

Real-life user stories relating to Foot numbness:

• Numbness and tingling all over
• palpitations, lightheadedness, heavy-feeling limbs, no diagnosis for 2+ years!
• Foot Numbness
• feet adiction
• 20 y/o -- Can't feel empty!
• Bad feet Odour - need help???
• numb tingling feet, back of legs.
• Severe left foot/ankle swelling, left arm numbness
• My Fallice is numb
• I feel hopeless, can't get help
• numbeness in left foot
• Constant Dizziness, Numbing of the Fingers, Legs and Feet
• elderly relative with numbness in feet and legs
• Pulsating/Tingling/Numbness
• Numbness
• Numbness
• feet
• Handpain,numbness and dizzyness
• Feeling strange - can't diagnose
• Rash but no ill-feeling

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Foot numbness or relevant symptoms:

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• Neurological (Nerves) (357)
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• Endocrine (Growth and Metabolism) (93)
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  • Pitutary tumor
  • I am at my wits end with these symptoms
  • I think I have Cushings, can you help?
  • More user stories

Videos for Foot numbness

Patient Surveys for Foot numbness

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Medications or substances causing Foot numbness:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Foot numbness as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Calcium Carbimide
• Dipsan
• Zalcitabine
• Hivid
• Disulfiriam

See full list of 29 medications causing Foot numbness

Drug interactions causing Foot numbness:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Foot numbness as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Thalidomide and chloramphenicol interaction
• Thalomid and chloramphenicol interaction
• Thalidomide and cisplatin interaction
• Thalomid and cisplatin interaction
• Thalidomide and dapsone interaction

See full list of 32 drug interactions causing Foot numbness

Organs affected by Foot numbness:

The list of organs typically affected by Foot numbness may include, but is not limited to:

• Foot
• Foot nerve
• Skin

Detailed list of causes of Foot numbness

The list below shows some of the causes of Foot numbness mentioned in various sources:

• Acroosteolysis neurogenic - numb feet
• Broken foot - numb foot
• Buerger's disease - foot numbness
• Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disorder - numbness in feet
• Ciguatera poisoning - numb feet

See full list of 22 causes of Foot numbness

How Common are these Causes of Foot numbness?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Foot numbness. Of the 22 causes of Foot numbness that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 2 causes are "very common" diseases
• 0 causes are "common" diseases
• 0 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 0 causes are "rare" diseases
• 0 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 22 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 22 causes of Foot numbness

Conditions listing symptoms: Foot numbness:

The following list of conditions have 'Foot numbness' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

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Causes of Foot numbness Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Foot numbness based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: