Neuropathy and your feet

Do you have issues with neuropathy and your feet? Or are you wondering how neuropathy can affect your feet, and how a Podiatrist can help? Then this blog is for you!

What is neuropathy?

Neuropathy develops when the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord (Peripheral nerves) are damaged. There are several different types of nerves – sensory, motor and autonomic. Each type of nerve has a different function and will cause different symptoms if they are damaged.

What are the symptoms of neuropathy?

The main symptoms of neuropathy are – numbness, tingling, burning, and painful sensations, loss of balance, and weakness. What symptoms develop will depend on the types of nerves affected. For example, damage to the Motor nerves which control muscle function, will lead to muscle weakness. If the Sensory nerves are affected, then this will lead to numbness and/or tingling sensations.

What causes neuropathy?

There are many different causes of neuropathy. The number one cause in the UK is Diabetes. With diabetes, over time if the blood sugar levels are raised, then this will cause damage to the nerves, leading to numbness or painful sensations in the feet. However, there are other causes, such as mechanical - (nerve entrapments, such as disc issues in the spine for example), chemical – from medications such as chemotherapy, and medical, from other underlying medical conditions - like shingles, hereditary conditions such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease amongst others.

How can chemotherapy cause neuropathy?

Whilst chemotherapy drugs target cancer cells, they can also cause some damage to healthy cells in the body too, including nerve cells. In some cases, surgery that is required to remove tumours may also cause nerve damage leading to neuropathy.

How can neuropathy affect your feet?

Neuropathy can cause issues in different ways involving the feet. If your muscle function is affected by motor neuropathy for example, then this can lead to a change in foot shape and increased pressures over some areas of the feet, for example the balls of the feet or the tops of the toes.

The numbness in feet caused by sensory neuropathy may mean that you aren’t as aware of any pressures or skin damage to your feet. For example, if you have a new pair of shoes that are rubbing, you may not be aware of this until a large wound has been created. Also, lesions such as corns, which would normally be painful, may not be felt until the pressures in the skin have caused tissue damage beneath the surface.

How can a Podiatrist help with neuropathy in your feet?

Neuropathy can cause various issues with your feet. A Podiatrist can help in the first instance by carrying out a neurological assessment of your feet using various pieces of equipment, to test the sensation and muscle strength and function in your feet and lower legs. Podiatrists can provide tailored footcare and footwear advice too, helping you to keep your feet healthy day to day, and prevent complications developing.