What Are the Causes of Nerve Damage in the Feet?

There are 20 million people in the United States suffering with peripheral neuropathy. The importance of knowing the causes and protecting the millions of nerves in your hands and feet from nerve damage or peripheral neuropathy cannot be over emphasized. Healthy peripheral nerves are responsible for communicating with the brain to signal sensations of touch, pain, heat and cold. They alert you to sharp objects, give you the delicate motor control to pick up small object and to control walking.

Facts

• According to the Neuropathy Association: "A 1999 survey found that 8 to 9 percent of Medicare recipients have peripheral neuropathy as their primary or secondary diagnosis." The annual cost to Medicare for this condition exceeds $3.5 billion.
  Some of the causes of nerve damage in the feet are diabetic peripheral neuropathy, paresthesis and peroneal nerve palsy.

Daibetic Peripferral Neuropathy

• Diabetes is the leading cause of peripheral neuropathy or nerve damage to the feet.
  This neurological disorder affects the peripheral nerves because of consistently high uncontrolled blood sugar levels. The nerve damage causes cramps, pain, loss of sensation, tingling and numbness in the feet that get worst at night time. Ulcers and hard to heal sores can develop that may lead to leg amputation.

Paresthesis/Peronal Nerve Damage

• Paresthesis affects the toes causing abnormal nerve sensations, pins and needles like feelings in toes and feet numbness and burning. This is due to nerve damages, pressure on the nerves, pinched nerve or nerve entrapment. Damage to the peroneal nerve, a branch of the sciatic nerve will cause loss of sensation and movement in the leg, feet and toes. This called a mono-neuropathy since only one nerve is affected. Damage to the peroneal nerve may be due to damage during a knee operation, knee injury or trauma to the knee, habitually keeping your legs in a crossed position and wearing high boots frequently.

Risk Factors

• Diabetics who have had the disease more than 10 years are at risk for developing nerve damage in the feet. Overweight people can get nerve damage in the feet due to poor blood circulation causing deficiency in oxygen and nutrients getting to the feet. Smoking constricts and compromises the blood vessels in the feet causing nerve damage. Other risk factors include not eating a proper diet of fruits, vegetables, proteins; adequate fluid intake; and lack of exercise.

Prevention/Solution

• To prevent some of the causes of nerve damage in the feet, make regular visits to the podiatrist, take proper care of your feet and wear comfortable, properly fitting footwear. You can also quit smoking and avoid alcohol, regulate blood sugar and blood pressure levels and reduce cholesterol. Maintain a healthy diet and a regular exercise routine and these habits will help you to maintain a healthier lifestyle and reduce the likelihood of nerve damage of the feet.