Burning Pain on Outside Edge of Foot

Many people experience burning pain on the outside of the foot. Burning or tingling sensations, called paresthesia, are present when there is an injury or disease affecting the nerves in the area.

Identification

• This type of skin sensation may start out as tingling or numbness and progress to a burning pain. Some causes of this type of pain are neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

Diabetes

• Diabetes can cause burning pain on the outside edge of the foot. Diabetes is the body's inability to regulate the sugar in the blood. Approximately 8 million Americans suffer from diabetes. Other symptoms that may occur with this condition are increased levels of blood sugar, abscesses, skin rashes and skin infections.

Peripheral Neuropathy

• Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by diseases of the nerves or from a systemic illness. Peripheral neuropathy may cause weakness, numbness, pain, paresthesia and muscle weakness. This condition can cause paresthesia in the extremities and in other parts of the body.

Sciatica

• Sciatica is a condition that is quite painful. It is caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve and may cause compression and irritation of the nerve roots. Some of the symptoms of sciatica are pain that radiates from the back and down the leg, burning in the foot, leg pain, buttock pain, back pain and thigh pain.

Considerations

• Burning and tingling in the foot may be a sign of a more serious condition. Consult your doctor to receive a full evaluation and proper diagnosis of your condition.