Nerve Pain and Your Feet

Have you ever experienced a nerve issue?  We all know someone who has suffered from sciatica in the low back which refers to the big toe, however, nerves can be affected globally from pathologic states and reports of severe pain, numbness and / or burning in the feet can have a big impact on our daily functional activities.

Neuropathy is a condition in which the nerves in the body become damaged.  This damage can occur due to a number of different causes, including physical injury, diseases, cancers, infections, diabetes, toxic substances, and disorders.  Any section of the body’s nerves, including the feet, might become injured.  Peripheral neuropathy is the medical term for neuropathy that affects the feet or other limbs.

The symptoms of neuropathy vary greatly.  Minor symptoms can include numbness, sensation loss, prickling, as well as tingling.  More painful symptoms include throbbing, burning, freezing, and also sharp pains.  The most severe symptoms are muscle weakness, paralysis, problems with coordination, and falling.

Nerve entrapments of the foot can be very disabling.  They also can be misdiagnosed which leads to delayed treatment protocols and ongoing daily functional deficits.

A few things such as foot drop, neuromas, tarsal tunnels, peroneal neuritis, baxters nerve impingement, sinus tarsi syndrome are just a few of the neural issues that can occur in our feet.

What can we do today to help ourselves?  The number one oversight any of us can make is:

FOOD

Dietary changes and/or nutritional supplements, to reduce nerve-choking inflammation to help ensure nerves get the nutrients they need to thrive.

Vitamin B6, B1, B2, Antioxidants, Ginger, Tumeric, Garlic, Omega, Magnesium and Potassium.

Vitamin B12 is essential for nerve health.  In fortunate individuals who may experience peripheral neuropathy a simple oversight in that a lack of Vitamin B12 is their cause for this painful condition can hugely improve and even completely cure this condition – quick and effective intervention is key .

Did you know that nerves have their own blood supply called the vasa nervorum so maintaining an efficient cardiovascular system in order to maintain nerve health is also crucial.

Treatment Options

(1) Capsaicin cream.️

Capsaicin can be administered as a cream or a pain patch.  It is a substance that is derived from red-hot chilli peppers.  It is available as a cream in two different strengths – 0.075% as well as 0.025%.  The stronger cream (also called Axsain) is licensed for use in post-herpetic neuralgia (to be applied after the rash has healed) and painful diabetic neuropathy.

A fantastic in-depth article to describe the wonderful effects capascium has on stubborn neuropathic conditions can be found here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3462993/

(2) Biofeedback

It is a type of mind-body technique you use to control some of your body’s functions, such as your heart rate, breathing patterns and muscle responses.

Did you know that some common medications such as statins are now being pushed by the government and it is expected that as many as 15 million more people are ‘eligible’ to take this drug?  Statins can have a big negative impact on our nerves.  Of course in some cases with familial hypercholesteremia to take a statin is preferable regarding the risk benefit ratio.

(3) Orthotics and footwear and/or therapeutic shoes, to cushion and reposition feet. (Faulty biomechanics can then be a root cause of nerve entrapment.) (*we recently had a client tell us even their bowel movement had improved after their orthotic intervention!)

(4) Physical therapy and stretching, to ease symptoms and in some cases alleviate a compressed or pinched nerve.

Are you suffering from nerve issues? One of our chiropodist/podiatrist can assist and then recommend what treatment options are best to get you back on track. ✅

Schedule an appointment here or you may call us at 44 (0) 207 101 4000. 📞

We hope you have a feetastic day! 👣☀️

-The Chelsea Clinic and Team

Check our blog about Diabetic Neuropathy https://www.thechelseaclinic.uk/diabetic-neuropathy/