“My feet are asleep!” you may have exclaimed on occasion. It’s a peculiar term often used to describe a painful burning or numb sensation in the feet. 

While a minor case of tingly feet caused by sitting criss-cross on the floor for too long may prevent you from walking around for a few seconds, more prolonged tingling sensations in the feet may point to a more serious health condition. 

If you experience frequent bouts of tingly feet, you might wonder what is causing it and what can be done.

Causes of Tingly Feet

A tingly, or pins and needles sensation in the feet can be caused by a number of factors, ranging from harmless to rather serious in nature. 

Common Causes of Tingly Feet Include:

• Sitting too long in one position. – Crossing your legs, sitting on top of your legs, sitting too long in the car, and a whole range of other positions can compress the nerves leading to your feet and cause them to ‘fall asleep’, becoming tingly and even painful.
• Pinching a nerve in your back. – Since the nerves in your feet stem from your lower back, a pinched nerve in the back due to injury or overuse can cause numbness in the feet. 
• Experiencing vascular problems. – Frequent numbness or tingling of the feet may be due to a lack of sufficient blood circulation to the feet. 
• Suffering from fibromyalgia. – Many fibromyalgia patients report a ‘pins and needles’ feeling in the feet. 
• Sustaining nerve damage. – The feeling in the feet can be affected by nerve damage due to injury.
• Suffering from peripheral neuropathy. – Patients who suffer from peripheral neuropathy are prone to loss of feeling in the feet. This is especially common in patients with diabetes. 

Other health conditions not included in the above list may also be related to tingly feet. 

Tingly Feet and Diabetes

As mentioned, patients with diabetes are especially at risk for developing loss of feeling in the feet. Neuropathy of the foot is dangerous because a patient may not notice if he has sustained an injury to the foot until it has already become infected. This can affect the overall well-being of the patient, and in many cases has even lead to amputation. 

“If your endocrinologist feels like you have severe diabetic neuropathy, a referral to a podiatrist may be recommended. The podiatrist will be able to screen and treat for any ulcers or conditions on the foot and may be able to suggest good socks and shoes, which are actually quite helpful in taking better care of your feet,” explains Emory Hsu, MD, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

Yes, diabetic foot pain requires regular care and professional medical attention.

Visit a Podiatrist

If you are concerned about frequent or long-lasting numbness or tingliness in your feet, don’t hesitate to seek medical attention.

“Don’t ignore pain or numb feelings in your feet or legs, especially if you are diabetic. Early diagnosis is the key to reducing the impact of neuropathy on your life,” advises Chestnut Hill Hospital. 

Here at Canyon Oaks Foot & Ankle Clinic, we have decades of experience in treating diabetic foot as well as other conditions related to tingly feet. Contact us today to ask a question or schedule an appointment.