Feet On Fire? It May Be Time For A Foot Specialist

Problems with the feet are common. After all, they carry the weight of your body around your entire life. Aging, as well as disease and injury, take their toll over time. One common problem most people experience at least once over the course of a lifetime is feet that feel like they are hot or burning. Here is a look at four conditions that can lead to this annoying symptom.

Alcoholic Neuropathy

If you enjoy tipping back a cold one or sipping on the liquid amber a little more often than most doctors would typically recommend, you are putting yourself at risk of developing any number of alcohol-related diseases. One such condition, alcoholic neuropathy, can cause your feet to feel tight and excessively hot or to have a prickly, burning sensation. This is caused by nerve damage. The same nerve damage can occur in your bowel or bladder and lead to dysfunction there as well.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Uncontrolled blood sugar in people with diabetes can lead to nerve damage throughout the body. Excess sugar gradually destroys blood vessels as well as the nerve network. When this damage occurs in your feet and lower legs, it is called peripheral neuropathy. Your feet, ankles, and lower legs may feel numb or less sensitive to touch. Unfortunately, this can lead to falls and other accidents. Your soles may also feel like they are on fire or you are walking on pins. You may also get sharp pains that feel as though you are being stabbed with needles. You may also get the sensation of having tight socks on when you don't actually have any socks on.

Vitamin Deficiencies

Some vitamins are more difficult to absorb as people grow older. People also tend to eat less as they age, or they may not eat as well as they should. If you are lacking in key nutrients, you can dozens of odd symptoms. A shortage in the B vitamins, in particular, can lead to odd sensations in the feet and other areas of the body. This shortage can also cause a type of anemia, leading to fatigue and shortness of breath.

Foot Fungus

Foot and toenail fungus, sometimes referred to as athlete's foot, can cause several foot problems. From thick, discolored toenails to peeling skin to burning heat and intense itching, trying to eradicate a foot fungus is no fun.

If you have been experiencing these or any other foot-related symptoms, it's important to see a foot specialist, also known as a podiatrist. This is a doctor who specializes in the treatment of the feet, ankles, and lower legs.