Experiencing tingling and numbness in your feet can be a peculiar and sometimes alarming sensation. Often described as “pins and needles,” a burning feeling, or a complete loss of sensation, these symptoms can be intermittent or persistent. While sometimes a temporary response to a compressed nerve (like “foot falling asleep”), persistent tingling and numbness in the feet can be your body’s signal of an underlying medical condition that requires attention.

Understanding the causes of tingling and numbness in the feet is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment. The sensations typically arise from nerve damage or irritation, or from issues affecting blood supply to the nerves. Common causes include:

1. Peripheral Neuropathy: This is nerve damage outside of the brain and spinal cord. It’s a common complication of conditions like diabetes (diabetic neuropathy), but can also be caused by vitamin deficiencies (especially B vitamins), kidney disease, liver disease, chronic alcohol abuse, certain autoimmune diseases, or exposure to toxins.
2. Sciatica: This occurs when the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down the leg, is compressed or irritated. It can cause tingling, numbness, and pain that radiates from the lower back down to the foot.
3. Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: Similar to carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist, this condition involves compression of the tibial nerve as it passes through a narrow space (tarsal tunnel) near the ankle.
4. Circulatory Problems: Conditions that restrict blood flow to the feet, such as Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) or Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), can lead to a lack of oxygen and nutrients to the nerves, resulting in tingling and numbness.
5. Spinal Conditions: Herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or other back problems can put pressure on nerves that extend to the feet.
6. Nutritional Deficiencies: Lack of certain vitamins, particularly B12, can lead to nerve damage.
7. Medication Side Effects: Some medications, including certain chemotherapy drugs or antibiotics, can cause nerve damage as a side effect.

If you experience persistent or worsening tingling and numbness in your feet, it is important to consult a healthcare professional. A doctor will typically perform a physical examination, review your medical history, and may recommend various tests, such as blood tests (to check for diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, or kidney issues), nerve conduction studies (NCS) and electromyography (EMG) to assess nerve function, or imaging scans (MRI, X-ray) to look for spinal or structural problems.

Treatment for tingling and numbness depends on the underlying cause. It may involve managing the primary condition (e.g., controlling blood sugar for diabetes), medications to alleviate symptoms (e.g., pain relievers, gabapentin), physical therapy, or in some cases, surgery to relieve nerve compression.

As an important note, a report by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) in its 2024 review found that peripheral neuropathy, a leading cause of foot numbness, affects millions of people globally. Dr. Emily Carter, a neurologist at the Global Neuroscience Center, in a patient outreach seminar held on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 14:00 GMT, stressed, “Don’t ignore persistent tingling and numbness in your feet. It’s your body’s way of telling you something is amiss, and early diagnosis can make a significant difference in managing the condition and preventing complications.”