Most people who feel burning in the soles of their feet, the common and main reason is the damage to the nerves of the feet or liver problems, which are usually related to diabetes. Neuropathy or nerve damage is the cause of burning feet and because the nerve fibers are damaged, the damaged nerves send pain signals to the brain even if there is no wound or damage. Most people with neuropathy often feel tingling and numbness in the legs. Many people complain that their feet are too sensitive to touch (hyperesthesia) and also have varying degrees of burning and pain. This burn can be mild or incapacitating. However, the burning sensation in the feet and soles of the feet may have other causes that we will examine in this article.

What is burning on the soles of the feet?

The feeling of burning and tingling in the leg in different people may be intermittent or permanent based on the conditions, and the degree of burning varies from normal to severe. Your foot may feel warm, tingling or tingling, shooting or numb. This pain and burning usually increases at night. The treatment of burning sensation and pain in the leg depends on the cause of its occurrence and not all patients can be treated with a specific treatment process.

Causes of burning sensation in the soles of the feet

The feeling of burning in the soles of the feet may be due to various diseases. In order to go through the treatment steps, it is very important to first find the main cause of the burning problem in the soles of the feet in order to get the right treatment.

If the cause of burning in the soles is athlete's foot fungus or shoes that are too tight, it can be easily treated. But in some cases, it is possible that the cause of the problem of burning in the leg remains unclear, and as a result, it becomes a bit difficult for a specialist to choose the right treatment method.

Is burning in the soles of the feet related to nutrition? The first step towards treatment is to modify the lifestyle, exercise and modify the diet.

1. alcohol consumption

It should be noted that excessive use of alcohol is another cause of damage to the body's nerves, which is called alcoholic neuropathy. In addition to burning soles, among other symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy, we mention the following:

1. Weakness in muscles and loss of their function
2. Lack of proper functioning of the reproductive system and intestine
3. Feeling dizzy and confused
4. Disturbance in speech process

It is clear that stopping alcohol consumption prevents the symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy from getting worse. However, some nerve damage is irreversible.

2. deficiency of vitamins and nutrients

The feeling of burning in the soles of the feet caused by improper diet or malnutrition was more common in the past than now, but it is still evident among some people in certain regions where there is famine. During World War II, almost a third of American prisoners experienced burning feet syndrome caused by malnutrition.

In the current population, especially in adults, neurological damage is usually related to the deficiency of vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin B9 (folates). This lack of different types of vitamin B can cause irritation in the legs and muscles and disrupt their function. Or anemia, which is actually a lack of red blood cells in the body, is also likely to appear due to a lack of vitamin B in the body. Other symptoms of vitamin deficiency in the body are dizziness, shortness of breath and fatigue.

3. exposure to toxins

If a person has been exposed to heavy metals such as lead and mercury or industrial chemicals such as pesticides for a long time, there is a possibility of symptoms of peripheral neuropathy in that person. Some medicinal substances that are used to treat some special diseases such as AIDS or seizures also cause damage to the body's nerves and as a result, burning in the leg area.

Burning soles in diabetics or diabetic neuropathy

When the blood sugar is high and uncontrolled, fewer signals are sent to the nerves, and this problem can cause damage to the veins and nerves of the body, especially burning the soles of the feet. Blood vessels have walls that carry nutrients and oxygen to nerves. These walls become weak due to high blood sugar and are not able to do their job properly, which results in nerve damage and burning feet. which is called neuropathy in medical science.

The best treatment solution in this field is blood sugar control. It is only then that the nervous system returns to normal and the body returns to its normal activity.

Nerve damage can occur throughout the body. About 60-70% of diabetics have problems related to nerve damage or neuropathy. If you are overweight, have high blood pressure, drink alcohol or smoke, unfortunately, the risk of diabetic neuropathy is high.

Other symptoms of secondary neuropathy:

Numbness or shooting in the hand or foot
1. The feeling of wearing tight socks
2. Sharp pain in leg
3. Feeling of weakness in legs and arms
4. Sweating profusely

If any of the symptoms of neuropathy are evident in you, it is necessary to see a specialist doctor. Controlling blood sugar can also prevent nerve damage. It should be noted that a study has shown that neuropathy of unknown cause is probably a sign of hidden or borderline diabetes.

small fiber sensory neuropathy

It is a type of painful neuropathy in which burning in the leg area is common. Another important symptom of small fiber sensory neuropathy is loss of sensation in the leg and intermittent or constant pain. The cause of SFSN in the patient is the loss of the myelin sheath, which is responsible for protecting the nerve fibers in the body. Although the causes of small fiber sensory neuropathy are unknown in most cases, diabetes usually plays a major role in this disease.

Burning soles due to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT)

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is one of the most common inherited neurodegenerative diseases. This disease affects the function of nerves related to muscles. This disease is usually progressive, one of the early symptoms of CMT is burning in the soles of the feet, and usually patients feel a painful sensation like a needle sinking into their feet and hands. Other symptoms of CMT include muscle wasting and lack of proper control of arms and legs.

Usually 1 in 2,500 people are affected by CMT. The name of this disease is based on the names of three doctors who discovered it in 1886. Peroneal muscular atrophy and hereditary sensorimotor neuropathy are other names of this disease.

Burning soles due to complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

CRPS disease usually develops in a tissue or area of the body and most of the time appears after a surgery or injury. This disease causes damage to the nerves, which makes communication between the brain and the spine difficult. Among the symptoms of this disease, we can mention burning pain in the body, burning in the soles of the feet, swelling, changes in the color of the skin and tissues.

Burning soles due to erythromelalgia

Erythromelalgia is a very rare disease that is associated with redness, heat and pain in the leg area, and its cause remains unknown most of the time. The severity of this disease varies depending on the specific conditions of the individual. But the pain caused by it usually increases after walking and standing, exercising and exercising, being exposed to heat.

burning feet and hypothyroidism

An underactive thyroid disrupts the balance of hormones in the body. which leads to swelling, which will cause pressure on the nerves. In addition to burning in the soles of the feet, fatigue, weight gain and dry skin are other symptoms of underactive thyroid.

burning soles caused by infectious diseases

Infectious diseases such as: Lyme disease, HIV (AIDS), syphilis, shingles also cause burning in the soles of the feet.

If you feel that you have an infectious problem, be sure to ask your doctor for a test to determine the main causes.

Inflammation of soles caused by toe fungus in athletes

Toenail fungus is a contagious infection that is often seen in athletes. This disease can affect people's hands and toes.

Among the most common symptoms related to toe fungus in athletes, we should pay attention to burning, shooting and itching in the foot area and the cause of foot swelling, which is mostly felt in the area of the toes. In addition to these cases, the following symptoms may also be evident:

1. Presence of itchy and painful blisters on the feet
2. The presence of cracks in the skin of the foot
3. Existence of dry skin on the feet
4. Moving out of the toes from their original position and changing the color and thickness of the toes

Burning feet due to kidney diseases

When the kidneys do not have their proper and regular function, toxic substances are formed in the blood and can lead to pain and burning in the soles of the feet. This condition also has other symptoms:

1. Decreased urine output
2. shortness of breath for no reason
3. nausea
4. Confusion and fatigue
5. Seizures
6. Coma

Burning feet due to peripheral arterial disease (PAD)

Peripheral artery disease is accompanied by narrowing of the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the legs. This disease appears due to the narrowing of the arteries in the legs due to arteriosclerosis. The heat of the soles of the feet is also likely to exist with problems in the veins, such as varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis, which disrupts the flow of blood from the legs to the heart. Raynaud's disease is another possible cause. Other symptoms of peripheral artery disease are similar to the same symptoms as in neuropathy that we discussed above.

Burning soles caused by tarsal tunnel syndrome

Tarsal tunnel syndrome occurs when the nerves that pass behind the inner ankle are compressed due to ankle swelling or various injuries. which can eventually lead to burning in the leg area as well as local pains. which will worsen over time and you should see a doctor immediately. It is important to start the treatment very early so that the nerve damage does not reach a stage where it is irreversible and permanent.

burning soles caused by chemotherapy

Chemical treatments that are used to kill cancer cells have many side effects, one of which is peripheral neuropathy. Fatigue, pain and tremors and muscle weakness, decreased tendon reflexes, balance problems and pain are among other side effects of chemotherapy.

burning soles due to liver problems

Doctors discovered that liver problems are manifested as burning soles and legs. Irregular and incorrect functioning of the liver, liver disorders and liver fat all cause burning of the soles of the feet, which should be treated with liver treatment. However, stomach problems are also involved in this problem.

burning soles due to using inappropriate shoes and soles

One of the reasons for burning soles is the use of inappropriate shoes and soles, wearing shoes with high heels and shoes made with synthetic materials also cause this pain. In this case, you should go to a specialized center to mold your feet and design and produce suitable shoes and insoles according to your conditions. For example, if you are suffering from diabetes and other diseases, the shoe material should be specific to your condition in order to get a positive result from this treatment process.

relieving or treating burning feet

When severe burning in the soles of your feet bothers you, doing the following may be effective in relieving or treating the pain and burning:

Put your feet in cool water for at least 15 minutes. This can provide temporary relief. Also, it is not recommended to use very cold water.
1. Keep your leg higher than the body level.
2. Do not expose your foot to the heat.
3. Use common painkillers.
4. Use of topical oils and ointments.
5. blood sugar control for diabetic neuropathies
6. Using food supplements for people with vitamin deficiency
7. Antidepressants: can help reduce chronic pain caused by nerve damage.
8. Anti-epileptic or anticonvulsant drugs: Gabapentin, carbamazepine, pregabalin, etc. can be used to treat chronic pain.
9. Antifungal drugs: Oral drugs can be used to treat infections resistant to topical products.
10. Physiotherapy and exercise
11. Changes in diet
12. Surgery: In some cases when the disease does not respond to drugs or non-invasive types of treatment, orthopedic surgery may be needed.

Diagnosis of burning and hot feet

Your doctor will probably take help from physical examinations and questions about the symptoms of the problem, check the type of shoes and medical history to diagnose the origin of the disease. In the period of physical examinations and examination of disease records, the doctor can find the cause of the disease and prescribe the appropriate treatment method for you.

In addition, the doctor may use radiography, CT scan, suprafacial waves, or MRI scan for a more detailed examination of injuries, nerve involvement, internal soft tissue inflammation, and the like. In addition to this, the doctor can use blood tests and urine tests to check other possible problems such as diabetes, gout, or rheumatoid arthritis.

*Gastroenterologist in Mashhad*