Imagine you are all tucked into bed and ready to go to sleep after a long workday. Suddenly you start experiencing a strange hot or burning sensation in your feet. You might brush it off if it’s mild, and that’s normal. But what if it continues troubling you and gets elevated to a more discomforting level? What do you do about the sudden burning sensation in your feet?
You might come face to face with the feet burning syndrome. Want to learn more? Keep on reading.
What Is Burning Feet Syndrome?
One might consider the occasional rise in the temperature of your feet as some allergic reaction and not pay enough attention to it. But in some cases, the temperature becomes unbearable, and the hotness results in considerable pain. Some patients even report feeling as if their feet were on fire.
The whole ordeal can have several variations. For instance, the burning sensation is generally known to worsen towards the nighttime compared to the day. Someone experiencing this condition might even feel a slight relief during the daytime. But lived experiences can vary significantly from person to person.
Other areas near the feet may also be affected in addition to the soles of your feet. You can even feel the heat and pain at the ankles, tops of the feet, the lower half of the legs (right below the shin). Thus, one should be cautious if experiencing a burning sensation in legs and feet.
Some other symptoms may include:
- A feeling of numbness in the feet
- A relatively mild ache in the feet
- Your feet might start feeling heavier than normal
- Redness of the skin near your feet
- A feeling of itchiness or tingling
The pain can become constant or flare up intermittently. The range of pain can vary from mild to severe.
The symptoms accompanying this burning sensation in feet are collectively known as the feet burning syndrome. These symptoms and the disorder in question are common occurrences. A more formal definition of the condition is:
“Grierson-Gopalan Syndrome, more commonly known as the burning feet syndrome, is characterised by a set of symptoms ranging from redness and a feeling of mild heating of the feet and its surroundings to severe and unbearable burning and pain.”
Causes of Burning Sensation in Feet
There can be a range of reasons behind the burning sensation in the foot. The most effective treatment for the feet burning syndrome can only take its course when the exact reason for the burning sensation in the feet is identified.
Even though nerve damage has been observed as the most common cause of this condition, there are various other possible causes too. You should learn about these causes to approach the disorder better if you get affected. Here are the 19 possible causes for this common disorder:
1. Nutritional Deficiencies
Nutritional deficiencies may lead to neuropathy and give rise to the burning feet syndrome. The nerves in the feet require a set of basic nutrients to function optimally. When the body lacks a stable supply of these nutrients, these nerves may get damaged.
A burning sensation in the feet can accompany the risk of nerve damage.
The malnutrition caused by the lack of nutritional elements such as Vitamin B6, folate, Vitamin B-12 may accentuate the risk of developing the burning feet syndrome.
2. Small Fibre Sensory Neuropathy (SFSN)
SFSN is a disorder where only the small sensory nerves get affected. When small sensory nerves are damaged, the sensory feedback between the brain and the skin gets severely affected. It can be accompanied by pain in the hands, the feet, or both.
SFSN is often accompanied by weakened glucose metabolism in the body (diabetes). Some of the common symptoms of SFSN include tingling, experiencing piercing pain in the affected surface, and cold-like pain.
3. Diabetic Neuropathy
Some complications of diabetes may result in nerve damage in the body. The nervous system may start getting affected adversely as the disease progresses.
The damage to the nervous system starts when the blood accumulates unusually high sugar or fat levels. The nerves may start deteriorating gradually. It can result in a condition medically known as neuropathy.
The condition may result in a burning sensation in the feet, amongst other sensory irregularities.
High blood sugar decreases the signal transmitting capability of nerves in the body. Nerve damage, or neuropathy, is one of the most common conditions observed in a majority of diabetic individuals.
Obesity, smoking cigarettes, high blood pressure, etc. are some factors that may increase the risk of neuropathy.
4. Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
CIDP, also called chronic relapsing polyneurotherapy, is a neurological disorder where the affected person experiences damaged sensory functions and weakness in the arms and legs gradually with time.
The sensory functions worsen as the condition progresses. The accompanying damaged sensory functions can also result in the burning feet syndrome.
5. Exposure to Heavy Metals
Heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, or lead are highly reactive to the human skin. In an unfortunate exposure to one of these metals, one might experience a burning sensation in the hands and feet. Human contact with these must be avoided at all costs.
6. Excessive or Heavy Alcohol Use
There are various reasons for dissuading the excessive use of alcohol, but according to research, alcoholic neuropathy is one of the prime ones. Abuse of alcohol regularly may lead to nerve damage(neuropathy) and lead to the burning sensation in feet.
Other symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy include dizziness, urinary/bowel dysfunction, muscle spasms/weakness, and compromised speech.
7. Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)
Some nerve disorders may be passed down hereditarily. One such nerve disease is CMT. CMT is a progressive disease and adversely impacts the nerves that control muscles. The few initial symptoms of CMT may be a burning sensation or the feeling of pins and needles in the hands or feet.
8. Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition where the body has low levels of thyroid hormone. The disease is common and is also called underactive thyroid disease.
When the body functions for a long time without normal thyroid hormone levels, it leads to nerve damage. One of the complications of this disease may include pain in the legs, arms, hands or feet. It can also cause numbness or tingling in the hands and feet.
9. Chronic Kidney Disease
Properly functioning kidneys keep the blood free from toxins and prevent various diseases. When the kidney’s normal functioning stops, you can experience multiple symptoms, including itching and swelling of the feet. Other common symptoms may include fatigue, nausea, decreased urine output. Wroensed cases may even include coma.
10. Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Tarsal tunnel syndrome is a disorder caused by nerve damage. When the nerve running along the ankle and foot gets damaged, it can be the onset of this condition.
As a result of the nerve damage, one can experience a burning or tingling sensation in the feet.
11. HIV and AIDS and Other Infectious Diseases
Infectious diseases such as HIV AIDS may be accompanied by neuropathy in some cases. As a result, one may feel a hot or burning sensation in their feet.
Other infectious diseases such as syphilis, Lyme disease, or shingles may also result in neuropathy.
12. Erythromelalgia
Erythromelalgia causes redness, heat sensations, and pain in the feet and hands. It is a rare disorder that primarily affects the feet.
13. Athlete’s Foot
Athletes' Foot is known to affect the hands and toenails. It is a commonly occurring fungal infection, especially among athletes. A tingling itching may accompany this condition or burning situation on the soles of the feet and/or between the toes.
Some other symptoms may include raw skin on the feet, peeling or cracking of the skin, discolouration of the toenails, and more.
14. Vasculitis
Vasculitis is a condition that results in the inflammation of blood vessels. The resulting inflammation is often accompanied by tingling and pain in the feet. The reason for these sensations is the inability of the blood vessels to carry blood freely.
15. Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is characterised by the growth of granulomas in the body. Granulomas are mini-groups of inflammatory cells. When the skin or the nervous system gets affected, it may result in a burning or hot sensation in the feet.
16. Guillain-Barre´ Syndrome (GBS)
GBS is a condition in which the immune system targets and attacks the nerves. The main site of the target is the peripheral nervous system. It is a very rare condition.
Some of the symptoms may include tingling, numbness, and weakness in the feet and legs. The sensations can vary in intensity. It may also affect the arms and the trunk.
17. Peripheral Artery Disease
PAD occurs when the arteries carrying blood to the feet and legs become narrower. Some common symptoms include burning of legs and feet. A lot of the symptoms overlap with those of peripheral neuropathy.
18. Chemotherapy
While it is used as one of the most effective treatments for various types of cancer, it can also destroy the other cells that have rapid growth. Chemotherapy may also result in nerve damage and lead to burning and tingling of hands and feet.
19. Lifestyle choices
One of the simplest and least complicated reasons for the burning feet syndrome is people’s lifestyle choices. Some of these include:
- Using footwear that does not fit or is too tight
- Not taking care of the feet, especially in summer
- Walking or standing for long durations of time
Treatment Options for Burning Feet
The treatments can either be simple or involve a slew of specific medication, therapies, and lifestyle changes.
The possible treatments of feet burning syndrome can be divided based on the reason for the discomfort. Some of the simpler treatment options include:
- Adding nutritional supplements to the diet. For example, Vitamin B, thyroid, etc.
- Paying attention towards foot comfort. Wearing shoes that fit perfectly and go easy on the feet.
- Applying antifungal ointment or taking oral antifungal drugs as prescribed by the doctor.
Some specific treatments and medications include. Note that none of these should be taken without consulting a healthcare professional and getting a valid prescription.
- In the case of diabetic patients, diet changes and hypoglycemic drugs are advised to control the high blood sugar levels.
- In other cases of neuropathy, antidepressants may help with chronic pain that accompanies it.
- Other common medications to alleviate pain and relieve discomfort include lotions, topical creams, sprays, or other analgesics.
In nerve disorders that cause severe pain, pain alleviation may also be achieved through light therapy, magnetic therapy, laser therapy, or electrical nerve stimulation.
How To Prevent Burning Feet Syndrome?
Prevention cannot be guaranteed in the case of burning feet syndrome because of the huge variety of causes it may result from. That said, you can follow some best practices to avoid the risk of being diagnosed with this condition.
Some of the preventive best practices are:
- Always wear fitted shoes or other footwear. The ideal shoes have a wide toe box, low heels, and support for your feet arches.
- You can avoid Athlete’s Foot by wearing dry and clean socks. You should change your socks regularly and ensure that your feet are dry, especially if you spend significant time playing sports.
- Spend some time daily to examine your feet for injury or infection. Develop a habit of checking on your feet daily. You should look for ulcers, cuts, blisters, or other injection starting points and address them proactively.
- Suppose you have any underlying nerve condition or diabetes. In that case, you should make it a point to visit a certified podiatrist(foot care specialist) for examination of your feet at regular intervals.
- Pay close attention to maintaining your blood sugar levels in case of diabetes. If you take care of the high blood sugar levels, you can significantly reduce the risk of neuropathy.
Home Remedies for Burning Feet
We have already discussed the treatment options for various underlying causes of the burning feet syndrome. But treatment takes time, and you first need to visit your doctor and get a diagnosis. What can you do to get some relief from the immediate discomfort temporarily?
Home remedies can help relax the immediate discomfort and add to the dietary requirements in case of conditions such as diabetes. You can try a few helpful things at home. Some burning sensation in feet home remedies are:
1. Ice Bath or Cold Water
You may be able to relieve the symptoms such as the burning sensation and pain temporarily by soaking your feet in cold water or an ice bath. Note that you should not try this if you suffer from erythromelalgia to avoid skin damage.
2. Use Epsom Salt
Epsom salt or magnesium sulfate is known to have a variety of uses as it breaks down to magnesium and sulfate. One of the most common uses is to help relieve stiff joints and relax muscles.
3. Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (RICE)
RICE can help relieve and reduce the burning symptoms caused by Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome. You need to follow the sequence as follows:
Rest your foot > Apply ice to the ankle > Use Compression > Keep your foot elevated
4. Use Turmeric Supplements
Turmeric supplements can help with the symptoms of burning feet syndrome. Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. These properties are courtesy of curcumin, a compound found in turmeric.
5. Ginger Oil Massage
A ginger oil massage can be an effective treatment for burning feet. As per studies, ginger oil can have anti-inflammatory properties. That said, more research is required on this subject.
Applying a ginger and turmeric solution may also help reduce instant burning.
6. Include Fish Oil Supplements in the Diet
Fish oil can help reduce pain and discomfort when used as a dietary supplement for diabetic individuals. Its anti-inflammatory properties are to be credited with the same.
As per a study, fish oil may aid in reversing diabetic neuropathy and even slow down its progression.
7. Soak Feet in an Apple Cider Vinegar Bath
An apple cider vinegar bath can help in treating an Athlete’s Foot. Apple cider vinegar can fight fungi, microbes, and other harmful microbes. The efficacy of this treatment is still unproven and is subject to scientific research.
8. Apply Lidocaine or Capsaicin Based Topical Cream
Being a local anaesthetic, Lidocaine can numb the affected skin and provide temporary relief from pain. Similarly, as per a study, capsaicin can also effectively relieve pain.
9. Foot Massage May Help
A gentle massage can effectively treat some symptoms of burning feet syndrome. It helps increase blood circulation and blood flow in the affected areas.
When to See a Doctor
If you are experiencing any of the following, you should immediately seek emergency medical care:
- If an open wound looks like it has been infected, especially in case you have been diagnosed with diabetes.
- Visit a doctor as soon as possible if you start experiencing sudden foot discomfort, particularly if you have been exposed to a toxin of some kind.
- Visit a doctor if you feel constant numbness in your toes or feet. The feeling of losing these should not be ignored or brushed aside.
- Schedule an appointment with your doctor if you experience continued burning feet sensation, despite following various home remedies.
- Visit a doctor if the discomfort reaches your legs after your feet.
Summing Up on Burning Sensation in Feet
Burning sensation in feet at night may result because of a variety of underlying causes, and effective treatment requires correct diagnosis. Once the real cause of the BFS(burning feet syndrome) is identified, the doctor can prescribe relative treatments.
You can also rely on some home remedies to relieve some of the symptoms. But, it is best to consult a doctor if any symptoms appear.
References
- Kanwaljit Chopra and Vinod Tiwari, March 2012; Alcoholic neuropathy: possible mechanisms and future treatment possibilities - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3370340/
- Netchanok Sritoommaa, Wendy Moyle, February 2014; The effectiveness of Swedish massage with aromatic ginger oil in treating chronic low back pain in older adults: A randomized controlled trial - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0965229913001714
- Mark Anthony Yorek, 2018; Is Fish Oil a Potential Treatment for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy? - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28530530
