There are many causes of diabetic foot pain. Diabetic foot pain can be extremely painful or cause your feet to go numb. Recognizing some of the things that cause the pain in your feet, can help in getting the pain to go away. Many of the problems with diabetic foot pain are caused by nerve problems, circulation problems, frequent infections, and muscle and joint problems.
The most common cause of diabetic foot pain is due to nervous system problems or problems with the nerves in your feet. This is known as Peripheral neuropathy. Diabetes directly affects the nerve process. There are three types of this type of neuropathy; sensory, motor, and autonomic. Sensory is the most common in diabetics and can be the most painful. Just barely touching the skin can cause a stabbing pain or tingling in the feet. Motor neuropathy makes the muscles feel very week and achy. The pain will start in the thigh, the shins, and make its way to the feet. Autonomic neuropathy can cause dry, stiff, cracked skin, bacterial infections at the toenails, and fungal infections in the feet. The infections can cause additional pain, but additional concern as well.
Foot pain can be caused by circulation problems also. The pain from circulation can be numbness to the touch or intense pain. High blood sugars affect arteries because calcium deposits build eventually blocking blood flow to the feet from veins. This type of foot pain can be excruciating and is severe when you have major issues with circulation in your feet. This type of diabetes foot pain can also lead to amputation.
Muscle and joint problems can lead to infection, ulceration, stiff hammertoes, bunions, spurs, and tiny fractures causing bones to dislocate. This type of foot pain is very painful.
Foot pain related to diabetes is also associated with fungal and bacterial infections. This can be very painful. An infection will be red, swollen; you might feel warmth, pain and tenderness. Infections usually even smell can be a sign. Fungus issues with the toenails can also be common, athlete’s feet is another.
Diabetic foot pain may be very painful. Knowing the different causes can help you lessen the pain.