If you’re asking why your foot is numb and you haven’t recently had extra weight cutting off circulation to your foot, then you’re probably starting to notice symptoms of something more complex.

In many cases, numbness in your feet happens because of nerve damage or other medical conditions like heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or diabetes. These systemic diseases increase your chance of nerve damage from neuropathy.

Neuropathy not only causes numbness in your feet, but also affects your balance, posture, and ability to walk. Damage from neuromas, small tumors on your nerves, or thickened nerve tissue cause numbness as well as a stinging sensation.

Nerve damage from a compressed nerve in your ankle or foot is unlikely to go away on its own. If your nerve is pressed and blood flow decreases, then you need to treat the compressed nerve before feeling and sensation return to your foot.

High levels of blood sugar can make the nerves in your foot swell, pinching the nerve between bones and other ligaments. Managing diabetes reduces your risk of swelling from high blood sugar.

Speak with an experienced podiatrist at Next Step Foot & Ankle Clinic about the cause of your numbness to begin treatment either at home or at the clinic.

If trying other conservative treatments hasn’t helped, your doctor at Next Step Foot & Ankle Clinic may recommend minimally invasive surgery for relief. Dr. Silvester has advanced training in nerve surgery.

Through his precision and expertise, he can release the tightness of the nerve, allowing you to feel sensation and stay balanced once again.