Prof. N.N. Gupta was the Head of the
Department of Medicine when we were in our clinical semesters in King George’s
Medical College, Lucknow. He was always immaculately dressed in formal whites
with a starched and ironed white apron and was a strict disciplinarian. He was
so punctual that you could set your watch when his car would reach
the Medicine portico. His Chief Resident would receive him and his teaching
round would start almost immediately. He looked keen and sincere and was an
extremely meticulous person and a passionate teacher. Unlike the spontaneity of Prof S.N.
Chakraborty, his classes appeared to be choreographed and rehearsed to perfection. His Senior
Resident would come first and after taking our attendance, would write on the blackboard the topic
and the skeletal framework of the upcoming lecture. Then NNG, as he was fondly
called, would come and deliver invariably an outstanding lecture. He would always
start in time and finish in time, ask a few questions, mostly to his team of
residents and postgraduate students, and leave. This is one of his lectures
which I could salvage from my notes on “Management of Numbness of Feet’.
That feeling of numbness in feet and
toes can be caused by a variety of conditions. Numbness is often accompanied
by a tingling feeling, or crawling of ants, or pins and needles sensation,
or simply walking on cotton or inability to feel the ground/floor. Patients
have different ways of expressing this sensation. The cause may not be
serious - it can be as uncomplicated as paresthesia (foot 'falling asleep'),
however, it may be as serious as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or a
symptom of a much more serious condition. Whatever the cause may be, it's
essential to address the numbness in feet. Avoiding doing so may affect
your ability to walk.
Typical causes of numbness
Numbness of the toes generally occurs
due to conditions that affect the nerves or blood vessels of the
foot. The most common causes of toe numbness include:
· Compressed nerves of the foot from footwear
· Injury to the foot
· Nerve damage (neuropathy)
· Poor blood circulation to the foot, usually due to diabetes and peripheral vascular disease
· Diabetes
· Irritation of nerves in the lower back (possibly due to a herniated inter-vertebral disk)
· Frostbite
· Stroke
· Multiple sclerosis
· Vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels)
Diagnosis
A detailed patient history is mandatory
·
History of Diabetes
·
When was Diabetes detected
·
History of glycemic control
·
History of target organ
involvement
·
History of hospital
admissions
·
History of previous foot
involvement
Both legs and feet are to be inspected
carefully
·
Dorsal and ventral aspects
o Skin - Healthy, intact or cracked / Dry or shiny/ Turgor and
texture/ hair loss
o Blisters, Bunions, Corns, Calluses
o Colour change with position – palor on elevation, rubor on
dependency
·
Digits and Web spaces
o Nails Normal and shiny or thick, dry, brittle / Pink in
colour or discoloured
o Fungal infection in nails or web
o Ischemia
o Gangrene
o Nail beds clean and supple or dirty and rough
o Ac. or Ch. Paronechoea
·
Deformities
o Toes - Hallux valgus, Hammer toe, Claw toe, Prominent
Metatarsal head
o Forefoot and ankle - Flat foot, High medial arch, Rocker
bottom foot, Charcot foot
·
Vascular examination
o Peripheral pulses
o Subpapillary venous plexus filling time (N</=3sec.)
o Colour changes – Cyanosis, Dependent rubor, Erythema,
Gangrene
o Oedema
o Temperature gradient
·
Neurological examination
o Light touch – cotton wool
o Two-point discrimination
o Pain – pinprick
o Vibration perception – tuning fork
o Temperature perception – hot & cold
o Deep tendon reflexes – ankle and knee
o Babinski test
·
Examination of footwear
o Is it well fitting and well padded?
o Is it abnormally worn out at any site?
o Is the sole padded and soft or thin and hard?
o Are the dangerous pressure points or foot ulcers sufficiently
offloaded?
o Is the footwear front closed?
Very vital information is hidden in the
footwear the patient is wearing and wecannot afford to miss them.
Management
Dealing with occasional numbness
1. Exercise - Sitting or standing
in one place for a long time may cause numbness. To counteract the
problem, stimulate circulation in the foot by asking the patient to move
around. A short walk, or moving the foot while sitting down, will help too. In
addition, bear in mind the following:
· To begin with, regular exercise can help prevent numbness. So be sure to incorporate physical activity into your daily schedule.
· If high impact exercises, such as jogging, causes numbness in the feet and toes, try lower impact exercises, such as swimming or cycling.
· Before starting workout, advice to stretch well, wear appropriate shoes and exercise on level surfaces.
2. Change positions - Certain
sitting positions may cause numbness in feet. Ask the patient to avoid sitting
on their feet or sit cross legged for a
long period of time. Should they have to sit for long hours, they should elevate
their feet periodically to increase the blood flow.
3. Avoid wearing excessively tight
clothing - Pants, socks or other tight garments worn on the lower part of
the body might restrict blood flow to the feet, causing numbness.
4. Massage the foot - Massaging
the area of the foot that feels numb will help increase circulation and reduce
the effects of occasional numbness.
5. Keep feet warm - The cold may
cause numbness and tingling. Reduce the effects by staying warm with a pair of
woolen socks, or heating pad or heated blanket.
6. Wear the right shoes - High
heels or shoes that pinch the toes may cause numbness in the feet.
This may also arise from wearing shoes that are too small for the patient’s
feet, especially while exercising. They should opt for comfortable shoes that
fit well.
7. Ask them to seek emergency treatment
if their foot numbness is accompanied by symptoms such as weakness,
paralysis, loss of bladder or bowel control, or slurring of speech.
8. Pregnancy may also cause swelling in
the feet and toes, which could result in numbness. This is reversible and
can be addressed by exercises and warmth.
Dealing with Numbness Related to Diabetes
1. Get a diagnosis - Chronic
numbness in the feet and toes is often due to diabetes. The feeling of numbness
occurs because it damages both the nerves and causes poor circulation in the
feet. Numbness is usually one of the first symptoms of diabetes, so be sure to
get Blood sugar estimation done, both fasting (11 hours fasting) and post
prandial (1 ½ hr. PP). It can be extremely serious for a diabetic, as they may
not be able to feel pain, which may be caused by heat, punctures or blisters in
the feet. In addition, due to the restriction of blood to the feet, diabetics'
feet heal at a slower pace. Consequently, infection is a serious concern. With
scarce blood supply the bacteria get the liberty to proliferate in a
pharmacological sanctuary.
2. Manage diabetes - The best way
to prevent circulation issues and neuropathy is to keep the blood glucose
levels in check.
· Check blood sugar levels regularly.
· While the numbness in feet may make it difficult to exercise, the patient should try to stay active. Aim for 40 minutes of exercise / brisk walking each day.
· Eat well. Opt for a healthy, balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, fish and low-fat dairy.
· Drastically cut down fat from your patient’s diet.
· Avoid food that triggers blood sugar spikes - primarily anything sweet.
· Insist on regular use of prescribed medicine and insulin.
· Smoking can make the symptoms of diabetes worse. Suggest quitting..
3. Lose weight - Obesity can be a
contributing factor to numbness in the feet and toes. Consequently, losing
weight will help alleviate the symptoms. In addition, it may also help lower
blood pressure (which may also have an effect on the numbness).
4. Use products designed for diabetic
foot care - Compression hose and socks help stimulate circulation, thereby
decreasing numbness. Special lotions that contain capsaicin, may also be applied
in order to relieve the numbness. Protective and well padded footwears are
a must. Patients should never remain bare feet.
5. Avoid analgesics – NSAIDs are to be
avoided in diabetics as their kidneys are at risk.
Dealing with chronic numbness, caused by other conditions
1. Treatment for injuries - Numbness
can occur as a result of injuries to the feet, toes, ankles, head or spine. In
which case, an orthopedist, neurologist or surgeon may help treat the injury
and relieve the numbness.
2. Enquire about medications your
patient is already taking - Numbness may also be caused by chemotherapy
drugs and many other prescription drugs. If they experience numbness after
starting a new medication, your patient should go back to the doctor who
prescribed them. On this note, it is important to never stop taking your
medication without talking to the prescribing doctor first.
3. Add vitamin supplements - Numbness
may also be caused by a lack of vitamin B12 or other vitamins.
4. Prescribe medication for chronic
conditions - Numbness in your feet and toes may also be a symptom of a
number of underlying conditions, including multiple sclerosis, arthritis, Lyme
disease and more. In which case, it is important that you treat and take
medication for the underlying condition.