A Guide to the Causes of Numb Toes

While the idea of numb toe doesn’t invoke the same fear as other serious conditions, it can be a very annoying and debilitating one depending on the cause. There are a variety of conditions that can cause a loss of sensation to the toes. We are going to talk about three of the most likely conditions to cause numb toes as well as the typical forms of treatment for each one.

Before we jump into the four conditions, it is worth mentioning that toe numbness may not always be due to a condition. It is far more likely for the problem to stem from wearing shoes that do not fit properly, or from wearing shoes that are laced or buckled too tightly. If numb toes only crop up when one has been walking for a while, the first item to evaluate should be one’s shoes. Shoes that offer little or no support, or those which push the toes together can restrict blood flow to the toes, thus resulting in loss of sensation to the area.

Bunions are a very common cause for numb toes, especially among women. A bunion is a deformity that happens from wearing shoes that are too tight or shaped in a manner that does not promote the natural curvature and movement of the feet. Most bunions occur as a bump on the side of the foot at the base of the big toe. This bump is actually a deformation of the bone at the base of the joint. Because Properly-fitting shoes should be wide enough that the toes are not pushed together, which means avoiding pointed-toe shoes whenever possible. The box area of the shoe should not exert any pressure against the sides of the feet and should allow comfortable but supported movement. A change in shoes can relieve the pain and discomfort that bunions produce and will stop further worsening of the bunion; however this will not correct the deformation that has already occurred. Severe bunions may only find relief through surgery.

Diabetes can also lead to numb toes through a condition called diabetic neuropathy. This is a form of nerve damage that can affect any types of nerves, although in diabetics the legs and feet are most often affected. Researchers believe that the cause of diabetic neuropathy is due to the long-time exposure of these nerves to high blood glucose levels. Numbness, tingling, and generalized pain may occur in one or all of the toes. The first form of treatment doctors recommend is to get one’s blood sugar levels stabilized. An improvement in the quality of one’s diet is the best way to go about doing this. Although it may take a while, eventually the symptoms should lessen, however with nerve damage there is never any assurance that the nerves will be completely restored.

Toe numbness can also result when the toe sustains damage through an injury. A fracture can go seemingly undetected except for the odd symptom. In most cases, a toe fracture will be painful for a few hours after the injury and within 24 hours may swell or bruise. The initial pain usually goes away within a few hours. The saying “if you can walk on it, then it’s not broken” is really not very accurate as normal foot movement is still possible with a fracture, sometimes even without any pain. In most cases, a fractured toe is not considered an emergency and can simply be left alone or taped to the neighboring toe, then elevated and put on ice to heal. If a lump or grating is apparent, there is a change that the fracture resulted in a piece of bone breaking away. In this instance it would be advisable to see a doctor to determine whether specialized treatment may be required.

Of course there are many other conditions that can produce numb toes as a symptom. Our toes are one of the most important assets of our system of balance. Any long-term or recurring bouts of toe numbness should be evaluated by a doctor to determine whether a serious underlying condition is at work.