“What is foot neuropathy?
In simple terms, foot neuropathy occurs when the nerves leading to your feet are damaged for various reasons, preventing nerve signals from transmitting properly. It’s like a short circuit or broken electrical wiring in your home, causing lights to flicker or go out completely. Damaged nerves can send erroneous signals (causing pain or burning) or become completely silent (causing numbness or loss of sensation).
Foot neuropathy often harbours other health issues. The most common causes include:
Diabetes: This is the most common cause, also known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Chronic high blood sugar levels can poison and damage the blood vessels that support nerve fibers, leading to a lack of blood supply and oxygen. Nutritional deficiencies: particularly severe deficiencies of B vitamins (such as B1, B6, and B12) and vitamin E.
Alcohol abuse: Alcohol and the resulting nutritional deficiencies can directly damage nerves.
Autoimmune diseases: In conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, the immune system may mistakenly target nerves.
Medication side effects: Some chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics (such as metronidazole), and antiviral medications can cause neuropathy.
For diabetic neuropathy, controlling blood sugar is the top priority. A diet rich in fiber-rich, non-starchy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and carrots, as well as low-sugar fruits, and high-quality protein such as fish, chicken, and beans should be considered. These foods help stabilize blood sugar levels and provide essential nutritional support for nerves. At the same time, it is important to strictly avoid refined carbohydrates such as white bread, pasta, and crackers, as well as fried foods and trans fats. These foods can cause blood sugar to spike sharply and exacerbate nerve damage. In addition, it’s important to abstain from alcohol to prevent further nerve damage. It’s also important to ensure you’re taking essential nutrients, especially B vitamins, as these vitamins are crucial for maintaining a healthy nervous system and helping repair damaged nerve cells.
In addition to dietary control, proper exercise can also effectively help manage foot neuropathy. Regular low-impact exercise can improve circulation and strengthen nerve function. Gentle exercises like walking in a pool, water aerobics, tai chi, or yoga can strengthen foot and ankle muscles, improve balance, and reduce the risk of falls.
Daily care is crucial to managing foot neuropathy. Carefully inspect every nook and cranny of your feet daily, looking for any minor cuts, blisters, redness, swelling, or breakage. Choose loose, comfortable, and supportive shoes, and moisture-wicking cotton or wool socks, preferably seamless. Apply moisturizer after washing your feet daily to keep your skin moisturized, but avoid the areas between your toes to prevent moisture from breeding fungi.
Foot neuropathy is a health issue that requires ongoing management and vigilance. Take care of your feet through prompt diagnosis, a healthy diet, and proper exercise, and you’ll feel more secure and confident with every step.”
