You're probably familiar with that "pins and needles" feeling that occurs as numbness recedes and feeling returns to your toes or other affected areas. However, you may not be aware of the many causes of numbness in the toes and feet. Causes can be as simple as how you are seated or as complicated as a serious disease that can affect all aspects of your health.
Diabetes
About 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes experience loss of feeling or numbness in their hands and feet, including the toes, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. However, people who develop diabetes later in life may experience symptoms before they realize they have the condition. Numbness or tingling in the toes, particularly when paired with other symptoms such as blurred vision or wounds that are slow to heal, could mean you are developing type 2 diabetes.
Bunions
Bunions, which are bony protrusions that create a bump on the outside of the big toe, can be painful and can lead to numbness in the big toe. Bunions develop most often because of the structure of the foot, according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFSA). Wearing high heels or shoes that are too tight around the toe area can increase the growth and severity of a developing bunion.
Nerve Compression
When someone says her hand or foot "fell asleep," what she is really talking about is numbness caused by nerve compression. When you stand or sit in the same position for a long period of time, your position can compress the nerves that run to your feet and cause numbness in your toes. This numbness is usually followed by a tingling sensation when you move out of the position that was compressing the affected nerve.
Neuropathy
Neuropathy is damage to the nerves that run from your brain to every part of your body. When any of the nerves that run to your feet and toes are damaged, you may experience numbness in your toes. Morton's neuroma and tarsal tunnel syndrome are two neuropathic conditions that can make toes go numb, according to ACFAS. In Morton's neuroma, the nerves running to the toes thicken and cause pain or sensation loss. Tarsal tunnel syndrome causes damage to the nerves that run through the ankle and can cause toe or foot numbness.
Frostbite
Prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures can lead to frostbite, a condition that results when extremities, including the toes, start to freeze. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), damage from frostbite can be recoverable or can be permanent, possibly resulting in amputation. (ref 6)If you've been exposed to cold long enough to develop frostbite, you may also develop hypothermia. The NIH recommends that hypothermia, which is a drop in overall body temperature, be treated before it leads to frostbite, in order to prevent further injury to the body.
Other Conditions
There are several conditions that can lead to numb toes. Among them are trench foot, compartment syndrome, and metatarsalgia. Trench foot occurs with prolonged exposure to water or dampness. (Compartment syndrome occurs when muscle pressure builds (often from pooling blood) and causes damage to nerves and blood vessels. Metatarsalgia affects the ball of the foot, and is often caused by improper footwear while playing sports. Each of these conditions can affect sensation loss in the toes, along with other symptoms.
Warning
While a bit of numbness in your toes may seem minor, it can be the symptom of a serious condition. Be sure to visit your doctor to diagnose the precise cause of your numb toes to be sure you are receiving proper treatment.
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