Toe neuropathy is caused by damage to the nerves serving the foot. These nerves are part of the peripheral nervous system that deals with the nerves that go from your brain, down your spine to the rest of your body. These nerves govern pain, touch and temperature. Damage to the toes' nerves may produce feelings of throbbing, aching and shooting pain. Vitamin B12 deficiency may be one of the causes of peripheral neuropathy.
Types of Peripheral Neuropathy
Two types of nerve conduction problems result in peripheral neuropathy. One type affects the myelin sheath, or the covering of the nerves. This normally causes motor difficulties in the extremities, with or without pain. This includes carpal tunnel syndrome and Bell's palsy. The other type affects the nerve axons, or nerve connections, which causes sensory difficulties such as pain. Vitamin B12 is linked to axonal neuropathy, which may be a cause of toe neuropathy.
Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy
Several things cause peripheral neuropathy of the toes. They may include an autoimmune disease of the myelin sheath of the nerves; cancer; vasculitis, or connective tissue disease; infections such as HIV/aids, leprosy, diphtheria and lyme disease; dysproteinemia, a problem with the serum protein count; trauma or compression of the nerves; drugs and toxic substances; alcoholism; and nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin B12 deficiency.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is unique among vitamins in that it contains a metal ion called cobalt. Because of this, vitamin B12 may, at times, be referred to as cobalamin. Vitamin B12 is crucial to a function called methionine synthase, which rids the body of homocysteines, a substance linked to heart attacks and strokes. Vitamin B12 is also necessary for proper functioning of folate, which is needed for DNA synthesis. It's also needed for optimum neurological functioning.
Toe Neuropathy and Vitamin B12
The onset of peripheral neuropathy due to vitamin B12 deficiency often begins in the toes with feelings of numbness, cold and tightness. Therapy with vitamin B12 supplementation may halt the progression of the toe neuropathy and improve sensation. At times, although rare, it may be accompanied by knife-like pain. Factors that affect vitamin B12 absorption include aging, gastritis, malabsorption, smoking and gender, with men absorbing less vitamin B12 than women.
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