Burning Feet (soles Of Feet) - Reasons And What To Do?

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Feet are on fire: what to do?

If a person's feet are burning, namely the soles of the feet, you need to look for the causes of this symptom. It does not arise by itself, but is always a consequence of some violation.

Content:

• Reasons for burning feet
• Burning symptoms in the soles of the feet
• What to do if the feet are burning? Treatment methods
• How to eliminate the burning sensation caused by overwork?

Reasons for burning feet

People of all ages turn to doctors with complaints that their feet are burning. Most often, this symptom bothers a person in the evening or at night. Unpleasant sensations can be spread over the entire foot or be localized in one specific area.

The reasons that can cause a burning sensation in the soles of the feet:

• An allergic reaction that occurs in response to wearing synthetic tights or socks, or poor quality shoes. Also, allergies can occur to foot care products or to any medications. Moreover, in addition to a burning sensation in the soles of the feet, they can become covered with blisters or red spots, and begin to itch.
• Diseases of the vessels of the lower extremities: varicose veins, thrombosis, atherosclerosis and vegetative-vascular dystonia.
• Infectious lesions of the feet. Fungus of the skin of the feet and nail fungus can lead to a feeling of heat in them.
• Flat feet or wearing shoes that are unsuitable from an orthopedic point of view leads to the fact that in the evenings a person will have a burning sensation in the feet. This is because the legs are under increased stress. When their effects cease, blood rushes to the feet, causing a sensation of heat in them.
• Diabetes mellitus can lead to a burning sensation in the feet. The appearance of burning and pain in the soles of the feet indicates that the patient has begun to develop complications of diabetes. If you ignore the first signs of a diabetic foot, this will lead to the formation of a trophic ulcer, gangrene and amputation of the limb.
• Deficiency of vitamin B and calcium.
• Hormonal changes in the body. Legs often burn in pregnant women and in women during menopause.
• Excessive body weight leads to the fact that the legs are under increased stress. In the evening, this can be expressed in a sensation of heat in the feet and lower legs.
• Physical inactivity can lead to a burning sensation in the feet. This is especially true for people whose profession is associated with prolonged sitting or standing.
• Peripheral neuropathy with damage to the spinal nerves can lead to a burning sensation in the feet.

Sometimes the feet do not burn because of any pathologies in the body. If such a symptom occurs rarely and worries only after a prolonged load on the lower extremities, then it can be attributed to the "game of blood vessels." A sharp expansion of the veins of the lower extremities in the evening during the rest period is normal. However, constant overstrain of the veins should not be allowed, as this threatens the development of vascular pathologies.

The soles of the lower extremities can burn after emotional overstrain or against the background of prolonged stress.

Doctor-neuroogist M. M. Sperling talks about pains in the foot and lower leg that are common in neurology:

Burning symptoms in the soles of the feet

People describe the sensation of burning in the soles of the feet as hot flushes to the feet, as if they begin to burn, turn red. If the problem lies in vascular pathology, then the legs often swell and may turn blue. Also, the lower limbs get tired quickly, and rest relieves such fatigue for a short time.

A fungal infection can be indicated not only by a burning sensation in the soles of the feet, but also by a change in the condition of the skin. Cracks appear on it, nails begin to crumble, turn yellow. Itching is often associated.

Sometimes in the footsteps it is as if goosebumps creep, they go numb. Severe discomfort can make a person limp. Such symptoms are signs of a wide variety of pathologies.

An unnatural gait, clubfoot, an increase in the width of the sole and the absence of a plantar "arch" in combination with a burning sensation of the feet and rapid fatigue of the legs are symptoms of flat feet.

Burning and pain in the feet, loss of body weight, constant thirst, worsening sleep, increased urination, pain in the heart - all this may indicate developing diabetes mellitus.

Emotional instability of the psyche, burning sensation in the legs, pallor of the skin and insomnia may indicate a deficiency of B vitamins.

If a burning sensation in the soles of the feet pursues for several days, then you need to contact a specialist and undergo a comprehensive diagnosis.

What to do if the feet are burning? Treatment methods

To get rid of the burning sensation in the feet, you need to act on the cause of this unpleasant symptom.

In case of an allergic reaction of the body, it is required to establish the provoking factor and eliminate it. To relieve allergy symptoms, antihistamines are taken orally (Zodak, Zyrtek, Suprastin), or ointments (Advantan, Gistan, Elokom, Laridel) are applied to the legs.

If the cause of the burning sensation in the legs comes down to vascular pathologies, then it is necessary to change your lifestyle in general: move more, give up bad habits, eat right, get rid of constipation. In case of vein diseases, you will need to wear compression underwear, lubricate your legs with venotonic ointments, for example, Phlebodia, Detralex, Fastum gel, Lyoton. The therapy is complemented by the intake of vitamins and minerals. In severe cases, the assistance of a vascular surgeon may be required.

When a burning sensation in the legs is a symptom of a fungal infection, a dermatologist should be consulted. Drugs with a wide antifungal spectrum of action for topical application include: Candide, Clotrimazole, Terbinafine, Exoderil, Lamisil, Binafin, Nizoral, etc. These can be tablets Terbinafin, Irunin, Mycozoral, etc. It is equally important to follow the rules of hygiene, change socks every day, treat shoes with antifungal sprays, and increase immunity.

If flat feet have been identified, the patient is prescribed courses of therapeutic massage, performing specially selected exercise therapy, undergoing electrophoresis or shock wave therapy, wearing orthopedic insoles and orthopedic shoes. With the development of severe complications and with the ineffectiveness of other methods of treatment, surgery is indicated.

If a person develops diabetes mellitus, then they need to maintain normal blood glucose levels by following a diet. When this does not help, the patient is prescribed sugar-burning drugs, for example, Maninil, Metformin, Amaryl. If they do not cope with the task, the patient is transferred to insulin injections.

Deficiency of trace elements and vitamins requires adherence to a diet and taking them in tablet form. The source of calcium is dairy products and drinks, cheeses, eggs. B vitamins are found in meat, cereals, animal liver.

If the legs are burning in a pregnant woman, then she needs to consult a gynecologist. It is possible that the reason for this condition is hormonal changes and excessive loads on the lower limbs. In this case, nothing needs to be done. After the baby is born, all unpleasant symptoms will go away on their own. However, when the legs burn and swell in late pregnancy, this may indicate gestosis. In this case, the doctor's help should be immediate, since gestosis poses a threat to the life of the baby and the mother.

When the burning sensation in the soles of the feet is a consequence of obesity, it is necessary to begin the fight against excess weight. To do this, you will need to follow a diet, increase physical activity.

With neuropathy, it is necessary to take drugs that improve the transmission of nerve impulses to the lower extremities, as well as anticonvulsants, glucocorticosteroids and NSAIDs.

Video - tennis ball against foot pain (foot massage):

How to eliminate the burning sensation caused by overwork?

If a person knows for sure that the burning sensation in the feet is the result of overwork and overstrain of the legs, then you can use the following recommendations:

• Contrast baths relieve fatigue from legs and train vessels. To do this, the legs are alternately doused with warm and cool water. The procedure should be comfortable for a person, so you should not use a liquid that is too hot or too cold. You can just take a contrast shower. This procedure trains the blood vessels and, over time, will allow you to get rid of the burning sensation in the feet, even after overstrain. The procedure takes 20 minutes.
• You can apply an ointment containing menthol to your feet. This will cool them down and relieve discomfort.
• To improve the outflow of blood, you need to raise your legs above your head (in the supine position) for 10-15 minutes.
• There are some simple exercises you can do. For example, bend and unbend your toes, twist your feet clockwise and counterclockwise. This will normalize blood flow and get rid of the burning sensation in the legs.
• Massage helps in the fight against burning sensation in the feet. To perform it, you can use a roller massager or stretch the soles of your feet yourself. You can walk barefoot over pebbles, pebbles, buckwheat or peas.

A burning sensation in the feet is a symptom that can indicate a pathology or be a sign of a banal overwork of the legs. To clarify the cause of the burning sensation in the soles, you need to analyze your own condition, and if necessary, contact a specialist.

Author of the article: Kaplan Alexander Sergeevich | Orthopedist

Education: diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received in 2009 at the Medical Academy. I. M. Sechenov. In 2012 completed postgraduate studies in Traumatology and Orthopedics at the City Clinical Hospital named after Botkin at the Department of Traumatology, Orthopedics and Disaster Surgery.