A Burning Issue

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Colin Mansfield asks: After an hour’s walking I start to experience a burning sensation in my feet. If I continue walking this gets very painful and the only way I get relief is to stop and remove my shoes for about 15 minutes. I’m sure it’s not my shoes and socks.

Dr David Ashton says: Burning feet can have several different causes. It may be a sensivity to the fabrics or dyes in your socks or shoes, or even the detergent you use to wash the socks. If you haven’t tried so already vary these to see if one may be the cause.

You could also try in-soles or gel pads, and swap cotton or wool socks for those made of artificial fibres that draw sweat away from your feet to cool them down.

It is also possible that you may have damaged the nerves in your feet. Burning is one symptom of peripheral neuropathy (most commonly caused by diabetes), but it can also be a pins and needles sensation, numbness or tickling.

As well as all the above suggestions, try soaking your feet in cool water – don’t use ice – and try a pain reliever such as aspirin. Unfortunately you may just be one of those people with little padding on your feet.

Useful Links

Peripheral Neuropathy Fact Sheet from N.I.D.S.

Do you have a health issue that affects your walking? Send us a message from the ‘Get in Touch‘ page and we’ll ask our resident health expert!

Posted: Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 at 4:24 pm, filed under Health Experts Blog.
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