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A Burning Issue

chris.wingrove — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:24:54 +0000

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.

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The Next Step

chris.wingrove — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:00:35 +0000

Liz Melville asks: After half an hour’s walking, I develop numbness and tingling in the balls of my feet, extending to my middle three toes. It gets so painful I have to stop walking and wait for the pain to go. What do you think might be causing my symptoms?

Dr Helen Crawley says: Your symptoms are most likely due to a problem with a nerve supplying your toes – a condition called Morton’s Neuroma. It is caused by pressure on a nerve as it passes between two metatarsal heads (the spot where the toes join the foot). Another possibility is that the shape of your foot has altered with osteoarthiritis (wear-and-tear) arthiritis causing uncomfortable compression when you walk.

Make an appointment with your doctor or podiatrist – simple footwear adjustments or shoe inserts could solve your problem.

For the full article and response, see Walk Magazine’s website.

If you would like to ask our health experts a question, please contact us here.

Rest Cure

admin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:53:42 +0000

Linda Delargy asks: I developed bursitis of the pelvis after falling on my side. I thought the damage from the fall had healed, but I am still experiencing referred pain. I love walking, but the more exercise I do, the more pain I get. Do you have any suggestions?

Dr Helen Crawley says: A bursa is a small fluid-filled sac that cushions movements between bones, tendons, ligaments and muscles. Bursitis means that the bursa is inflamed. Simple measures for bursitis include rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, in tablet form or as a gel rubbed onto the skin. I would suggest resting your hip until your symptoms have settled and then building up your exercise, starting with short walks. If the problem persists, contact your GP about specialist help.

For the full article and response see Walk Magazine’s website.

If you would like to ask our health experts a question, please contact us here.