Diabetes and foot pain commonly occur together. Nerve damage called peripheral neuropathy is the most common contributor to diabetes foot pain. Furthermore, there are 3 types of peripheral neuropathy: sensory, motor, and autonomic neuropathy. Most of the time foot pain in diabetes is caused by the sensory type. In this type of nerve damage the pain is disproportionate to the amount insult that is causing the pain. So, in this case merely touch the skin or putting a blanket over your feet can be very painful. A person with type of foot pain from diabetes may also feel burning, tingling, or stabbing pains in their feet.
The combination of foot pain and diabetes can be found in many different instances. Motor neuropathy, another type of peripheral neuropathy, causes foot pain with diabetes as well. In this type, nerves in the muscles become affected and they begin to feel weak and achy. Among other muscles throughout the body, small muscles of the feet are affected. This causes a walking imbalance, increased rubbing inside the shoe, inflammation, increased callous formation, and pain. People with this type of nerve damage need supportive shoes with adamant foot support inserts to help with this foot pain from diabetes and correct imbalances.
Circulation problems are another condition related to diabetes and foot pain. In this case blood flow to the feet may be partially and totally blocked. With no oxygen being delivered to tissues of the feet, they become extremely pained. Some people say that it feels like their feet are in a vice or being strangled (NFB.org, 2011).
Diabetes Foot Pain Relief
Foot pain diabetes treatment usually involves oral medications. Some anti-depressants have been found to relieve pain as a side-effect, so some doctors will prescribe them in cases of pain, such as diabetes and foot pain. Anti-convulsant drugs have also shown themselves to be helpful in cases of diabetes foot pain caused by neuropathy.
Many people say that diabetic socks and shoes help to relieve the pain immensely. They also help to protect feet from conditions in which sores or calluses could for, decreasing the chance of infection. Massaging your feet with diabetic foot cream, or using a foot roller are also some things that you can do at home which help lessen diabetes foot pain.
Food pain and diabetes can also be treated with alternative methods like acupuncture, physical therapy, and biofeedback. Some vitamins (vitamins B especially) and supplements have also been known to help. Before trying an alternative or complementary treatment, be sure to make sure and talk to you doctor to see if he is in agreement.
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