Burning feet can happen for several reasons. Knowing the exact cause of the sensation is important in order to stop the discomfort and treat the underlying condition that is causing it.
The burning sensation may be accompanied by symptoms such as tingling, numbness or reduced muscle strength in the feet. The pain usually develops gradually, but in rare cases it can occur suddenly. Even if your symptoms are mild and gradual, getting medical help is important to diagnose the cause and prevent symptoms from getting worse.
Burning feet may be hot, prickly, or painful. The feeling may come and go or be more constant. Depending on the cause, you may experience pain in one or both legs. The pain may also be worse at night.
Burning pain may also be accompanied by:
- Stinging
- A stabbing or “electrical” pain
- A freezing kind of pain
- Decreased sensation or some weakness in the muscles of the feet
- Additional pain from cold or light touch
- Abnormal sensations that are not painful
Burning feet can be a symptom of several health conditions. Some causes may be mild and temporary, such as standing on your feet for too long in shoes that are too tight. Other causes, including conditions like diabetes, alcohol use disorders, and psoriasis, can be more serious.
1. Peripheral neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that affects the feet and legs. Sometimes it can affect the hands and arms. Peripheral neuropathy can cause a burning sensation in the affected area.
Diabetes is a common cause of peripheral neuropathy because high levels of glucose (sugar in the blood) can damage nerves over time. In these cases, the condition is known as diabetic neuropathy.
About 50% or more of people with diabetes eventually develop some degree of diabetic neuropathy. About half of people with diabetic neuropathy develop pain with symptoms such as tingling or burning sensations in the feet.
Other medical conditions can cause nerve damage that leads to a tingling sensation in the feet. This includes:
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- Alcoholic neuropathy: Over time, chronic excessive alcohol use can damage the nerves and cause burning pain in the feet. It is one of the most common complications of prolonged alcohol use.
- Kidney disease: Chronic kidney disease can lead to nerve damage, sometimes called uremic neuropathy, from toxins that build up if the kidneys aren’t working well. The symptom is especially common in people who have severe kidney disease.
- Infectious causes: Infections such as HIV and Lyme disease can damage nerves and lead to neuropathy, especially if you don’t get proper treatment. Shingles (caused by the varicella-zoster virus) can sometimes cause a long-lasting burning sensation in the area where you had the painful blisters, even after the rash goes away.
- Vitamin deficiencies: Very low levels of vitamins such as vitamin B12 can lead to nerve pain. Vitamin levels can be low enough to cause neuropathy if you are severely malnourished or have just had a procedure such as gastric bypass surgery.
- Side effects of the drug: Some medications can cause neuropathic foot pain and related symptoms. Examples include lithium, dilantin (phenytoin), and cordarone (amiodarone).
- Exposure to toxins: Exposure to toxins like lead and other heavy metals can also cause nerve pain in the feet.
- Autoimmune neuropathies: Autoimmune disease can sometimes damage nerves and cause symptoms including foot pain.
- Cancer: Certain rare cancers can cause neuropathy. It is also possible to get neuropathy from cancer treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy.
The specific cause of peripheral neuropathy is sometimes unknown; this is called idiopathic neuropathy.
2. Compressed nerves
A compressed or injured nerve can also cause a burning sensation in the foot. Excessively tight or ill-fitting footwear can contribute to or worsen these problems. Tarsal tunnel syndrome and Morton’s neuroma are two conditions that can cause nerve compression,
In tarsal tunnel syndrome, the posterior tibial nerve—which runs down the leg and enters the ankle and foot—is compressed. You may feel a burning pain in your foot, ankle, or calf.
In Morton’s neuroma, the tissue around one of the nerves to the toe may begin to thicken due to stress or injury. You may feel a tingling sensation at the bottom of your foot. You can also experience the sensation of walking on marble.
3. Skin conditions
Skin infections can sometimes cause a burning sensation, especially fungal infections like athlete’s foot, which usually also cause intense itching. Some skin diseases, such as psoriasis, can cause a burning sensation and other symptoms such as itching and scaly skin. An allergic reaction can also cause a burning sensation along with a rash.
Other causes
Although rare, burning sensation in the feet can be caused by other conditions, including brain disease and peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Damage to your central nervous system (your brain and spinal cord)—such as a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or multiple sclerosis—can sometimes lead to pain that resembles a tingling sensation in the foot.
In PAD, the arteries narrow, which reduces blood flow. A FALL can affect the legs and feet. The condition can sometimes cause leg, thigh or foot pain that usually occurs during exercise. Although a burning pain is possible, it is more often a severe, cramping pain.
See a healthcare professional if you notice a new burning sensation in your feet. They can assess the underlying reason for your symptoms and, if necessary, begin treatment. It’s especially important to get medical help right away if your symptoms are severe or sudden, or if you can’t move your foot.
Your healthcare provider can make a diagnosis based on your medical history, physical exam, and some basic blood tests if they suspect your symptoms are due to diabetes. These blood tests may include a complete blood count; metabolic panel; and tests for fasting blood glucose, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and vitamin B12.
To get more information about your muscles and nerves, a neurologist (a doctor who specializes in conditions of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves) may order additional blood tests, nerve conduction studies to test your nerve function, or electromyography to measure the electrical activity of your muscles and their nerves .
Other tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or nerve biopsy, may also be helpful on rare occasions.
If you have a chronic condition known to cause burning feet, let your doctor know if your symptoms worsen.
Treatment varies depending on the underlying cause. For pain from nerve damage, this may mean treating the underlying diabetes, vitamin deficiency, or infection. In some cases, treatment reduces or eliminates pain. In other cases, some nerve damage may be permanent, and treatment focuses on preventing the damage from getting worse.
Lifestyle approaches
Wearing appropriate footwear can help relieve the burning sensation caused by nerve damage. A podiatrist (a doctor who specializes in the treatment of foot conditions) can help you find the right footwear to reduce pressure on your nerves.
For people who are overweight, losing weight can help reduce symptoms.
Therapy
Your doctor may recommend two types of therapy: physical therapy and talk therapy.
Physical therapists may be able to prescribe specific exercises to help reduce pain and improve muscle strength. Mental health providers can help you understand how pain affects your life and teach you how to cope.
Medicines
Some medications can help reduce foot pain from neuropathy. This includes:
- Lyrica (pregabalin)
- Some antidepressants, such as Elavil (amitriptyline)
- Pain relievers applied to the skin, such as capsaicin or lidocaine, which may be used in combination with oral pain medications
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Motrin (ibuprofen) are usually not great for treating nerve damage pain.
Medical procedures
Medical procedures are not appropriate for most causes of burning pain in the feet, but there are cases where a procedure can help. For example, foot surgery may help if you have nerve compression from Morton’s neuroma.
To prevent burning feet, you can try to prevent the root cause. This is not always possible.
If you have a condition known to cause the sensation, managing the underlying cause can help prevent it. People who have diabetes can work with health care professionals to prevent diabetic neuropathy and related foot pain. These steps can help reduce the risk of sensation:
- Use medication as needed to prevent your average blood glucose from becoming too high
- Follow dietary recommendations, including minimizing foods high in carbohydrates such as candy, cookies, or soda
- Exercise regularly to help with blood glucose control, weight loss, stress management, and blood pressure regulation
- Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
Neuropathy that causes tingling in the feet also often leads to decreased sensation, which can put you at risk for foot injury and infection. If not treated properly, infections can lead to foot amputation in severe cases.
If you have diabetic neuropathy or any other chronic neuropathy that affects your feet, check your feet daily for possible sores, redness, or swelling. Seek immediate medical attention if you discover anything worrisome.
As part of your diabetes care, it’s also important to have regular checkups that include a thorough examination of your feet.
Burning feet can be a sign of neuropathy, a type of nerve damage. Diabetes is the most common cause of neuropathy.
Compressed nerves and skin conditions can also cause a burning sensation in the feet. In addition to the burning sensation, you may experience a stabbing type of pain, decreased sensation, and decreased muscle strength.
Treatment for burning feet varies depending on the underlying cause, but medications and lifestyle changes can help. If you have diabetic neuropathy or another type of neuropathy, it’s important to check your feet daily for wounds or injuries to prevent complications.