Care For Your Feet

Neuropathy: Loss of feeling:

Q. What is neuropathy?
A. Neuropathy is the gradual loss of nerve function in the feet and legs due to diabetes, leprosy, pressure area in the foot, and others. The most common and significant change is loss of feeling or touch sensation.

Q. How do I know if I have neuropathy?
A. It usually occurs slowly. You notice it first as it is the absence or reduction of sensation. It is hard to be aware of something you cannot feel! A physical examination by your doctor, foot care specialist (podiatrist), and sometimes special tests can help in making a diagnosis.

Q. If neuropathy causes loss of feeling, why do my feet sometimes hurt or tingle?
A. Neuropathy can cause the nerves to charge or transmit impulses that you can experience numbness, tingling, shooting pain, burning sensation, pins, and needles, electric shock sensation of any combinations or above.

Q. Do all diabetes gets neuropathy?
A. The likelihood of getting neuropathy increases with age. The longer you have diabetes, the increased chance you have of developing neuropathy. Many cases are mild but are sometimes severe. The severity of the neuropathy does not necessarily correspond to the severity of diabetes. Some people with mild diabetes can have severe neuropathy and vice versa.

Q. What can happen to my feet if I have neuropathy, because of loss of sensation?
A. Your feet can get injures without your notice. For example, a person with neuropathy may let a cut or sore of the foot get out of hand simply because it does not feel painful, and not realize it.

Q. In what ways can neuropathy hurt my feet?
A. If you wear a pair of poorly fitting shoes, blisters or open sores (ulcers) can form in less than an hour. At first, they can cause small problems which can grow serious if remain unattended.

Q. Does this mean I should see a doctor even if I have a small foot injury or a minor infection?
A. Yes, all too often a patient notices an area of swelling or redness but fails to seek attention because it does not hurt. This is due to neuropathy. The most dangerous fact about neuropathy is the ‘ absence of feeling’ because this allows the injury to go unrecognized and as a result of this, the patient might lose a limb.