Numb Heel: Causes, Treatment, And Related Conditions - Healthline

Maybe your like

HealthlineSubscribeWhy Does My Heel Feel Numb and How Do I Treat It?

Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M.D. — Written by Marjorie Hecht — Updated on May 18, 2018

Causes
Pregnancy
Diagnosis
Treatment
Medical help

Overview

There are numerous reasons why your heel may feel numb. Most are common in both adults and children, such as sitting too long with your legs crossed or wearing shoes that are too tight. A few causes may be more serious, such as diabetes.

If you’ve lost sensation in your foot, you may not feel anything if the numb heel is lightly touched. You also may not feel changes in temperature or have trouble keeping your balance while walking. Other symptoms of a numb heel include:

pins-and-needles sensation
tingling
weakness

Sometimes, pain, burning, and swelling may accompany the numbness, depending on what’s causing the numbness. If you have severe symptoms along with numbness, see a doctor immediately because the combination of symptoms may indicate a stroke.

Numb heel causes

A numb heel is most commonly caused by blood flow constriction or nerve damage, called peripheral neuropathy. The causes include:

Diabetes

About 50 percent of older people with diabetes have diabetic neuropathy, which is nerve damage in hands or feet. The lack of feeling in feet may come on gradually. If you have diabetes, it’s important to check your feet for symptoms such as tingling or numbness. See your doctor if you notice any changes.

Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a common cause of alcoholic neuropathy, including foot numbness. Vitamin and other nutritional deficiencies that are associated with alcoholism may also contribute to the neuropathy.

Underactive thyroid

This is known as hypothyroidism. If your thyroid gland isn’t producing enough thyroid hormone, it can create a buildup of fluid over time. This produces pressure on your nerves, which can cause numbness.

Pinched nerve in lower back

A lower back nerve that transmits signals between your brain and your leg can misfire when it’s pinched, causing numbness in your leg and foot.

Herniated disk

If the outer part of a disk on your back (also known as a slipped disk) ruptures or separates, it can put pressure on an adjoining nerve. This can lead to numbness in your leg and foot.

Sciatica

When a spinal nerve root in your lower back is compressed or injured, it can lead to numbness in your leg and foot.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome

The tarsal tunnel is a narrow passage that runs along the bottom of your foot, starting at the ankle. The tibial nerve runs inside the tarsal tunnel and may become compressed. This can result from an injury or swelling. A main symptom of tarsal tunnel syndrome is numbness in your heel or foot.

Vitamin B-12 deficiency

Low vitamin B-12 levels are common, especially in older people. Numbness and tingling in your feet is one of the symptoms. Low levels of vitamins B-1, B-6, and E can also cause peripheral neuropathy and foot numbness.

Mineral deficiencies

Abnormal levels of magnesium, potassium, zinc, and copper can lead to peripheral neuropathy, including foot numbness.

Compressed or trapped nerve

This can occur in particular nerves in your legs and feet as a result of injury. Repetitive stress over time may also restrict a nerve, as surrounding muscle and tissue is inflamed. If an injury is the cause, you might have swelling or bruising in your foot as well.

Ill-fitting shoes

Tight shoes that constrict your feet can create paresthesia (a pins-and-needles sensation) or temporary numbness.

Gastric bypass surgery

An estimated 50 percent of people who have gastric bypass surgery develop vitamin and mineral deficiencies that can lead to peripheral neuropathy and numbness in feet.

Infections

Viral and bacterial infections, including Lyme disease, HIV, hepatitis C, and shingles, can cause peripheral neuropathy and foot numbness.

Various diseases

These include kidney disease, liver disease, and autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Poisons and chemotherapy

Heavy metals and medications used for treating cancer may cause peripheral neuropathy.

Blood flow constriction

When your heel and foot don’t get enough nutrients and oxygen because of blood flow constriction, your heel or foot may become numb. Your blood flow can be constricted by:

atherosclerosis
frostbite in ultra-cold temperatures
peripheral artery disease (narrowing of the blood vessels)
deep vein thrombosis (blood clot)
Raynaud’s phenomenon (condition that affects your blood vessels)

Numb heel during pregnancy

Peripheral neuropathy in pregnancy can result from nerve compression related to the body’s changes. Neuropathy is common during pregnancy.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome causes heel numbness in pregnant women, as it does in other people. Symptoms usually clear up after the baby is born. Most neuropathies during pregnancy are reversible.

Some nerve injuries occur during labor, especially prolonged labor, when a local anesthetic (epidural) is used. This is very rare. A 2015 study reported that out of 2,615 women who received epidural anesthesia during delivery, only one had numb heels after delivery.

Numb heel diagnosis

Your doctor will examine your feet and ask you questions about your medical history. They’ll want to know if you have a history of diabetes or drink a lot of alcohol. The doctor will also ask specific questions about the numbness, such as:

when the numbness began
whether it’s in one foot or both feet
whether it’s constant or intermittent
if there are other symptoms
if anything relieves the numbness

The doctor may order tests. These could include:

an MRI scan to look at your spine
an X-ray to check for a fracture
an electromyograph (EMG) to see how your feet react to electrical stimulation
nerve conduction studies
blood tests to check for blood sugar and markers for diseases

Numb heel treatment

Your treatment will depend on the diagnosis. If the numbness is caused by an injury, disease, or nutritional deficiency, your doctor will map out a treatment plan to address the underlying cause of numbness.

The doctor may suggest physical therapy to help you adapt to walking and standing with numb heels and to improve your balance. They may also recommend exercises to increase circulation in your feet.

If you have severe pain along with heel numbness, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), or prescription drugs.

Here are a few other treatment alternatives for pain you may want to try:

acupuncture
massage
meditation

When to seek a doctor

See a doctor as soon as possible if your heel numbness follows an injury or if you have severe symptoms along with numbness, which may indicate a stroke.

If you’re already being treated for diabetes or alcohol dependency or another risk factor, see your doctor as soon as you notice heel numbness.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Azhary H, et al. (2010). Peripheral neuropathy:Differential diagnosis and management.https://www.aafp.org/afp/2010/0401/p887.html
Boulton AJM. (2005). Management of diabeticperipheral neuropathy. DOI:http://clinical.diabetesjournals.org/content/23/1/9
Dai H, et al. (2014). Lung cancer presenting asheel pain: A case report. DOI:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4081435/
The diabetic foot and risk: How to preventlosing your leg. (n.d.).http://www.aofas.org/footcaremd/conditions/diabetic-foot/Pages/The-Diabetic-Foot-and-Risk-How-to-Prevent-Losing-Your-Leg.aspx
Dong Q, et al. (2012). Entrapment neuropathiesin the upper and lower limbs: Anatomy and MRI features. DOI:https://www.hindawi.com/journals/rrp/2012/230679/
Gupta R, et al. (2016). Chemotherapy-inducedperipheral neuropathic pain. DOI:https://academic.oup.com/bjaed/article/16/4/115/2897725?searchresult=1
Kamphuis VP, et al. (2015). Bilateral heelnumbness due to external compression during obstetric epidural analgesia. DOI:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4357682/
Katz M. (2007). Case studies in cryosurgery forheel pain.https://www.podiatrytoday.com/article/7883
Klein A. (2015). Peripheral nerve disease inpregnancy [Abstract]. DOI:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23563878
Lai LP, et al. (2013). Entrapment of the lateralplantar nerve distal to the tarsal tunnel: A case report. DOI:https://www.worldnewsmd.com/Documents/news/physicaltherapy/2013-8-12_803.pdf
Massey EW, et al. (2008). Peripheral neuropathyin pregnancy. DOI:https://www.academia.edu/18232928/Peripheral_Neuropathy_in_Pregnancy
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Heel pain.https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/heel-pain/basics/definition/sym-20050788
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Pinched nerve.https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pinched-nerve/symptoms-causes/syc-20354746
National Institute of Neurological Disorders andStroke. (2018). Peripheral neuropathyfact sheet [Fact sheet].https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Peripheral-Neuropathy-Fact-Sheet
Nippoldt TB. (2017). Hypothyroidism: Can itcause peripheral neuropathy?https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/expert-answers/hypothyroidism/faq-20058489
Raynaud’s phenomenon. (2016).https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/raynauds-phenomenon
Seeniann J, et al. (2009). Nutritionaldeficiencies after gastric bypass surgery.http://jaoa.org/article.aspx?articleid=2093757
Skerrett PJ. (2017). Vitamin B12 deficiency canbe sneaky, harmful.https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/vitamin-b12-deficiency-can-be-sneaky-harmful-201301105780
Staff NP, et al. (2014). Peripheral neuropathydue to vitamin deficiency, toxins, and medications. DOI:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4208100/
Thomas JL, et al. (2010). The diagnosis andtreatment of heel pain: A clinical practice guideline - revision 2010. (2010).DOI:https://www.jfas.org/article/S1067-2516(10)00002-5/fulltext
Tu P. (2018). Heel pain: Diagnosis andmanagement.https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0115/p86.html
Tu P, et al. (2011). Diagnosis of heel pain.https://www.aafp.org/afp/2011/1015/p909.html

Share this article

Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M.D. — Written by Marjorie Hecht — Updated on May 18, 2018

Health Conditions

Condition Spotlight

Wellness Topics

Product Reviews

Featured Programs

Featured

Lessons

Newsletters

Lifestyle Quizzes

Health News

This Just In

Top Reads

Video Series

Find Your Bezzy Community

Follow us on social media