Why are my toes numb?

Symptoms:

Numbness and tingling in the toes of one foot – worse after exercise and when your feet get hot – is relieved when you put your feet up. The outer side of your foot and toes are numb and you have pain running from your buttocks down the outside of your leg into the sole of your foot. You’ve had back problems.

You’re diabetic and notice that your feet get cold and that the sensation in your feet is becoming numb. It could be:

Tarsal tunnel syndrome, when the nerve to the foot is trapped in the tight band which holds structures in place around your ankle. You can get the same thing in the wrist – carpal tunnel syndrome. Sciatica – your leg pain follows the course of the sciatic nerve from where it leaves the spine in the lumbar region. There’s pressure on the nerve root from a slipped disc or osteoarthritis.

Peripheral neuropathy – a complication of diabetes. Stop it:

Take painkillers, rest as often as you can with your foot raised. See your doctor for referral to a specialist who can free the nerve with a simple op. Take painkillers, don’t rest up and keep moving. See your doctor for possible referral to a specialist for assessment. Keep your diabetes under control with diet and medication. See your doctor to check up on the blood vessels in your lower legs to keep the circulation going.