Why Do Our Hands And Or Feet Tingle

Today's post from webmd.com (see link below) is a thorough answer to the question why our hands and feet tingle. Many people ask this question long before having heard the word neuropathy and for many people, the symptoms are temporary but equally, for millions across the world, the symptoms never go away and become progressively worse. They then have a form of neuropathy or nerve damage. This article will set you on the right path as regards opening information; after that, you need to discuss your problem with your doctor and do as much further research of your own until you have built up sufficient knowledge to be best able to live with the disease.

Tingling in Hands and Feet
WebMD Medical Reference View Article Sources
Reviewed by Varnada Karriem-Norwood, MD on September 26, 2014

Tingling hands, feet, or both is an extremely common and bothersome symptom. Such tingling can sometimes be benign and temporary. For example, it could result from pressure on nerves when your arm is crooked under your head as you fall asleep. Or it could be from pressure on nerves when you cross your legs too long. In either case, the "pins and needles" effect -- which is usually painless -- is soon relieved by removing the pressure that caused it.

In many cases, however, tingling in the hands, feet, or both can be severe, episodic, or chronic. It also can accompany other symptoms. such as pain, itching, numbness, and muscle wasting. In such cases, tingling may be a sign of nerve damage, which can result from causes as varied as traumatic injuries or repetitive stress injuries, bacterial or viral infections, toxic exposures, and systemic diseases such as diabetes.

Such nerve damage is known as peripheral neuropathy because it affects nerves distant from the brain and spinal cord, often in the hands and feet. There are more than 100 different types of peripheral neuropathy. Over time, peripheral neuropathy can worsen, resulting in decreased mobility and even disability. More than 20 million Americans, most of them older adults, are estimated to have peripheral neuropathy.

It's important to seek prompt medical evaluation for any persistent tingling in your hands, feet, or both. The earlier the underlying cause of your tingling is identified and brought under control, the less likely you are to suffer potentially lifelong consequences.

Causes of Tingling in the Hands and Feet

Diabetes is one of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy, accounting for about 30% of cases. In diabetic neuropathy, tingling and other symptoms often first develop in both feet and go up the legs, followed by tingling and other symptoms that affect both hands and go up the arms. About two-thirds of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nerve damage. In many cases, these symptoms are the first signs of diabetes.

In another 30% of peripheral neuropathy cases, the cause is unknown or "idiopathic."

The remaining 40% of cases have a variety of causes such as:

Nerve entrapment syndromes. These include carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve palsy, peroneal nerve palsy, and radial nerve palsy.

Systemic diseases. These include kidney disorders, liver disease, vascular damage and blood diseases, amyloidosis, connective tissue disorders and chronic inflammation, hormonal imbalances (including hypothyroidism), and cancers and benign tumors that impinge on nerves.

Vitamin deficiencies. Vitamins E, B1, B6, B12, and niacin are essential for healthy nerve function. A B12 deficiency, for example, can lead to pernicious anemia, an important cause of peripheral neuropathy. But too much B6 also can cause tingling in the hands and feet.

Alcoholism. Alcoholics are more likely to have a thiamine or other important vitamin deficiencies because of poor dietary habits, a common cause of peripheral neuropathy. It's also possible that alcoholism itself can cause nerve damage, a condition that some researchers call alcoholic neuropathy.

Toxins. These include heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury, and thallium, and some industrial and environmental chemicals. They also include certain medications -- especially chemotherapy drugs used for lung cancer -- but also some antiviral and antibiotic drugs.

Infections. These include Lyme disease, shingles (varicella-zoster), cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr, herpes simplex, and HIV/AIDS.

Autoimmune diseases. These include Guillain-Barre syndrome, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Inherited disorders. These include a group of disorders collectively known as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Injury. Often related to trauma, nerves can be compressed, crushed, or damaged, resulting in nerve pain. Examples include nerve compression caused by a herniated disc or dislocated bone.

Diagnosis of Tingling Hands and Feet

If you seek care for your tingling hands or feet, your health care provider will do a physical exam and take an extensive medical history addressing your symptoms, work environment, social habits (including alcohol use), toxic exposure, risk of HIV or other infectious diseases, and family history of neurological disease.

He or she also may perform additional tests such as:
Blood tests. These can include tests to detect diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, liver or kidney dysfunction, other metabolic disorders, and signs of abnormal immune system activity.
An examination of cerebrospinal fluid. This can identify antibodies associated with peripheral neuropathy.
An electromyogram (EMG), a test of the electrical activity of muscle
Nerve conduction velocity (NCV)

Other tests may include:
Computed tomography (CT)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Nerve biopsy
Skin biopsy to look at nerve fiber endings

Treatments for Tingling Hands and Feet

Successful treatment depends on an accurate diagnosis and treatment of the underlying cause of the tingling. As long as the peripheral nerve cells have not been killed, they have the ability to regenerate.

Although no treatments are available for inherited types of peripheral neuropathy, many of the acquired types can be improved with treatment. For example, good blood sugar control in diabetes can slow the progression of diabetic neuropathy; vitamin supplementation can correct peripheral neuropathy in people with vitamin deficiencies.

General lifestyle recommendations include maintaining an optimal weight, avoiding exposure to toxins, following a doctor-supervised exercise program, eating a balanced diet, and avoiding or limiting alcohol consumption. Recommendations also include quitting smoking, which constricts blood supply to blood vessels supplying nutrients to peripheral nerves.

In some cases, tingling and other symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may be reduced with prescriptions originally developed for treating seizures and depression.

http://www.webmd.com/brain/tingling-in-hands-and-feet

The Right Insoles For Neuropathic Feet

Today's post comes from jfootankleres.com (see link below) and looks at a specific problem for people trying to find the best sorts of footware to support feet with neuropathy (especially those prone to foot ulcers). Many people pay for expensive custom-made insoles but the trial described here comes to the conclusion that there's little to no difference with ordinary shop-bought insoles. It may mean trying on every shoe in the shop and then trying out various insoles to give further support but if you have neuropathic foot problems, you know it's worth taking the greatest care of your feet.

A comparison of customised and prefabricated insoles to reduce risk factors for neuropathic diabetic foot ulceration:
a participant-blinded randomised controlled trial
Joanne S Paton, Elizabeth A Stenhouse, Graham Bruce, Daniel Zahra and Ray B Jones
Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 2012, Published: 5 December 2012

Abstract (provisional)
Background
Neuropathic diabetic foot ulceration may be prevented if the mechanical stress transmitted to the plantar tissues is reduced. Insole therapy is one practical method commonly used to reduce plantar loads and ulceration risk. The type of insole best suited to achieve this is unknown. This trial compared custom-made functional insoles with prefabricated insoles to reduce risk factors for ulceration of neuropathic diabetic feet.
Method
A participant-blinded randomised controlled trial recruited 119 neuropathic participants with diabetes who were randomly allocated to custom-made functional or prefabricated insoles. Data were collected at issue and six month follow-up using the F-scan in-shoe pressure measurement system. Primary outcomes were: peak pressure, forefoot pressure time integral, total contact area, forefoot rate of load, duration of load as a percentage of stance. Secondary outcomes were patient perceived foot health (Bristol Foot Score), quality of life (Audit of Diabetes Dependent Quality of Life). We also assessed cost of supply and fitting. Analysis was by intention-to-treat.
Results
There were no differences between insoles in peak pressure, or three of the other four kinetic measures. The custom-made functional insole was slightly more effective than the prefabricated insole in reducing forefoot pressure time integral at issue (27% vs. 22%), remained more effective at six month follow-up (30% vs. 24%, p=0.001), but was more expensive (UK 6.56 pounds vs. 5.54 pounds, p=less than 0.001). Full compliance (minimum wear 7 hours a day 7 days per week) was reported by 40% of participants and 76% of participants reported a minimum wear of 5 hours a day 5 days per week. There was no difference in patient perception between insoles.

ConclusionThe custom-made insoles are more expensive than prefabricated insoles evaluated in this trial and no better in reducing peak pressure. We recommend that where clinically appropriate, the more cost effective prefabricated insole should be considered for use by patients with diabetes and neuropathy.

Trial registration
Clinical trials.gov (NCT00999635). Note: this trial was registered on completion.

The complete article is available as a provisional PDF. The fully formatted PDF and HTML versions are in production.

http://www.jfootankleres.com/content/5/1/31/abstract

Swollen Feet During Pregnancy

Swollen Feet During Pregnancy

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HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR PITTED KERATOLYSIS OR SMELLY FEET

Pitted keratolysis or smelly feet  is a skin condition affecting the soles of the feet and less commonly, the palms of the hands. It is caused by a bacterial infection of the skin and may give off an unpleasant odor.

Causes- Pitted keratolysis is caused by several bacterial species, including corynebacteria, Dermatophilus congolensis, Kytococcus sedentarius, actinomyces and streptomyces.

The bacteria proliferate in moist conditions. The pitting is due to destruction of the horny cells ( stratum corneum ) by protease enzymes produced by the bacteria. The bad smell is due to sulphur compounds produced by the bacteria , thiols, sulphides and thioesters.

Pitted keratolysis is much more common in males than in females. Occupation at risk include-

·         Farmers

·         Athletes

·         Sailors or fisherman

·         Industrial workers

·         Military personnel

Females offering pedicure and foot care in a spa saloon may also be affected by pitted keratolysis.

Factors that lead to the development of pitted keratolysis include-

·         Hot, humid weather

·         Occlusive footwear, such as rubber boots or vinyl shoes

·         Excessive sweating of hands and feet

·         Thickened skin of palms and soles

·         Diabetes mellitus

·         Advanced age

·         Immunodeficiency

Symptoms

·         Very smelly feet, due to infection of the soles.

·          Either the forefoot or the heel or both become white with clusters of punched –out pits. The appearance is more dramatic when the feet are wet.Very rarely the fingers are similarly affected.

·         Pits often join together to form larger , crater like lesion.

·         There is a variant of pitted keratolysis where there are more diffuse red areas on the soles.

The most commonly  reported symptom is malodor. The pits themselves are usually asymptomatic but may  cause soreness or itching when walking.

Diagnosis – Pitted keratolysis is usually diagnosed clinically . Swabs are rarely required . However the causative organisms may be identified from the pitted lesions and cultured on brain heart infusion agar.Skin scrapings are often taken to exclude fungal infection . Woodlight examination displays a characteristic coral red fluorescence in some cases.

The diagnosis is sometimes made by skin biopsy revealing characteristic histopathological features of pitted keratolysis .

Prevention- Pitted keratolysis will quickly recur unless the feet are kept dry. The following precautions should be taken to prevent recurrence-

·         Wear foots for as short a period as possible

·         Wear socks which effectively absorb sweat, ie cotton and /or wool

·         Wear open –toed sandals whenever possible

·         Wash feet with soap or antiseptic cleancer twice daily

·         Apply antiperspirant to the feet at least twice daily

·         Do not wear the same shoes two days in a row-dry them out

·         Do not share footwear or towels with clothes

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Well selected Homoeopathic remedies are effective for managing Pitted keratolysis. Some of the important remedies are given below-

SILICEA 200- Silicea is one of the top remedies for smelly feet with offensive sweat. The feet becomes icy cold with copious sweat. Another leading character is presence of offensive sweat on feet which is acrid, itching and destroying shoes. There is soreness in soles from instep through to the sole. Pits and exfoliation of the skin are seen on the sole.

BARYTA CARBONICUM 200- Baryta carb is another effective remedy for Pitted keratolysis with offensive foot sweat, especially in children. There is cold, foul foot sweat, the feet is cold and clammy. Toes and sole sore, soles painful on walking. Soles feel hot or bruised at night during sleeping. Most of the Baryta carb children are suffering from chronic throat complaints.

GRAPHITES 30- Graphites is best for smelly feet with fissures, cracks and pits in soles and in between toes. The sweat is foul and excoriating , worse in evening. The feet is cold and wet. The acrid foot sweat chafes the toes. Habitual constipation is present in Graphites patient.

CALCAREA CARB 30- Calcarea carb is prescribed where sour foot sweat is present on the feet. Soles of the feet feel raw. Burning of soles of feet. Calcrea carb is suited to fat , flabby persons.

LYCOPODIUM CLAVATUM 200- Lycopodium is best for smelly feet with profuse foot sweat. There is pain in the heels and soles while walking. In Lycopodium one foot hot and other cold. Lycopodium patients prefer warm drinks and food. They have a craving for sweets.

ANTIMONIUM CRUDUM 200- Antim . crude is considered a good remedy for Pitted keratolysis where the skin on soles is withered on account of foot sweat. The feet is very sensitive due to the presence of large horny places.

SEPIA 30-Sepia is effective for smelly feet with offensive foot sweat. There is itching, stinging and burning ulcers in the toes and heels. The itching is not relieved by scratching. There is pricking and burning sensation of feet.There is profuse or offensive perspiration of feet causing soreness in heel and between toes.

SULPHUR 200- Sulphur is another effective medicines for smelly feet with icy cold feet with an offensive sweat. The foot feels sore from the top through to the sole. Sulphur patient put the feet out of bed due to excessive heat in soles at night.

Strange Things That Happen To Ageing Feet

Today's post from prevention.com (see link below) is not directly related to neuropathy but is very useful to people having to live with nerve damage in their feet, in that it brings in to perspective what might happen to your feet anyway as you get older. After reading this, you may have a better understanding of why your feet give you so much pain and other sensations but also of how neuropathy can make normal ageing symptoms so much worse. The article talks about the effects of age on the pads of your feet, tendons and ligaments as well as blood circulation. When the nerves join in the general degeneration, you've got enough reasons for why neuropathy can be so debilitating. Worth a read for all neuropathy patients.

7 Weird Things That Happen To Your Feet As You Get Older
By Cindy Kuzma February 8, 2016

They've carried you everywhere from your first day of school through this morning's walk or run. Pretty much everything else about your body has changed in that time, so it's little wonder that your feet also undergo some alterations, both subtle and not-so-much, as you age. (Use this simple test to find out your arch type.)

Fortunately, taking a few moments to tend to your sole health can minimize age-related issues. "Foot pain and discomfort aren't a natural part of growing older or something to just put up with," says Emanuel Haber, DPM, of the Foot & Ankle Centre of New Jersey. "Much can be done to relieve pain, improve comfort, and prevent small foot problems from becoming major down the road." Here are seven common foot complaints that often arise with age—and how to give them the boot.

1. Fat vanishes.
Mother nature provides humans with built-in insoles—collagen and elastin cushions, stuffed with adipose tissue, on the bottoms of your feet. But in a cruel twist on the middle-age spread, collagen production decreases through the years, thinning these fat pads.

Without this cushioning, "your feet feel fine in the morning, but toward the end of the day you have a lot of pain because you're essentially walking on bones," says Pedro Cosculluela, MD, a foot and ankle specialist at Houston Methodist.

Though some clinics tout injections or fat transplants, there's no proof they work, he notes. The only surefire solution is to wear cushioned, comfortable shoes, reinforced with insoles or gel pads if needed.

2. Arthritis appears.

Photograph by stockdevil/Getty Images

Your feet boast more than 30 joints, all of which can degenerate with age, Cosculluela says. Arthritis most commonly strikes the big toe or the midfoot joints on the top of your foot. Besides pain, you might feel stiffness in the morning that improves once you get moving, then worsens again at night. Shoe inserts, exercises to increase range of motion, and losing weight if you're heavy may help, says Andrew Shapiro, DPM, president of the New York State Podiatric Medical Association.

Hip and knee arthritis also have trickle-down effects, altering your alignment in ways that can cause pain on the insides or outsides of your feet, Cosculluela says. If any of your joints ache, see your doctor—treating hip and knee arthritis with exercise or medications often lightens the load on your feet as well, he notes.

MORE: 11 Highly Effective Solutions For Sciatic Nerve Pain

3. Toes curl up.
And we don't mean in that sexy, between-the-sheets kind of way. Years of stuffing your piggies into high heels elevates your risk of hammertoes, permanent bends in your smaller digits. What can start as mild discomfort turns more painful over time, and unsightly corns and calluses can also crop up as your crooked toes rub against your shoes.

To prevent—and ease—hammertoes, cover corns and calluses with padding and trade in your pointy-toed pumps for shoes with wider toe boxes. "I often have women stand on top of a blank piece of paper barefoot, and trace the outline of their foot," Cosculluela says. "Then I put their shoe on top. If I can see toes sticking out, I know that's not a good shoe for them."

Good news, though: You don't have to ditch your stilettos completely. If you want to wear them for a night out, wear well-fitting flats made of flexible fabric like suede—even walking or running shoes, if you can—during the day. "The more support you can give your feet, the less inflammation you'll incur throughout the day—and the better you'll be able to tolerate a dressier shoe at night," says Gennady Kolodenker, DPM, a podiatrist with Hoag Orthopedic Institute in Orange County, CA.

4. Circulation slows.

Photograph by Matt Meadows/Getty Images

Diabetes, vein disease, and other conditions more common with age can slow the blood flow to your feet, Shapiro says. That makes each cut from stepping on a sharp object or new-shoe blister slower to heal. Combine that with nerve damage—which often goes hand in hand with the same health conditions—and you might not even notice a worsening infection, resulting in an ulcer that just won't heal.

If you have one of these health conditions, enlist a podiatrist on your heath care team. Inspect your feet regularly for cuts and scrapes, and seek treatment for them promptly. Consider installing a floor mirror in your bathroom so you see them more easily, Cosculluela advises.

5. Tendons tighten.
Not as limber in yoga class these days? One reason: The water content in your tendons declines with age, stiffening the cords in your ankles, among other places. Not only can this interfere with Downward Dog, it also places you at greater risk for tears and ruptures, Haber says.

Staying active helps counteract these effects, he notes. (And only takes 10 minutes a day with Fit in 10.) If you've had an Achilles tendon injury in the past, strengthening exercises such as calf raises can prevent relapses. To loosen up tight ankles, you can also try this exercise.

MORE: 6 Simple Moves To Ease Sciatica

6. Ligaments lengthen.

Photograph by tagota/Getty Images

On the flip side, other connective tissues called ligaments can stretch out over time, leaving your arch aching and your foot flatter. What's more, the sensors that typically alert your brain that your ligaments are overstretching—think of them like backup sensors for your joints—start to go on the fritz. This throws you off balance and leaves you prone to a recurring cycle of ankle sprains.

Sprain your ankle once? Consult a podiatrist or other health care professional for advice on preventing the next one. Wearing a brace while working out or playing sports might help keep you stable, as can ankle-strengthening exercises like ankle circles and toe raises.

7. Skin dries out.
Besides cushioning the bottom of your feet, collagen also plumps up your skin. A shrinking supply leaves your tootsies parched and prone to dryness and cracking.

Fight back by making sure you're staying hydrated, and get in the habit of using a moisturizer like Ahava Mineral Foot Cream ($22, ahavaus.com)—and do it twice a day. "Most people don't realize the importance of the frequency; they don't understand why their dry skin is not improving when they apply skin cream every other day or even daily," Haber says.

http://www.prevention.com/health/what-aging-does-to-your-feet