Treatment for toe numbness will depend on the underlying cause, but the numbness often goes away on its own.
This article will discuss some of the common causes of toe numbness and how they can be treated.
Numbness, or paresthesia, happens when you lose all sensation or a degree of sensation in any part of your body. This means you will not be able to feel:
- different temperatures
- touch
- pain
Numbness is generally a sign that there is a problem in the communication between your nerves and your brain.
Any part of your body can become numb. However, it is most common in your:
- legs
- feet
- toes
- arms
- hands
- fingers
It is also possible to experience a sensation of tingling or prickling.
Toe numbness is sometimes a sign of a deeper underlying issue.
Vitamin B12 helps perform many bodily functions. For example, it helps keep your nervous system healthy. When there is a deficiency in vitamin B12, it causes your body to produce red blood cells that are larger than normal. These large red blood cells do not work as they should.
Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include:
- prickling or tingling
- a sore or red tongue
- mouth ulcers
- vision changes
- irritability
- changes in how you move
- a decline in cognitive function, such as in memory or understanding
Your doctor will determine how to treat your vitamin B12 deficiency based on its underlying cause. Generally, your doctor will recommend either vitamin B12 injections or tablets.
If you think you may have symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, contact your doctor.
It is important that vitamin B12 deficiency be diagnosed and treated right away, as it can lead to complications, including:
- memory loss
- issues with your nervous system
- infertility (usually temporary)
Read more about numbness by clicking here.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disorder that causes your immune system to attack your central nervous system (CNS). The CNS is comprised of the:
- spinal cord
- brain
- optic nerves
Over 2.3 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with MS. A recent study by the National MS Society estimated that 1 million people over 18 years of age have MS in the United States.
MS symptoms vary from person to person. Common symptoms include:
- numbness or tingling, especially in the legs, arms, or face
- fatigue
- weakness
- issues with vision
- dysesthesia, which feels like something squeezing around your torso
- difficulty walking
- vertigo and dizziness
- cognitive problems
- difficulty controlling your emotions, such as mood shifts and irritability
Treatment for MS is a lifelong process. Options include medications, comprehensive care, and rehabilitation.
If you have any of these symptoms or other symptoms of MS, contact your doctor.
Raynaud’s phenomenon occurs when the fingers, and sometimes toes, change colors as a response to triggers such as cold or stress. Symptoms often occur when the extremities are exposed to cold — including indoors, such as when reaching into a freezer.
The fingers or toes tend to change color to red, blue, or white. Raynaud’s phenomenon can also include numbness or a prickling or tingling sensation.
Symptoms tend to flare up intermittently rather than being continuous.
There are two types of Raynaud’s phenomenon:
- Primary: This typically presents in females before they turn 30 years old. Symptoms are not dangerous and do not cause lasting damage, although the condition is still uncomfortable. Primary Raynaud’s tends to occur alone, without another condition.
- Secondary: This type of Raynaud’s occurs along with another condition and tends to set in after the age of 30. Many conditions are associated with secondary Raynaud’s.
Commonly associated conditions include:
- lupus
- scleroderma
- rheumatoid arthritis
- thyroid disfunction
- myositis
- other autoimmune conditions
Treatment for Raynaud’s phenomenon includes simple lifestyle changes, such as keeping your body warm. Medications are also available.
Contact your doctor to discuss any symptoms you may be experiencing.
Hypothyroidism is a condition that occurs when the thyroid gland is underactive and it cannot make enough thyroid hormone. The thyroid controls your:
- metabolism
- heart rate
- muscles
- bones
- other organs
Studies show that a latent symptom of hypothyroidism is peripheral neuropathy, which involves damage to the peripheral nervous system. One of the main signs of peripheral neuropathy is numbness in the feet and toes.
More common symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
- fatigue
- unexpected weight gain
- muscle issues:
- weakness
- aches
- cramps
- tenderness
- stiffness
- constipation
- abnormal sensitivity to cold
- joint issues:
- pain
- stiffness
- swelling
- forgetfulness and confusion
If you have any symptoms of hypothyroidism, contact your doctor. They can order blood tests to check your thyroid function.
If you have hypothyroidism, you will probably need to take medication to replace your missing thyroid hormone.
To learn more about muscle aches, click here.
Diabetes is a chronic condition. It affects the way your body converts food into energy. Depending on the type of diabetes you have, your body either does not produce enough insulin or does not have the ability to use the insulin it makes efficiently.
Common symptoms of diabetes include:
- numbness in the feet or hands
- urinating more than usual
- excessive thirst
- blurry vision
- slowly healing wounds
- dry skin
- more prone to infections
If you have any symptoms of diabetes, contact your doctor.
If left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious complications, such as heart disease, nerve damage, and kidney disease.
Your doctor will determine a treatment plan for you based on which type of diabetes you have. Your doctor will likely discuss lifestyle changes, insulin, medication, or a combination of these things with you.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) occurs when
the blood vessels that transport blood from your heart to your lungs become narrow or blocked due to a buildup of plaque in the arteries.
Symptoms of PAD include:
- numb or cold toes
- muscle weakness
- hair loss
- skin that that feels cool when touched
- pain while using your legs that improves with rest
- sores on the legs or feet that have trouble healing
If you have these or any other symptoms of PAD, contact your doctor.
Treatment may include medication and surgery to unblock the arteries. If you smoke, your doctor may also encourage you to quit smoking.
Learn more about muscle weakness here.
Peripheral neuropathy is the most common type of neuropathy. It usually affects the nerves in your:
- legs
- feet
- arms
- hands
It typically begins in the feet — often in both feet at the same time.
Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include:
- numbness in the toes and feet
- weakness in the legs and feet
- feeling unsteady when walking
- burning or shooting pain in the feet
- pain in the feet at night
- tingling in the feet
Although there is no treatment for neuropathy, contact your doctor if you have any of these symptoms. They will most likely focus on treating the pain and numbness, and on keeping your legs healthy.
Tarsal tunnel syndrome is a rare condition. It can be caused by damage to the tibial nerve, usually due to some kind of compression.
Symptoms of tarsal tunnel syndrome include:
- numbness or tingling in the toes and feet
- shooting pain along the tibial nerve
- pain running down the leg to the foot
Pain from tarsal tunnel syndrome can be severe. It may cause you to limp.
Treatment for tarsal tunnel syndrome is aimed at lessening your individual symptoms. Your doctor may recommend rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, orthotics, injectable corticosteroids, or a combination of these things to treat the pain. Surgery is sometimes required in serious cases.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, speak with your doctor.
Morton’s neuroma is
a thickening of tissue around an irritated or damaged nerve in your foot.
Symptoms of Morton’s neuroma appear in the foot and include:
- numbness or tingling
- a shooting or stabbing pain
- a sensation as though there is a pebble underfoot
Your symptoms may worsen with movement. Tight shoes also tend to make symptoms feel worse.
Generally, a doctor will recommend you try at-home treatments first, including:
- resting and elevating your foot as often as you can
- taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen
- holding a towel-wrapped ice pack to the area for 20 minutes or less every few hours
- wearing soft insoles in your shoes
- wearing wider shoes
- wearing shoes with a thick, soft sole
- avoiding high heels
- avoiding or reducing high impact exercises and activities
- attempting to achieve and maintain a moderate weight if your weight is contributing
Contact your doctor if symptoms worsen or:
- the pain keeps you from your usual activities
- the pain is severe, is worsening, or keeps returning
- the pain does not improve after 2 weeks of at-home care
- you experience tingling or numbness in your foot
- you have been diagnosed with diabetes
There are many reasons you can experience numbness in your toe. The most common cause is sitting on your leg or foot, which compresses the nerve.
Other possible causes of toe numbness include:
- tight shoes
- heavy exercise
- exposure to cold
- a broken toe
- chemotherapy
- a spinal cord injury
- alcohol use disorder
- lupus
- osteoporosis
- deep vein thrombosis
If you experience numbness in your toe that does not go away on its own or comes back regularly, contact your doctor.
Treatment for toe numbness will vary depending on the underlying cause. Often, it can be treated at home or will go away on its own.
However, if you experience pain with numbness, or if the pain does not go away or continuously comes back, contact your doctor to discuss possible causes and treatment options.
There are many possible causes of toe numbness. It will often go away on its own. For example, it will go away if its cause is sitting on your foot for too long, compressing the nerves.
If the numbness does not go away, comes back, or is combined with pain, contact your doctor. Treatment can vary depending on the underlying cause.
