Whether you’re sitting down, doing work or just going about your day, there comes that sudden jolt of zippy energy in your legs. It’s like electricity coursing through your legs. Why do your legs feel tingly? Should you see a podiatrist or an orthopedic surgeon? Well, here is everything you need to know about it.

Causes Of Tingling In The Feet

Diabetes

One of the main causes of tingling in the feet can be due to diabetes. If your family has a history of diabetes, then you can become a victim of this disorder as well. It is an issue with your blood sugar, causing it to spike out of control.

This, in turn, can cause peripheral neuropathy, which is the tingling sensation felt all over the body, especially your legs. Diabetes is treatable, but it requires hefty lifestyle changes and dependency on insulin to keep blood sugar levels in check.

Hypothyroidism

The thyroid is a gland that is responsible for regulating a lot of things in your body. It can also control your blood pressure, how fast or slow your heart beats, and even how much your hair grows. Well, if the thyroid gland isn’t working and is producing less thyroid hormone, then it can lead to a condition known as hypothyroidism.

In this, your hair can fall drastically, your heart rate will be erratic and you will also experience peripheral neuropathy, which is the feeling of tingly zaps in your legs and feet and this can also lead to numbness.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Tarsal tunnel syndrome is a disorder of the leg that can cause severe pain and tingling in the ankle area. This is because of damage or compression of the tibial nerve. Tingling is one of the main symptoms that doctors look out for in Tarsal tunnel syndrome.

They will perform a test that pinches or puts pressure on your tibial nerve and that is when you’ll feel the tingling with a rapid intensity. There are simple treatments for it, but if the issue persists, then you might need surgery to relieve the nerve of the pressure.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis, also known as MS, is a type of nervous system disorder in which the protective coating on the nerves, known as myelin, deteriorates. This can cause a loss of signal between the brain and the nerves from the rest of your body.

This is why it affects limb movement and it can lead to tingling all over the body, even the legs. Even though there is no cure for MS, there are certain medications and treatments out there that can slow down the deterioration of myelin.

Kidney Issues

Kidney issues, like kidney failure and even very harsh chronic kidney infections can cause tingling in the feet. That is because of the toxic waste present in your body.

Kidneys are responsible for filtering out all of the bad stuff from your body, but if they’re not functional, then all of the gunk and waste accumulates in the body and it can cause a lot of issues, like swelling on the face, erratic levels of potassium, phosphorus and calcium in the blood and even deposition of these minerals in the veins and arteries, which is never a good sign.

Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases are disorders in which the body or your immune system turns against you, attacks you, weakens you, and makes you sick. There are a lot of autoimmune diseases that people suffer from, the most common ones being rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus, and celiac disease among others.

Autoimmune diseases can be unpredictable. They can either be a part of the family history or they can randomly develop over time. One of the symptoms of autoimmune diseases is the tingling of the feet and it’s uncomfortable and frustrating to deal with.

Pinched Nerves

Pinched nerves are really common to occur especially if you have a back injury or even a herniated disc. The spinal column has a complex web of not only bones, muscles, and cartilage, but also nerves upon nerves. One small injury or even too much stress on the back can lead to the nerve getting pinched. Dislocated bones and discs can also lead to pinched nerves.

What happens in a pinched nerve is that the nerve is pressed down by something that is dislocated and that causes the nerve to become unresponsive to receive and send signals.

In turn, it can lead to this tingly and very electrical sensation in the feet. Even though it is on the back, the tingling will radiate all the way down to your legs and even your arms. It will be a very warm yet electric feeling and you won’t be able to walk it off. You should consult a spine and back doctor Woodbridge to know if your back problem is causing tingly feet.

Overconsumption Of Alcohol

If you’re someone who drinks a lot of alcohol or even suffers from alcohol dependency, then you are also prone to tingling in the feet. This tingling is medically known as alcoholic neuropathy. It can occur in people who misuse alcohol on a daily basis.

Alcohol is not good for the body to begin with, and if you’re too dependent on it, then things will only take a turn for the worse. Alcoholic neuropathy also leads to weak muscles, a disoriented brain, and foggy memory, all of which can be quite uncomfortable to deal with.

Certain Infections

If you have a disease that also causes infections, then tingling in the feet will be the norm. There are a lot of people who suffer from various infections, whether it be topical or because of any other disease like Lyme disease, hepatitis, and even AIDS. These diseases can cause infections that can later lead to nerve inflammation and that is generally what causes the tingling in the feet.

Your feet have a lot of nerves, especially on the base of the floor, which is why you feel a lot when you get ticklish. So, having an infection can lead to tingling and the only way you can stop this is to treat the infection. Once that goes away, everything will fall into place.

Vitamin Deficiency

Your body needs vitamins to perform and function properly. This is why you are advised to eat different food components that will help with the vitamin intake in your body. Well, a lot of the time, we don’t have a balanced diet and this can lead to a deficiency of certain vitamins. Vitamin B12 is one of them. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to peripheral neuropathy and this can cause extreme tingling in your feet and arms.

This is uncomfortable and it doesn’t go away that easily unless you give your body the vitamins it needs to thrive. So, if you feel that unusual tingly sensation in your feet, all the way down to your toes, then it is probably because of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Conclusion

There are a lot of reasons for tingly legs and some of them are life-threatening. Tingly feet are not normal so you should visit a podiatry clinic Woodbridge as soon as possible to know the cause of this problem. Only then, you can begin a treatment, if required, to treat or manage it.