Numb feet can be caused by pressure on a nerve, tight shoes, diabetes, or vitamin deficiency. See a doctor if it persists.
Common causes
- Tight shoes or sitting in one position.
- Peripheral neuropathy, often from diabetes.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Alcohol.
- Pinched nerve in the back.
- Poor circulation.
At home
Move around, loosen shoes and check feet daily.
See a doctor
If numbness is persistent, spreading or comes with weakness.
Emergency
Sudden numbness with confusion, face droop or trouble speaking. Call 911.
Nerve and circulation roots
Numbness occurs when nerves are damaged, compressed or deprived of blood flow. Feet are far from the spine and heart, so they are affected early by nerve and circulation problems.
Common causes
- Diabetic neuropathy: about 50% of people with diabetes develop nerve damage. It usually starts in the toes and feet.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency, vitamin B6 excess or deficiency, and folate deficiency.
- Alcohol-related neuropathy.
- Pinched nerve in the lower back (sciatica) or spinal stenosis.
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome.
- Peripheral artery disease.
- Tight shoes or sitting in awkward positions.
- Cold exposure and Raynaud’s phenomenon.
- Chemotherapy and some medicines.
- Autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome and lupus.
- Hypothyroidism.
- Infections such as Lyme disease or shingles.
At home
- Move, stretch and walk to restore blood flow.
- Wear well fitting shoes.
- Check the feet daily for cuts, blisters or sores, especially with diabetes.
- Keep blood sugar controlled.
- Limit alcohol and stop smoking.
- Eat a balanced diet.
Evaluation
Doctors do a neurological exam, blood tests (glucose, B12, thyroid), nerve conduction studies and possibly imaging.
See a doctor if
Numbness is persistent, spreads, is on both feet, comes with weakness, burning pain, balance problems, or foot wounds that do not heal.
Emergency
Sudden numbness on one side with face droop, confusion or trouble speaking is a possible stroke. Numbness in the groin or loss of bladder or bowel control needs immediate care.
Circulation and nerve conditions
Numb feet can be caused by peripheral neuropathy, often from diabetes, which affects about half of people with long term diabetes. Other causes include vitamin B12 deficiency, alcohol use disorder, hypothyroidism, kidney disease, chemotherapy, pinched nerves in the lower back from spinal stenosis or herniated disc, tarsal tunnel syndrome and poor circulation from peripheral artery disease, which affects about 8 million Americans. Raynaud phenomenon causes cold, numb toes in response to cold or stress.
When it is urgent
Check feet daily if you have diabetes, wear well fitting shoes and see a doctor for numbness that persists, spreads or comes with weakness or burning pain. A doctor may order blood tests for glucose, B12 and thyroid, nerve studies or imaging. Seek emergency care for sudden numbness with weakness, trouble speaking or facial drooping, which signals a stroke, or for numbness in the groin or saddle area with loss of bladder or bowel control, which suggests cauda equina syndrome. A cold, pale or blue foot with sudden pain needs urgent care.
Based on data from the NINDS and the American Diabetes Association
