chronic foot pain

[robyn b]

Over the last 3 months I have benn having shooting pain in both feet, mainly the toes and ball of the foot.  I have a desk job and when I am on my feet I have no discomfort.  However, when I sit and ESPECIALLY when I lie down the pain starts.  It is very severe when I try to go to bed.  But after I finally go to sleep they do not bother me or wake me up.  I have a reversed vertebre in my neck, could this be related or just related to my job.  Thanks for any help you can offer

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Robyn b:

Shooting pain is usually a sign of a nerve problem. This is a possibility that there may be a problem in your spinal column.  Usually a problem in the cervical spine can give more motor than sensory signs, so I would think that if it is your back, that the lower back may be where the problem lies.  For this you would have to see a neurologist.  However, foot pain may also be due to a polyneuropathy or a polyneuropathy due to a systemic disease.  However, before going to chase down all the possibilities it might be best to try a simple experiment.  Try checking out your sitting position at work. (straight back etc)  Make sure that everything is proper and take frequent standing breaks.  If the problem doesn't resolve in a month or two, then go see a neurologist.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[robyn b]

Just a note to my foot pain problem.  I should have noted that the problem with my reversed vertabre first manifested itself by causing numbness and tingleing in my left arm and left foot.  I am 28 yrs old, and had a heavy data entry job that requires alot of sitting at a desk.  However, the numbness has subsided.  An x-ray of my cervical spine showed a reversed vertebre in my neck.  The numbness has subsided.  But over the last 3 months I have shooting pain in my feet when I sit or lay down.  Any tips on diagnosing or dealing with this would be very greatly accepted.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!  HAVE A GOOD DAY!!

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Robyn B:

I would suggest seeing a neurologist and getting an MRI of your spine.  Only an X-ray of the spine is not that useful to detect herniations, facet changes, and spinal cord compromise.  I can understand a reversed curve, but have never heard of a reversed vertebrae?  

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Carolyn]

I thought it was just me having this type of problem.  Every doctor I've asked (and there have been many) don't know the answer or they avoid the question.  My burning, throbbing, tingling starts when I lay down at night.  I cannot stand a sheet touching my feet.  They burn so much it itches.  It has progressed up my ankle and is now in the calves.  The left foot is worse than the right. The only relief I get is getting up after I've torn the bed to pieces, thrown pillows and sheets all over the room and tossed and turned until I'm seasick, is to place ice cubes on an old pizza tray and stand on them.  When the ice numbs my feet up to the ankles I can then hurry back to bed and, if I'm lucky, fall asleep before it starts all over again.  This has been going on about 12 years now and I'm so tired of it I've considered asking to have them amputated.  I haven't had a full nights sleep in years.  I actually dread going to bed.  I've tried having a fan blow across my feet year round and it does not help.  Thanks to this web site, I'm so glad to know I'm not going crazy.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Carolyn:

This is an entity where any pressure can cause parasthesias, such as pain.  This can occur at night before going to sleep.  It is usually treated with antiseizure medications such as tegratol.  I am blanking on the name of this disease.  But your neurologist will remember it.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[JOANNE fRANCOIS]

I've had surgery on my feet to remove bunions.Since then i've had a lot of trouble with my toes being numb and sinsitive, The ball of my feet are super senative. I also feel like I have rubber bands pulling on my big toes.It hurts very much to walk.

[Roger Dye]

In response to Caroline.
     Sorry to see that you are suffering from the same exact
symptoms as my mother. And I mean exactly. I am working on finding out what this is and how to stop it. Its been 4 years for her and the tingling numbness ect..is starting to goto the lower ankles. If you come across anything new relating to this condition, please email. By the way, my mom is 59 i believe and spends a good amount of time sitting on a backless stool.
Ps. Please mail with anything you can add, Ill fill you in on what I come up with also.

[Barbie]

hii am 31 and wish my life was almost over. the 24/7 pain i endure in both feet is unbearable. in the past 4 years i have had every test the neuroligist , poditrist, and family MD. can think of. so now my neuropathy is called a ediopathy. meaning they do not know what caused it.  i have tried lidocane injections in feet, lidocain block around my ancles. lidocain patch, and many many drugs. finally i get to try neurontin. i have been on it for 3 days, vetigo and somnolence have been the side affects so far. no i have no pain relief so far, the doc said it could take 3 or 4 weeks to see improvement in feet. i have 3 kids 5,7,9 years old. they do more for me than i can do for them. it's not fair,they should not have to care for me. my husband of 10 years should not have to work full time and come home cook, claen and do laundry. sorry to unload on ya'll but this is the first time i found someone with this problem. thanks for telling your comments.