numbing of right foot when walking

just started walking to get into shape and as I'm walking my right foot will start tingling and then go completely numb,
and hurts up thru my calf if i jog I start getting the feeling back into it and then as I walk again starts going numb all over again?  I have bought 1 pair of shoes made for walking Nike with foam padding support so went again this past weekend and talked to a guy he sold me a pair of different shoes with gel support please if anyone has any other suggestions..

[Sara Khan]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

There can be two reasons why someone develops numbness in there feet/legs while walking. Nerve related or circulation/blood vessel related. I couldn't understand your description that well. If there is a circulation problem, symptoms usually get worse as you keep on walking, and improve after a period of rest. This does not seem to be the case with you.

Nerve related problems at several levels can cause your kind of symptoms. Either the nerve can be compressed lower down in your leg or foot as you are walking, or higher up in the back as the nerve roots come out of the spinal cord. Your posture and degree of compression is different as you walk versus when running, and that may be why you notice the difference. I can not tell you the exact location of compression as I do not know the exact distribution of your numbness.

I think you will benefit from seeing a neurologist. They may need to do further testing after examining you. You may need a nerve conduction study or imaging (MRI) of your back, depending of what they find on your exam.

I hope this helps. Good luck!