Nerve Pain

Some common examples of neurological diseases and disorders that affect the feet and ankles include:

Peripheral neuropathy

This is a progressive condition in which the health of peripheral nerves slowly deteriorate over the course of time. Pain starts off mild and intermittent, but becomes more and more constant and severe—until numbness finally sets in.

Symptoms typically appear first in the feet and hands, but overtime can spread further up the limbs and affect other parts of your body. Motor nerves and autonomic nerves may also be damaged; if so, additional symptoms can include muscle weakness, poor coordination, digestion problems, and more.

Diabetes is by far the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy, but nutritional deficiencies, genetic disorders, alcohol abuse, and many other factors may contribute.

Neuromas

A neuroma is a small mass (or tumor) of thickened nerve tissue. The most common example is Morton’s neuroma. It develops in the ball of the foot between the bases of the toes—usually either the second and third, or third and fourth.

Walking on a foot with a neuroma may make you feel like you have a pebble in your shoe, or a fold in your sock that you can’t smooth out.

Foot neuromas are generally caused by repetitive pressure or irritation, or sometimes a direct injury to that area of the foot. Women who wear high heels or other tight, pointed-toe shoes are at higher risk of getting a neuroma, as are those with certain foot deformities (such as bunions or hammertoes).

Nerve compression

Nerves often have to pass through bones and joints through very tight tunnels, along with blood vessels and other tissues—for example, the tarsal tunnel in the ankle.

Injuries, inflammation, or even just repetitive motions can sometimes collapse the space around the nerve and pinch it, causing pain. As with neuropathy, symptoms can range from tingling, burning, or electric shock-like sensations to eventual numbness.

Damage may become permanent if not addressed quickly.