Foot neuropathy is often a result of the damage to the cell axons
(the nerve fibers), or the myelin sheath (the insulation of the
cell axons). If the myelin sheath is damaged, communication between
cells is blocked or slowed. Inflamed nerves, autoimmune disorders
and damage or blockage to the blood supply to the foot are factors
that may cause cell axon damage. Symptoms of foot neuropathy can
be broken down into two categories, depending upon whether they
affect the sensory nerve fibers or the motor nerve fibers. Damage
to the sensory nerve fibers symptoms include numbness, tingling,
cold or pain. Damage to the motor nerve fibers symptoms include
muscle weakness and wasting, and the inability to feel your feet.
Depending on the diagnosis and the treatment, if the cell bodies
of the damaged nerve cells are not destroyed, foot neuropathy can
be curable.
To diagnose the cause of foot neuropathy your doctor may perform
a blood test, an EMG test, or a nerve biopsy test. He or she will
also want to know about your family medical history and your current
diet and lifestyle.
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