Walking/shoes as a cause of nerve pain?
 

For the past year, I have had intermittent tingling/needles in my r foot.

In October, I started a walking program, working up to 2 miles a day. Used old shoes. Within 2 - 3 weeks, had needles/tingling/stabbing pain in both feet.

90 day diabetic screen negative.

MRI showed slightly bulging discs L3-5. Neurologist said nerve pain not due to back. Referred me for physical therapy anyway. Also referred me to neuromuscular specialist. Saw neurosurgeon, also said back was in good shape for my age (54). Neurosurgeon is of the opinion that walking in improper shoes irritated nerves in feet. Wants me to stay off feet 2 months, says to wean off neurontin prescribed by my internist. He would then treat with meds if I don't heal in 2 months.

Pain is at it's worst in the day; will disappear as I sleep.

Anyone have any input? thanks.

Have they considered fitting you with custom orthotics? That would seem like a good start.

The 90-day screen you mention--
 

--was a hemoglobin A1c test, I'm assuming--this measures long term serological glucose levels.

Sometiems, though, even if this is good, one may be in the process of developing impaired glucose tolerance/insulin resistance, and it's becoming more common knowledge now that this can cause neuropathy way before people get to the level of frank diabetes.

If you symptoms don't subside with new shoes, or get worse over the next few months, you might want to get a more specific work-up, including a mutli-hour glucose tolerance test, to see if you have any large "spikes" in blood sugar readings from glucose challenge (which can be an early sign of impaired tolerance).

Also, your sensations may have nothing to do with glucose issues--these are the most common origins of distal neuropathy, but hardly the only ones.

Should you need it, keep the Liza Jane spreasheets handy--they were designed to be as comprehesnive a listing of possible tests for neurological symptoms as could be currently compiled:

www.lizajane.org

A complete foot exam with a good podiatrist may reveal:

Neuromas
Sesamoid bone problems
spurs in toes or heel
arthritis in the metatarsal joint
gout
pronation putting stress on the ankle and nerves there
tarsal tunnel compression
Charcot foot

There are many causes of foot pain/etc. One should always get a good evaluation for mechanical foot problems.

My 1 1/2 cents ....
 

Your thread caught my eye because my nightmare started when i too, was (with good health intentions) walking on a treadmill 100 mile/month. At first, i attributed my pain as the 'no pain no gain' thing, so continued my overzest for better health..... well, the burning pain set in mostly at the knees and for 5 years has become a complete nightmare and both my entire legs are consumed with peripheral neuropathy. It hasn't ever been officially documented as the official culprit, but my gut-feeling and the timing of it all makes me think it was because i was stressing my legs way too much without wearing proper shoes.
I've had special-fitting ortho-shoe inserts and have gone the gammet of specialists/tests/procedures/meds etc and have come to the conclusion that I doubt there IS a conclusion. So, i've given up on trying to pinpoint exactly what is wrong and am in the process of getting a spinal cord stimulator implant to cover the pain in the attempt at getting my life back. I decided I'd rather just treat the pain because i really wasn't getting anywhere by getting all the testing done (other than finding out that i have no autoimmune diseases and have perfectly normal knees) go figure?
Neuropathy is a nightmare straight from the pit of he!l! .

I don't mean to cast such a negative cloud....I mainly just wanted to let you know that my problems seem similar to what you face and feel free to contact me and we can compare notes or whatever.
Truly Caring
Rae
:Heart:

What may be involved may not be the walking per se but the fact that there was already something going on neurologically but just under the radar and the walking made it much worse. Glenn has made many excellant posts on the double crush phenemenom, which is that we with Nerve damage are much more susceptable to additional injuries such as nerve impingement than normal people. Or like Kitt has posted people with CMT make it worse by overexercizing, maybe at some point we do too. There are many people out there walking with crappy shoes who dont get these injuries. Just a thought.

Well then, let's send it back whence from where it came!!! :icon_evil:

Follow Up Question
 

As I noted, the pins/needles/burning disappear as I sleep. When I wake up, if I stay prone on my back or side, they are very light. Today I got up, wnet out to the couch and laid on my side for an hour and was doing pretty well. When I sat in my chair, however it got much worse.

The only walking I am doing now is back and forth to the bathroom.

Will be making appt with foot doc.

***In my case, when I am walking (or doing aqua-aerobics), whatever pain level I had is knocked down a point or two. When I am sitting, especially in an uncomfortable chair, the pain will increase. When I go vertical at night pain always goes up a point or two. By morning the pain is at its lowest. Go figure.