5 Neurological Disorders Affecting Your Feet and Ankles

If you’re concerned about your foot health and beyond, you might not need to look any further than your nervous system. Our feet and ankles rely on a complex network of nerves to function properly. But when these nerves are disrupted by neurological disorders, it can lead to more than just numbness and tingling.

Today, we at Amarillo Foot Specialists are here to shed light on 5 neurological diseases that can manifest in the feet and ankles.

1. Peripheral Neuropathy

This condition involves damage to the peripheral nerves, which causes tingling, numbness, burning, or shooting pain in the feet and ankles. Diabetes is a classic cause, but other factors include autoimmune diseases, infections, and vitamin deficiencies.

Intervention focuses on managing this underlying cause, along with alleviating symptoms with medications, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes.

2. Multiple Sclerosis

MS is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, brain, and spinal cord. Foot and ankle symptoms can include muscle weakness, spasticity, numbness, and difficulty with balance and coordination.

The approach to improvement includes medications to modify the disease course, along with physical therapy and assistive devices (such as braces and canes) for stability.

3. Parkinson's Disease

This neurodegenerative disorder causes tremors, stiffness, and balance problems. Foot and ankle issues can include shuffling gait, foot drop (difficulty lifting the foot), and involuntary muscle contractions.

Although there’s no cure, PD patients undertake a mixture of medications, physical therapy, and in some cases surgeries such as Deep Brain Stimulation.

4. Stroke

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, which leads to neurological damage. Foot and ankle problems can include weakness, spasticity, and difficulty with coordination and balance.

Rehabilitation involves physical therapy, occupational therapy, and medications to promote recovery and manage symptoms.

5. Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

This condition involves compression of the tibial nerve as it passes through the tarsal tunnel in the ankle. Symptoms include numbness, pins, and needles, burning, or shooting pain in the foot.

Treatment options include rest, orthotics, physical therapy, and sometimes surgery to release the compressed nerve.

Are you fed up with foot and ankle pain? Contact Dr. Brandon Holloway of Amarillo Foot Specialists in Amarillo, TX, for a consultation. Please reach out to us at (806) 322-3338.