Nerve pain in the feet comes from nerves that are damaged or sending the wrong signals, which the Cleveland Clinic’s nerve pain overview calls neuropathic pain. The options medical guidance lists for nerve pain include over-the-counter pain relievers, lidocaine or capsaicin creams and nerve blocks, but the best plan depends on what is causing your pain.
What does foot nerve pain feel like?
Nerve pain is often described as burning, stabbing, shooting or electric-shock-like. Many people also feel tingling, numbness or a pins-and-needles feeling. The Cleveland Clinic also lists changes in how touch feels: normally painless pressure or brushing can hurt, and a light pinprick can feel stronger than it should. Insomnia is listed as a symptom too, and the Cleveland Clinic notes that disturbed sleep can cause emotional stress along with pain.
What triggers foot nerve pain?
Diabetes is the most common single cause. The Cleveland Clinic says it causes about 30% of neuropathy cases, and hundreds of other diseases and injuries can also cause it. An orthopaedic physician answering a reader question in a 2008 Ask the Docs column also listed local nerve problems such as neuromas and tarsal tunnel syndrome, a compressed nerve in the spine, and systemic conditions such as diabetes.
| Trigger | What the Cleveland Clinic lists |
|---|---|
| Diabetes | About 30% of neuropathy cases |
| Shingles | Named as a cause of neuropathic pain |
| Alcohol use disorder | Named as a cause |
| HIV/AIDS | Named as a cause |
| Stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis | Central nervous system disorders that can cause it |
| Chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin, paclitaxel and vincristine | Named as causes |
| Radiation therapy or amputation | Named as causes; amputation can cause phantom limb pain |
| Injury or surgery with nerve damage | Named as a cause |
| Spinal nerve compression or a tumor pressing on a nerve | Named as causes |
What treatments does medical guidance list for nerve pain?
Medical guidance lists several options. How quickly each one brings relief varies, and that is best discussed with a clinician. Which one fits depends on the cause, so a clinician is the right person to choose with you. The aim is pain relief, keeping you active and improving daily life.
| Option | What the Cleveland Clinic says |
|---|---|
| Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen | Listed as a common part of treatment |
| Lidocaine or capsaicin creams, ointments or patches | May help ease nerve pain when applied to the affected area |
| Nerve blocks | Injections near the affected nerve that provide temporary relief |
| Antiseizure medications | Work well for some people; experts do not know exactly why |
| Antidepressants | Have proven successful for nerve pain; anxiety and depression can make pain worse |
| Physical therapy | Massage and exercise that relieve soreness and may encourage the body to make its own pain-relieving chemicals |
| Psychological counseling | Helps you cope with the emotional stress of nerve pain |
| Spinal cord or nerve stimulation | Considered if other treatments do not relieve the pain |
Talk with your clinician before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
Is Vicks VapoRub good for neuropathy in feet?
VapoRub is not one of the topical treatments medical guidance names for nerve pain. Lidocaine and capsaicin are the ones listed. Treat claims that VapoRub helps foot nerve pain as unproven, and ask your clinician whether it suits your feet before you put it on painful skin.
Do the vinegar trick, the “Mexican method,” Chinese remedies or herbs kill nerve pain naturally?
Medical guidance does not name vinegar soaks, a “Mexican method,” traditional Chinese remedies or herbs as treatments for nerve pain, so treat them as unproven. If you are considering an herb, bring it to your clinician before you try it.
Can you reverse nerve damage in your feet naturally?
Medical guidance does not describe a natural way to reverse nerve damage. The Cleveland Clinic says you cannot always prevent nerve pain, but you can lower your overall risk. Its suggestions are to stop smoking, find a regular exercise routine that works for you, eat plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein, and limit alcohol. If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar closely and take extra care of your feet.
For claims that a product or ingredient can repair nerves, our Ingredient Evidence vs. Marketing Claims guide covers the difference between evidence and marketing claims.
When should you see a clinician about foot nerve pain?
Call your clinician if you notice numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, uncontrolled twitching, or you keep dropping things you are holding. Go to the emergency room if severe pain, numbness or weakness is getting quickly worse, or if you have a fast or irregular heartbeat, trouble peeing, or dizziness or fainting. The Cleveland Clinic lists these as possible signs of serious problems.
How do clinicians find the cause?
Your clinician will review your medical history and do a physical exam, then look for the underlying cause, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The orthopaedic Q&A notes that a diagnosis may need a blood analysis and a nerve test called a nerve conduction velocity test, and that treatment choices depend on those results. Bring a written note of when the pain happens, where it is, what it feels like and what you have already tried.
For more background, the Merck Manual Consumer Version’s neuropathic pain page and a 2021 review, Neuropathic Pain: From Mechanisms to Treatment, in Physiological Reviews, are both cited by the Cleveland Clinic.
Living with foot nerve pain day to day
Sleep and daily activity matter with nerve pain. Our guides on sleep with chronic pain and pacing activity with persistent pain cover those areas. If your foot pain started after an injury or operation, read our guide to nerve pain after injury or surgery.
Before your appointment
- What is most likely causing my foot pain, and which tests do you recommend?
- Do I need blood tests or a nerve conduction test?
- Which pain relief options fit my situation?
- Which creams, medicines or home remedies am I considering, and are they right for me?
- Which symptoms should send me to the emergency room?
By DrBaba.com Health Research Team
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your doctor or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.