Foot Health Are Nerve Problems Causing Your Foot Pain? By Catherine Moyer, DPM Catherine Moyer, DPM, is a podiatrist experienced in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the foot and ankle. Learn about our editorial process Catherine Moyer, DPM Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Jason DelCollo, DO on September 12, 2020 Jason DelCollo, DO, board-certified in family medicine. He is associate faculty at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine as well as adjunct faculty with the Crozer Family Medicine Residency Program, and is an attending physician at Glen Mills Family Medicine in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. Learn about our Medical Review Board Jason DelCollo, DO on September 12, 2020 Print Pain on the top of your foot or through your arch might be nerve-related. While many forms of foot pain come from joints and tendons, occasionally the source of foot pain is a nerve that is irritated directly or affected by health conditions that lead to nerve damage. When nerves are irritated or damaged, there is a characteristic burning, shooting, or stabbing pain. The pain will often occur spontaneously, even while at rest. Sometimes the area over the affected nerve is sensitive to the touch. Here are some of the common types of nerve problems that cause foot pain. Illustration by JR Bee, Verywell Morton's Neuroma A Morton's neuroma is a benign thickening of the nerve that runs between the third and fourth toes. Typical symptoms include a burning or shooting pain in the area between the third and fourth toes, most often with walking. Another common symptom is a vague feeling of pressure beneath the toes as if a sock was bunched up underneath them. A Morton's neuroma occurs more frequently in women, possibly because of the frequency of narrow or high-heeled shoe wear. Common treatments include shoe modifications, arch supports, and cortisone injections to decrease nerve inflammation. Pinched Nerve Also known as nerve entrapment, a pinched nerve can occur in various regions of the foot. A nerve entrapment is frequently caused by trauma, such as pressure created by swelling, excess pressure from a tight shoe, or blunt trauma. Nerve entrapment may cause a shooting, burning pain, or sensitivity on the top of the foot. Nerve entrapment on the top of the foot may be due to excess pressure on the nerve from a tight shoe. Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Another common type of nerve entrapment is tarsal tunnel syndrome. Tarsal tunnel syndrome is when the posterior tibial nerve is entrapped as it descends under the inside (medial) ankle area and enters the foot through an anatomical landmark known as the tarsal tunnel. The burning, tingling sensations, or shooting pain, can radiate from the instep (arch) and heel areas into the soles of the feet. Numbness and foot cramping can also occur and symptoms can intensify at night while resting or sleeping. Treatment of tarsal tunnel syndrome usually begins with identifying and alleviating the cause, which can be anything from a problem with foot function, such as flat feet or ankle swelling. Cortisone shots and anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed to treat tarsal tunnel syndrome and other types of nerve entrapments. Examples of other types of conservative treatments include: padding the shoe in areas where the foot is being compressed (often at the top of the shoe) or orthotics to correct the abnormal foot structure or function causing the nerve irritation. If conservative measures fail, surgery may be required to release the nerve. An Overview of Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy The chronic high blood sugar (glucose) associated with diabetes can lead to a form of nerve damage known as peripheral neuropathy. Like other forms of nerve damage, neuropathy pain is characterized by spontaneous burning or shooting pain in the feet. It often occurs at night while sleeping. The pain of neuropathy may come and go over the course of the disease and may be accompanied by a gradual loss of feeling in the feet that begins in the toes and progresses upward. It's estimated that 1 in 4 people with diabetes will experience painful neuropathy. Treatments for diabetic neuropathy include blood sugar control, medications such as antidepressants or anti-seizure drugs, and vitamin supplements such as B vitamins and alpha lipoic acid. Other Causes of Foot Nerve Pain Damage to nerves and the resulting pain symptoms can occur with many other conditions. Some examples include: Physical trauma, such as after surgery or an accidentDrugs such as certain cancer drugs, antiviral drugs, or antibioticsComplex regional pain syndromeTumors that compress a nerveLiver or kidney diseaseVitamin deficienciesA herniated disc in the lumbar spineInfectious diseases, such as complications from Lyme disease or viral infections Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Gougoulias N, Lampridis V, Sakellariou A. Morton's interdigital neuroma: instructional review. EFORT Open Rev. 2019;4(1):14-24. doi:10.1302/2058-5241.4.180025 Chari B, Mcnally E. Nerve Entrapment in Ankle and Foot: Ultrasound Imaging. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2018;22(3):354-363. doi:10.1055/s-0038-1648252 Keil, J, Kaiser, K. Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome. StatPearls Publishing. 2019. Cleveland Clinic. High blood sugar is toxic to your nerves - here’s how to avoid it. 2016. Cohen K, Shinkazh N, Frank J, Israel I, Fellner C. Pharmacological treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. P T. 2015;40(6):372-88. Staff NP, Windebank AJ. Peripheral neuropathy due to vitamin deficiency, toxins, and medications. Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2014;20(5 Peripheral Nervous System Disorders):1293-306. doi:10.1212/01.CON.0000455880.06675.5a Additional Reading Peripheral Neuropathy Fact Sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. NIH. Hovaguimian A, Gibbons CH. Clinical Approach to the Treatment of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy. Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2011;2(1):27-38