Foot Pain Keeping You Up At Night? Read This!

If your feet are keeping you up because your foot pain just won’t allow you to relax, there are a couple of different reasons this could be occuring. Do you ever get that sudden jerk movement in your leg right before you fall into that deep sleep that startles you and ends up keeping you awake? This issue – called Restless Leg Syndrome, or RLS – and others may be the culprits keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep. Learn more about them below and what your treatment options are.

POSTED BY: HUFFINGTON POST

Common Causes Of Foot Pain While You Sleep

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is a disorder of the nerves that can cause pain and numbness in the hands and feet. With peripheral neuropathy, you may begin by feeling some numbness in your middle toes and in the balls of your feet after a day spent on your feet.

After awakening you, the pain usually lessens if you get up and walk around a bit, but it usually returns after you lie down again.

Many medical disorders have been linked with peripheral neuropathy, including diabetes, shingles, certain cancers, immune disorders, kidney failure and vitamin deficiency as well as the use of some prescription drugs.

While the specific cause is difficult to determine, doctors do know that the disorder causes partial to complete interruption of the inner core of the nerve fiber (axon) in the foot or ankle.

In many cases of people with foot or ankle neuropathy, doctors have discovered a constriction of this canal and a thickening of a ligament that compresses the nerves. In severe cases, surgeons have been successfly able to decompress the trapped nerves of the foot.

Home remedies for peripheral neuropathy include:

• Regular gentle exercise, including walking, yoga and tai chi.
• Healthy eating with essential vitamins and minerals that contribute to overall wellness. A deficiency in Vitamin B-12 has been linked with neuropathy.
• Limit your alcohol consumption. Research shows that excessive alcohol may worsen peripheral neuropathy.
• If you have diabetes, carefully monitoring your blood glucose levels may improve your neuropathy.

Restless Legs Syndrome

Are you bothered by an overwhelming urge to move your legs when you lie down at night or do aching, tingling sensations or involuntary jerking motion in your legs and feet wake you up at night?
If so, you may have restless legs syndrome (RLS), an annoying but treatable condition. Studies estimate that as many as one in 10 people have RLS, but unfortunately, many of us live with it rather than seek treatment.
In addition, RLS is often misdiagnosed. Left untreated, RLS can negatively impact the quality of your life and the life of your partner.
Scientists believe that RLS is caused by an imbalance of dopamine, a chemical in the body that transmits signals between the brain and nerve cells. Thought to be genetic, RLS is more common in older adults and women. Conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, iron deficiency and kidney failure can trigger RLS. Also, about 20 percent of women experience temporary RLS during pregnancy.
Some ideas for limiting RLS include wearing compression socks or stockings, sleeping with a pillow between your legs and doing simple leg stretching exercises throughout the day.

[CONTINUE TO ORIGINAL ARTICLE]

If nighttime foot pain is a recurring problem that is interfering with your sleep to the point that it is affecting your daily activities, it is time to seek medical attention. Be sure to keep track of any details in your condition that will help your doctor diagnose the problem. With proper care and treatment, a good night’s sleep can be in your future.