Reviewed By:
Bret Mobley, MD, MS (Neuropathology)
Dr. Mobley graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, completing a masters degree in neuroscience between his second and third years of medical school. He trained as a resident in pathology at Stanford University Hospital before joining the faculty of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Tennessee in 2010. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and to Neuropathology Division Director in 2020.
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
Content updated on Apr 4, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Toe numbness
Toe tingling
Numb big toe
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Numbness means loss of sensation. Tingling is an abnormal sensation, like your toe has "fallen asleep". Numbness and tingling are caused by nerve conditions.
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
Generally, Toe numbness or tingling can be related to:
Morton's Neuroma
Morton's neuroma is a painful condition affecting the ball of your foot, between the third and fourth toes. It results from swollen and inflamed nerves leading to your foot's toes. It is often caused by shoes that are too tight or have high heels, which can compress and irritate the nerves in your foot.
A disease where blood sugar levels are abnormally high due to issues with insulin production or resistance. Often, there are no symptoms until the condition worsens, so regular screening is important. Over time, high sugar levels can cause many complications affecting the nervous system, heart, eyes and kidneys.
Diabetic neuropathy is a kind of nerve damage that can happen in people with long-term diabetes. High blood sugar can harm nerves all over the body, mainly in the legs and feet.
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Sometimes, Toe numbness or tingling may be related to these serious diseases:
Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a rare nerve disorder where a person's own immune system attacks their nerves. GBS can cause symptoms ranging from mild (arm/leg numbness or weakness) to severe and life-threatening (inability to breathe, abnormal heart rhythm, very high/low blood pressure). The prognosis is generally good. Over half of people fully recover and 80% can walk independently at 1 year. However, a minority of people may have permanent nerve damage or need a ventilator to breathe, and the overall death rate ranges from 3% to 7%.
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
Q.
What Can Cause Numbness in Only Some Part of the Toes?
A.
When only parts of the toes or between the toes feel numb, there may be some nerve compression.
References:
Nelson SC. Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome. Clin Podiatr Med Surg. 2021 Apr;38(2):131-141. doi: 10.1016/j.cpm.2020.12.001. PMID: 33745647.
Mansfield CJ, Bleacher J, Tadak P, Briggs MS. Differential examination, diagnosis and management for tingling in toes: fellow's case problem. J Man Manip Ther. 2017 Dec;25(5):294-299. doi: 10.1080/10669817.2016.1260675. Epub 2016 Nov 30. PMID: 29449772; PMCID: PMC5810784.
Hanewinckel R, Ikram MA, Van Doorn PA. Peripheral neuropathies. Handb Clin Neurol. 2016;138:263-82. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-802973-2.00015-X. PMID: 27637963.
Reviewed By:
Bret Mobley, MD, MS (Neuropathology)
Dr. Mobley graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, completing a masters degree in neuroscience between his second and third years of medical school. He trained as a resident in pathology at Stanford University Hospital before joining the faculty of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Tennessee in 2010. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and to Neuropathology Division Director in 2020.
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
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