The falling asleep sensation that everyone experiences occasionally in their feet and hands is a normal result of nerve compression. The tingling feeling is often easily alleviated by shifting your position, which removes the pressure and restores normal feeling.
Other more serious problems such as a constricted blood supply can also cause this feeling. If you are getting a sleepy feeling in your feet all the time, you need to see your foot doctor for a complete exam and proper diagnosis.
Some conditions that can cause your foot to fall asleep or to have a pins and needles sensation include the following:
- Constricted nerves—There are many places where a nerve can become pinched starting in the spinal cord and ranging all the way down to your feet and toes. Physical therapy can often treat this condition, but surgery may be required in severe cases.
- Nutrition and vitamin deficiencies—Eating a poor diet can result in not getting enough B vitamins and other nutrients that are essential for proper nerve function.
- Systemic disease—Thyroid gland problems, liver and kidney disease, chronic inflammation, diabetes, and hormone imbalances are possible causes of nerve problems resulting in foot numbness and sleepiness.
If you’ve noticed that your feet are falling asleep more often and don’t recover easily, you should make an appointment with your foot doctor for further evaluation to help determine the actual cause. The foot specialists at ETL Podiatry in Briarwood and Melville, NY, have unparalleled experience in treating all aspects of foot and ankle problems. Our team of doctors is dedicated to serving you with all of the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies. If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Melville, NY (631)-549-8637 and Briarwood, NY (718)-657-8921.
