{"id":61736,"date":"2023-11-28T09:30:05","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T14:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=61736"},"modified":"2025-01-09T16:02:47","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T21:02:47","slug":"numbness-in-toes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/numbness-in-toes\/","title":{"rendered":"Why are my toes numb?"},"content":{"rendered":"

You sit cross-legged for too long, and that familiar feeling of pins and needles starts to creep in after your foot falls asleep. But what about a total loss of feeling, like numbness in the toes? <\/span>Numb toes can happen for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, numbness in your toes is a temporary issue caused by ill-fitting shoes or spending too long out in the cold. But chronic toe numbness can be a sign of an underlying health condition like uncontrolled <\/span>diabetes<\/span><\/a>, circulatory problems, or nerve or spinal cord issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why are my toes numb?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Toe numbness is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Meaning, there are several different causes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes, toe numbness is simply a temporary response to wearing too-tight shoes or being outside in cold, wet weather. Your toes might also feel numb if your foot falls asleep after sitting in the same position for too long. The medical term for a limb \u201cfalling asleep\u201d is <\/span>paresthesia<\/span>, which occurs when a nerve is compressed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Several underlying medical conditions can cause ongoing or frequent toe numbness. These causes typically fall under three general categories, according to <\/span>Hannah Machemehl<\/span><\/a>, MD, a neuromuscular neurologist with Austin Neuromuscular Center:<\/span><\/p>\n