Suggest Remedy For Numbness And Tingling On Inner Ankles

Posted on Mon, 6 Oct 2014

Question: Hi, I have had numbness/tingling on inner ankles for past few weeks. Some similar feelings in calves and top of feet. I have history of bulging disks L4/L5 and L5/S1. Back pain wasnt there initially but has since started.

Also I am type 1 diabetic, for past 12 yrs, on insulin pump, but my a1c has been great - last test was 6.2. I don't think this would be diabetes related, especially becuse seems to mostly appear in my ankles/calves.

Answered by Dr. Mukesh Chugh (48 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Neuropathy with diabetes the most common cause

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for posting
I have gone through your query and understand your concern. Based on the pattern of numbness and tingling sensation it is suggestive of neuropathy that is disease of nerves. Although many medical conditions can cause this, the most common cause is Diabetes. Disc prolapsed usually do not present like this.

In neuropathy, the leg nerves tend to become damaged first, at their furthest ends in the feet. This leads to tingling and numbness in the feet as well.
Do you smoke and take alcohol because there consumption may lead to burning sensation in feet. The other common cause is deficiency of vitamin B12 and B6 beside low thyroid hormone level.
As far as treatment you may have drug pregablin under medical guidance beside vitamin B 12.
Take care and I shall be glad to answer any further query
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Mukesh Chugh (9 hours later)

would this also cause the leg pain i've had? i've also had pain in my calves and going into my heels/ankles. i have pretty bad lower back pain also radiating in my buttocks. i do not smoke and am otherwise healthy. i don't have burning in my feet and my toes are fine. i have heard neuropathy starts in toes/feet.. can another doctor please review?? a neurologist perhaps? i've only had diabetes for 12 yrs and my a1c is always good. i'm very active and healthy. this seems odd to me...

could it be pinched nerve in my ankle? i was doing a lot of running and high impact exercise.

Answered by Dr. Mukesh Chugh (43 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Need physical examination to confirm pinched nerve

Detailed Answer:
Hello
It's good to see you.
I have gone through your reply carefully and would like to say that the clinical picture may overlap in patient having slip disc and diabetes mellitus. To confirm the cause it needs physical test like straight leg raise test (SLRT), tuning fork test and so on.Diabetic neuropathy also leads to pain in calf and feet.

Pinched nerve may be the cause at lower spine and not at ankle. You may have drug pregablin under medical guidance as this is prescription only drug along with vitamin B12.For your back pain Ibuprofen along with muscle relaxant drug (thiocolchicoside prescription only) will help.

Hope your query is answered.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Mukesh Chugh (2 hours later)

I cannot put my leg out straight and raise it without shooting pain down my legs. When I do my stretches I had done before with my back flare up it hurts all the way down the back of my legs. I wasnt sure if sciatica can affect ankles as it sometimes feels throbbing and a weird pinch there...on the inner ankle. I have a dr appt in 2 weeks. The last time I had disc flareup with sciatica it lasted months and I had PT, chiro, injections, pain meds. Last time it did not affect my ankles and top of foot. Should I use ice and/or heat? I have been icing my lower back to help with the lower back pain which I've had pretty bad.

My last a1c was good and I also had my feet checked a month ago and they were fine...so that's why this is odd. I have a long history of back pain. Can it take longer to heal from back issues w diabetes?

Answered by Dr. Mukesh Chugh (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Drug pregablin helps

Detailed Answer:
Hi
I have gone through your reply carefully. The symptoms are getting overlapped with sciatica and peripheral neuropathy.But the treatment remains the same as discussed earlier. Being diabetic it may take a bit longer than usual for symptoms to subside.
You may use heat (hot water fomentation) to relax the lower back muscles.
Once you get over the present episode, you may start the muscle strengthening exercises of lower back.
Wishing you early recovery.
Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar