Why Cold Weather Makes Foot Numbness Worse

The cozy feeling of winter is great, but for anyone dealing with nerve issues or poor circulation, the cold is more than just uncomfortable. Your body is smart, but when it’s fighting the cold, it can unintentionally create a dangerous situation for your feet. Let's unpack why cold weather creates chaos for foot sensation, courtesy of us at PodiatryCare, PC, and the Heel Pain Center.

Neuropathy and Cold

If you have neuropathy, whether from diabetes or another cause, you already have damage to the nerves that register temperature and pain. This means when you go outside, your feet might be freezing, but you literally don't feel the alarm bell. This is the biggest danger.

You could unknowingly develop frostbite or suffer significant tissue damage because you lack the sensation to pull your feet away from the extreme cold. Even worse, you might try to warm your feet near a radiator or a hot water bottle and end up with a severe burn.

If you already have neuropathy, it’s important to see us to prevent these scenarios.

Poor Circulation

Your body's natural defense against cold is to make blood vessels constrict to keep warm blood near your core organs. That’s great for your body, but terrible for your feet.

If you have Peripheral Artery Disease, your arteries are already narrowed by plaque. When they constrict even further in the cold, it cuts off the small amount of blood flow you rely on. This causes intense coldness, numbness, and sharp pain, and it starves the tissue of oxygen, thus increasing the risk of injury.

Raynaud's Phenomenon

For some people, the reaction to cold is immediate and dramatic. If that sounds like you, you may have a condition called Raynaud's phenomenon.

In response to even mild cold exposure, the small arteries in the toes go into an exaggerated spasm. Your toes might turn stark white or blue and feel completely numb, followed by intense throbbing or burning upon warming. This is a painful indicator that your circulation is highly sensitive to temperature changes.

Protect Your Feet from the Cold

Whether you have Raynaud’s, circulation issues, or neuropathy, the cold weather is coming to make feeling your feet even more difficult than it is. Steal some advice from our other blogs to turn this awareness into action, especially if you are a senior!

PS, here’s a start: Never rely on outside heat sources like radiators or heating pads to warm your feet. Instead, use layers and blankets, and wear warm, non-constricting socks (wool blends are great).

And, check your feet daily for any color changes.

At PodiatryCare, PC, and the Heel Pain Center, we treat a wide variety of foot and ankle ailments. Dr. Matthew Tschudy, Dr. Rebecca Wiesner, Dr. Kristen Winters, Dr. Laura Vander Poel, and the rest of our team are ready to serve our Hartford County patients. To schedule an appointment at our Enfield location, call (860) 741-3041; for an appointment at our South Windsor location, call (860) 644-6525.