# Cold Numb Feet. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 15, 2019, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-numb-feet/843464 "2019-11-15T01:57:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2019, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-numb-feet/843464/21 "2019-11-26T01:41:19Z")
I love my down booties for inside the house. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2019, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-numb-feet/843464/22 "2019-11-26T03:14:34Z")
have your doctor test you for oxygen level in your toes. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2019, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-numb-feet/843464/23 "2019-11-26T03:34:07Z")
Internet advice might be worth what you pay for it. The first question is what numbness means. To some people it means a tingling or electric feeling. To some, like the foot is asleep. Not being able to feel light touch is a more serious symptom. Having symptoms in one leg might be worse than both. Nerve damage from diabetes can cause a lot of problems. I would say a good doctor does examine diabetic feet and eyes at least once a year; we were taught to examine them at every visit. Still, I would not judge a doctor by one item. It might be causing your problem. Raynaud’s may be a factor depending on the temperature of the shower and your history. A great doctor would ask about this and other symptoms of CREST syndrome. A history of claudication, blood clots, leg swelling, colour change and sugars should be elicited. Blood work might include a blood count, lytes, creatinine, sugars, Hb1Ac, calcium and magnesium. Under some circumstances a D-Dimer, culture, leg ultrasound, urine test, lactate or ECG might be appropriate - hard to say, and I wouldn’t. Your doctor can decide this. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2019, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-numb-feet/843464/24 "2019-11-26T17:39:04Z")
To clarify my last post… A lot of words people use, such as dizziness or numbness, mean different things to different people. But to a doctor, the clarification is important since it might suggest completely different problems. Diabetes is a disease of blood vessels and nerves and could be causing your symptoms. People who use vibrating tools or have Raynaud’s disease can also have damage to small blood vessels. They may complain of tingling or colour change in their hands or feet when it is cold. Raynaud’s can be associated with other random difficulties such as swallowing difficulties and skin problems. A blood clot in your deep leg has become dangerous if it is causing numbness, colour change, pain or pulse problems. This tends to be a one leg problem unless located at the “saddle”. The reason diabetics need someone to look at their feet is they are prone to small infections, and don’t know they are there if they don’t feel limb pain. These can quickly become very serious indeed. Diabetics might consider letting someone else cut their nails and examine their feet regularly. As long as someone is doing this, the medical exam is less important. Foot care is very important for diabetics. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-numb-feet/843464/25 "2019-12-19T19:07:28Z")
I just wanted to give you all an update. I went to my neurologist the other day. And he ran a battery of tests on my arm and leg that involved electrodes and electrical shocks. And he said I have a very mild case of neuropathy in my leg. He said it could be due to almost anything. And he didn’t think it was too serious or lead to serious trouble. So I guess I have nothing to worry about, right? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-numb-feet/843464/26 "2019-12-19T19:40:35Z")
Yes: Cold numb feet are unpleasant. There are drugs for neuropathy: > **[Peripheral neuropathy - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352067)** > > Learn what may cause the prickling, tingling or numb sensations of nerve damage and how to prevent and treat this painful disorder. Did you try any of our suggestions for warming up the feet? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-numb-feet/843464.md?page=1)