Taking care of your feet can be a challenge. There are so many things that can go wrong with them if you are not careful, and you want to make sure that you give them the comfort and support that they need to carry you throughout life for years to come.
However, if you stand on your feet all the time or compete as an athlete, you may experience pain. One of the foot conditions that you may deal with is known as Grierson Gopalan Syndrome or burning feet syndrome.
This is a condition that often becomes more intense at night and involves the soles of your feet, as well as the lower legs, ankles, and tops of your feet. Let’s take a look at Grierson Gopalan Syndrome treatment, and how to keep your feet healthy.
What is Grierson Gopalan Syndrome?
The first thing that we can take a look at is what burning feet syndrome is all about. This is a set of symptoms where the feet are going to become very painful and uncomfortably hot. The burning sensation is going to be more intense at night and there may be some relief from it during the day, depending on the situation and how bad the feet feel.
Each patient has slightly different symptoms, with some being mild and some severe. It is also possible for the pain and heat to stay near the soles of the feet, but you may notice that it will extend up to other parts of the feet and lower body, such as the ankles, the top of the feet, and sometimes into the lower legs.
What Can Cause Burning Feet Syndrome?
It is also a good idea to take a look at what can cause this condition. There are a few issues that can happen here, but the symptoms will often have something to do with nerve damage or other issues that you will need to work on fixing as well. Some of the different causes of burning feet syndrome include:
Grierson Gopalan Syndrome Injures Your Nerves
If you have some damage to the nerves of your feet, you may develop burning feet syndrome. Numerous things can cause this nerve damage in your feet, such as illnesses, back injuries, or even certain medications that you can take.
There is evidence that shows exposure to certain toxins can cause problems such as burning feet syndrome as well.
Grierson Gopalan Syndrome Can Also Be Caused by Peripheral Neuropathy
This is one of the most common reasons that you have burning feet syndrome. It is going to happen when some of the peripheral sensory nerves that connect the spinal cord to the extremities are damaged. This can result in your feet being numb and tingling.
In addition, patients who have had diabetes for a long time or who are not able to control their blood glucose levels are more likely to develop this condition as well. It can often get worse over time if you are not careful with managing your diabetes as well.
Other conditions can cause this peripheral neuropathy including:
- Hereditary diseases
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
- Chemotherapy agents
- Auto-immune disorders
- Alcoholism
- Nutritional imbalances
You will need to treat peripheral neuropathy to take care of your feet and ensure that you are as protected as possible. It is important to note that while a patient with burning feet syndrome can wear custom orthotics, doctors suggest that soft orthotics be the only type of custom orthotic used if a patient has peripheral neuropathy or diabetes. Rigid and semi-rigid orthotics can add injury to the feet if worn by diabetic patients.
Burning Feet Syndrome Can Be Caused By Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
The tarsal tunnel is going to be the narrow space that is inside the ankle, near your ankle bones. When there is squeezing of your posterior tibial nerve, it can cause pain, tingling, and burning in some of the feet. The calves of the legs and the inner ankles are other areas that will be affected by this condition as well.
Morton’s Neuroma Can Result in Burning Feet Syndrome
Another nerve issue that you need to worry about is called Morton’s Neuroma. Nerve tissues can sometimes thicken between the bones near the base of your toes, which is going to cause pain. Tight shoes can sometimes cause this issue, though it could happen if you move the foot improperly, have stress on the foot or have a sports injury.
Burning Feet Syndrome Can Be Caused by Diabetes
It is possible that both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are going to affect the peripheral nerves of your foot and this can include the legs and feet. If you do not manage your diabetes well or you have high glucose levels, it can start to cause damage to the peripheral nerves, especially when you allow this to happen in the long term.
Higher levels of blood glucose will affect the transmission of signals from these nerves, which can be enough to weaken the walls of your blood vessels and can cause some pain as well.
The Incorrect Footwear Can Lead to Burning Feet Syndrome
You can also find that wearing shoes that are too tight or ones that do not fit the foot the way that they should sometimes cause this condition in certain parts of the foot. You want to pick out footwear that is going to fit properly, without a lot of pain or being too tight along the way.
Symptoms of Grierson Gopalan Syndrome
Now that we know a bit more about some of the things that can cause this condition, we also need to take a look at some of the most common symptoms. There are many symptoms and it can depend on the patient as well. Some of these include:
- Heat or burning of the feet, often getting worse at night.
- A tingling or prickling in the foot, almost like being on pins and needles
- Redness and excess warmth of the skin
- A dull ache in the feet
- Feeling that the feet are heavy
- A stabbing or sharp pain in the feet
- A type of numbness in the legs or feet
Grierson Gopalan Syndrome Treatment Options
There are a lot of different treatments that you can try when it comes to your burning feet syndrome. The one that you choose will depend on the underlying condition or cause that you are dealing with.
First, try some self-care tips to make sure your feet are as happy and healthy as possible. Some of the steps that you can use for self-care include:
- Soak the feet using cool water for a minimum of 15 minutes.
- Try to keep the feet away from heat.
- Raise the feet and legs
- Consider some ibuprofen or other choices that will help ease some of the pain.
- Consider a topical ointment or cream to take care of your feet.
In some cases, you may need to consider prescription medication to help with your feet. If you have diabetes, for example, prescription medication will be the key that you need. Some options for this one include:
- Insulin or hypoglycemic drugs will help you with controlling your levels of blood glucose.
- Nutritional supplements are a good option if you have a vitamin deficiency.
- Analgesics: This can help with some of the pain that you feel.
- Antidepressants: Some people find that an antidepressant is going to help with some of the chronic pain they may feel with neuropathy.
There are also a few other options that you can choose to help take care of your feet and make sure that they will be happy and you will not have to deal with burning feet sensation any longer. Some of these include:
- Physical therapy and the right exercises
- Dietary changes
- Foot pads or some shoe inserts
- A doctor may suggest surgery if nothing else is working
You may want to try a few different options to ensure that you can take care of your feet and keep the condition from getting worse.
Can Orthotics Help Burning Feet Syndrome?
For many patients, one of the best options that you can choose when it comes to burning feet syndrome is to wear a pair of custom orthotics. These are going to be designed specifically for your feet, making sure to take in all of the pressure points that are present and avoiding more issues along the way.
A pair of custom orthotics can help ease the pain and burning sensation you feel when it comes to most disorders resulting in Grierson Gopalan. They provide you with all of the support that you need, ensuring that your feet will get some comfort and relief all at the same time. You can work with your doctor to make sure that you can get the best care for your feet.
Finding the right pair of orthotics will be one of the best options to keep your feet happy and make sure that they are going to last as long as possible. Our team will be able to work with you to ensure that you can get a good pair of custom orthotics that will last a long time and provide you with the comfort and support you need for your burning feet.