Can Peripheral Neuropathy Cause Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms?

What is Peripheral Neuropathy?

• The neurological disorder that occurs on the extremities of the body is peripheral neuropathy. It comes from nerve damage to either the nerves at the sight or the signaling mechanism from the distant parts of the central nervous system. The pain from peripheral neuropathy vary and symptoms include tingling, numbness, itching, burning, weakness, tightening, lower blood pressure, constipation or loss of control and spasms in the muscles.
  
  

Plantar Fasciitis

• Other names for plantar fasciitis are "dog's heel" or "Flip Flop disease." It's an inflammation of the foot from wear and tear on the plantar fascia or aponeurosis supporting the foot's arch. It causes a great deal of pain on the bottom of the heel, which is usually worse first thing in the day. Sometimes, an increase in activity causes the condition. Other times, it comes when people gain weight suddenly, carry additional weight or have to stand for longer periods of time.
  
  

Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms

• You'll notice pain from plantar fasciitis occurs after you stand for a long period. It often is worse when you start exercising, but the more you continue, it slowly starts to get better, only to return when you finish. You might start the day with more pain and stiffness and think you have the problem conquered because it seems to get better but then the pain increases relatively quickly. The best test is whether you have increased pain when you stand on your toes or climb stairs.
  
  

Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy

• Because there are over 100 different types of peripheral neuropathy, the symptoms all vary. There are impaired functions in the nerves that affect the feeling, use and movement of the feet. Changes or injuries in these nerves produce some of the same painful symptoms that plantar fasciitis does. The symptoms include numbing, tingling, deep stabs, shocks or dysesthesias, an unpleasant sensation caused by a stimuli when you touch it.
  
  

Comparison

• Peripheral neuropathy generally gets worse at night and may be quite painful. Plantar fasciitis hurts upon standing, but rest may relieve the symptoms. The pattern of pain from standing on tiptoe may not occur in peripheral neuropathy as it does with plantar fasciitis. Some of the symptoms of pain upon use occur with both because peripheral neuropathy can cause a number of unusual symptoms. The patient should track the type of pain, timing and occurrence of the symptoms. This gives the physician a better opportunity to evaluate the cause.