Have you been experiencing an odd vibrating or buzzing feeling in your foot? You could be experiencing something known as pallesthesia, or fasciculation. While both conditions are relatively harmless, the feeling of foot pain in the form of random vibrations is often frustrating and may make it more difficult to focus.
We’ve taken a closer look at what pallesthesia and fasciculation are, what causes them, and how they may be addressed.
With more than 20 years of experience, the team at Capital Podiatry knows feet inside out and back to front. We’ve seen all sorts of unusual problems over the years and are committed to working with our Canberra-based patients to find a solution that works for them. If you’ve been experiencing a vibrating feeling in foot, get in touch with us today.
What is Pallesthesia?
Many people experiencing pallesthesia describe the sensation as a short burst of electricity or even a mobile phone vibrating under the skin. It may come and go— you might have a few seconds of buzzing followed by a few seconds of nothing. It’s often most noticeable at night when you’re lying still and trying to fall asleep and can be experienced in other extremities (like your hands and fingers).
What Causes Pallesthesia?
There is no singular cause for pallesthesia. The condition has been linked with several potential causes, including:
- A B12 deficiency or anemia
- A blocked artery or vein (the sensation could be due to blood forcing its way past the blockage)
- A stress response or adrenalin
- A compressed or damaged nerve (also known as peripheral neuropathy)
- Some medications
- Restless leg syndrome
In some cases, the cause of your pallesthesia may be more serious (such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, or arthritis).
How to Address Pallesthesia
With so many diverse causes, the treatment of pallesthesia will depend largely on the cause.
Your doctor or podiatrist will usually begin with a blood test to determine whether the cause is a vitamin deficiency. If so, you may be asked to take supplements to get your levels back into normal range.
If you have noticed a correlation between the vibrations and your stress levels, learning some breathing exercises to help you relax and calm down when the buzzing starts can get it to stop.
If you have noticed a correlation between the vibrations and starting a new medication or increased dosage, it may be a good idea to speak to your doctor about potentially changing medications.
If it’s determined that your pallesthesia is a symptom of a more serious condition, your doctor will create a treatment plan to address it.
What is Fasciculation?
A vibrating feeling caused by intermittent, involuntary muscle spasms is known as fasciculation. Many people describe it as feeling like a mobile phone vibrating, and it may be accompanied by numbness and muscle cramps. Fasciculations are more noticeable when resting, and moving the affected body part usually gets them to stop. While most common in the thighs, spasms may occur in many parts of the body (including the feet).
What Causes Fasciculations?
While an issue with the muscle is the most common cause of these spasms, there are some other potential causes to consider:
- Muscles that are overworked, pulled, or used incorrectly
- A stress response
- A salt deficiency
- A calcium, magnesium, or potassium deficiency
- Fatigue
- Alcohol, smoking, or excess caffeine
- Some medications (such as Benadryl)
- Anxiety and/or depression
- Benign fasciculation syndrome (or BFS, a neurological disorder)
How to Treat Fasciculations?
Some tactics that may be used to address fasciculations include massaging the affected area, using heat therapy, taking a daily potassium supplement, and regularly drinking mineral or seltzer water.
Reducing stress, cutting back or even eliminating caffeine, ensuring that you’re getting enough sleep, and eating a balanced diet may also help to lessen muscle spasm symptoms.
If these remedies are not working, however, your podiatrist may want to investigate further.
If you are ultimately diagnosed with BFS, the good news is that it may be managed with and without medication.
Get Good Vibrations Only with Capital Podiatry
If you are experiencing random vibrations in your feet that drive you crazy, see a podiatrist in an effort to help you get to the bottom of the problem. While it is hopefully a benign issue, like pallesthesia or fasciculations, this could be the symptom of a more serious problem and should not be ignored.
The dedicated team at Capital Podiatry has been treating patients with various foot-related concerns for the last 20 years. Get in touch with us today.