Step Wise Foot Care

Neuropathy: It Is Not Just About Diabetes

When many people hear the word neuropathy, they immediately think of diabetes. While diabetes is a common cause, neuropathy can affect anyone and can occur for many different reasons.

Neuropathy is damage or dysfunction of the nerves, most commonly affecting the feet and lower legs. Nerves are responsible for sensation, movement, temperature awareness, balance, and even communication between your body and brain. When nerves become damaged, those signals may become altered, delayed, or stop working properly.

Symptoms of neuropathy may include:

• Burning, tingling, or “pins and needles” sensations
• Numbness or reduced feeling in the feet
• Sharp, stabbing, aching, or electric shock-like pain
• Increased sensitivity to touch
• Muscle weakness or balance problems
• Difficulty sensing temperature, pressure, or injury

Neuropathy is not a diagnosis itself — it is often a symptom of another underlying condition.

Conditions and factors that can contribute to neuropathy include:

• Diabetes and prediabetes
• Autoimmune conditions (such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or multiple sclerosis)
• Vitamin deficiencies, particularly B vitamins
• Thyroid disease
• Kidney or liver disease
• Alcohol misuse
• Certain medications
• Chemotherapy and cancer treatments
• Spinal problems, nerve compression, or back injuries
• Infections such as shingles or Lyme disease
• Circulation issues
• Injuries, trauma, or repetitive pressure on nerves

Some neuropathy may be temporary. For example, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy can improve after treatment for some individuals, though symptoms may persist for others. Nerve irritation caused by compression or vitamin deficiencies may also improve when the underlying cause is treated.

Unfortunately, some nerve damage can become permanent, especially when the cause is longstanding or untreated.

Why is neuropathy in the feet so concerning?

When you cannot feel pressure, pain, heat, cold, or injury properly, small problems can become serious problems without you realizing it. A blister, pressure area, crack in the skin, burn from hot water, or a poorly fitting shoe may go unnoticed until infection, tissue damage, or wounds develop.

Neuropathy may also affect balance and gait, increasing the risk of falls.

Why socks and shoes matter

Proper footwear is not just about comfort — it is protection.

People living with neuropathy should consider:

• Shoes with a proper fit and adequate toe room
• Supportive footwear that reduces pressure and friction
• Avoiding tight, narrow, or poorly fitted shoes
• Seamless or non-irritating socks when possible
• Moisture-wicking socks to help reduce skin issues
• Daily inspection of socks and footwear for wear, pressure points, or objects inside

Walking barefoot, even at home, can increase the risk of cuts, punctures, burns, and injury when sensation is reduced.

Why see a Foot Care Nurse?

Routine foot care becomes even more important when neuropathy is present.

A Foot Care Nurse can help by:

• Assessing skin, nails, circulation, sensation, and pressure areas
• Identifying early concerns before they become serious problems
• Providing safe nail and foot care when self-care becomes difficult or risky
• Monitoring changes over time
• Offering education on footwear, skin care, and daily foot checks
• Helping reduce risk factors that may lead to wounds or complications

If you have numbness, tingling, burning, foot pain, or changes in sensation, do not ignore it. Early assessment and ongoing foot monitoring can make a meaningful difference in protecting foot health and mobility.

Tools used for foot care should be single use OR steam sterilized. That’s best practice

If your foot care provider is soaking your feet as part of their treatment, they're doing you more harm than good! This does NOT follow best practice and by doing so, they're putting YOU and your feet at risk. 👣

Advocate to have that stopped. If they choose not to, you need to find a new provider, someone who is up to date on best practices. Your feet need to last you a lifetime‼️

For anyone in the Fredericton area needing help with aging loved ones, this is for you!

We’re so excited to share some wonderful news! 🎉

Our Adult Day Centre at Douglas Baptist Church has officially been approved by Social Development and is set to open June 1, 2026!

The program will run Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, offering a safe, engaging space for seniors. Our goal is to support those experiencing isolation while also providing families with affordable, much-needed respite care.

Each day will include activities designed to keep both the mind and body active, think games, crafts, light exercise, and social connection 💛

Because we are keeping costs as low as possible for families, we will be relying heavily on donations and volunteers to make this program a success.

We are currently accepting donations of:
• Board games & puzzles
• Craft supplies
• Light hand weights or exercise balls
• Healthy snacks

If you’re able to contribute or would like to volunteer your time, we would love to hear from you!

📧 Contact Brittney at: [email protected]
📱 Or reach out via Facebook

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻, 𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲, 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹?

Peripheral neuropathy affects the nerves, often starting in the feet. Symptoms can include loss of feeling, numbness, burning sensations, sharp or jabbing pain, hypersensitivity, or a “freezing” feeling. These changes increase the risk of unnoticed injuries, infections, and mobility issues, especially for people living with diabetes.

Advanced Foot Care Nurses focus on early identification, education, and preventive foot care for individuals experiencing neuropathy symptoms. Regular assessments help monitor sensation, skin health, circulation, and pressure points to reduce complications and support long-term foot health.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, proactive foot care is an important step.

📞 Call (506) 612-0636
📧 Email [email protected]

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that often appears without warning, frequently affecting the big toe. The joint may become intensely painful, red, warm, and swollen, sometimes overnight. The skin can look tight or shiny, and even light pressure from a sheet may feel uncomfortable. This...

Read more: https://www.footcareinstitute.ca/blog/dealing-with-painful-gout-attacks.html

𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁. 👣
Regular foot check-ups help identify potential issues before they become serious, reducing the risk of pain, infection, and long-term complications. Preventative care plays a key role in maintaining mobility, independence, and overall well-being.

𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳. 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸.

📅 Schedule your foot check-up today:
📧 [email protected]
📞 (506) 612-0636

How do you know if you need to see a foot care nurse?

How do you know if you need to see a foot care nurse?