Itchy foot...arghhhhh!!!

For the past couple of weeks I have had a crazy itchy spot on my right arch...medial side, just sort of forward of the heel. I don't think it's athlete's foot--I've never had that before and the skin looks perfectly normal. But the itching is INSANE!

I suspect that it could be some sort of nerve irritation (I Googled a bit and found some discussion of this, and it seems likely). I recently replaced my Sidi shoes, since they were way too narrow and giving me cramps/overlapping toes and numb feet during every ride. Now my feet are MUCH happier in the new, wider shoes, but it's like the numbness and cramps have given way to something else.

Any other thoughts of what could be causing the itching if it's not a nerve issue (which looks mostly untreatable, unfortunately)? It's not responding all that well to the usual treatments (benadryl, cortisone cream, Lanacane). I've even tried using athlete's foot spray for a few days, but it hasn't had any effect. The itching is messing with my sleep, though...and getting old really fast.

Would icing it relieve the itching?

Someone you know have a VooDoo Doll and is tickling the bottom of it's foot?:D:p:rolleyes:

I have no advice but can tell you if my Irish mother were alive, she'd tell you that an itchy foot means you are going to take a trip. :)

I've had an itch on the foot about where you are talking and it drove me nuts. Not sure what it was or why it went away, but I was tired of it itching so much, that I do remember.

I agree with the suggestion to ice it. Last September, I was plagued with a mysterious itching on my right forearm. It lasted until mid-December...no joke! My dermatologist suggested that it was some type of nerve-related issue. She told me that pain and itch both travel along the same nerve pathway, and that some people experience "mis-fired" pain signals that surface as an intense itching. I truly believe that this is what I had with my forearm itching, because we ruled out any other allergic-related cause. For me, ice was the ONLY thing that brought me instant relief. I literally had to keep 4 to 5 ice paks in my freezer at all times, because as soon as one got warm...I needed to get another on my arm immediately. I had to sleep with icepaks on my arm all night long. I even had to keep icepaks in the freezer at work, so that I could rest my arm on an icepak while working at my desk. It was the only way I could sanely get through a day. Then, as suddenly as it came on, it disappeared in mid-December and I haven't been bothered by it since then. However, I've been told that it can be a seasonal condition that recurs...so I'll have to wait a few more months to see if it crops up again. But yes, ice will definitely kill the itch.

Linda

I have these weird little lumps I thought were plantar's warts (but supposedly aren't?) towards the front of my sole...they itch like crazy sometimes. Particularly when I'm driving (probably b/c they're on my right foot). That's not it, is it? Sounds like yours is in the wrong spot.

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Originally Posted by jessmarimba

I have these weird little lumps I thought were plantar's warts (but supposedly aren't?) towards the front of my sole...they itch like crazy sometimes. Particularly when I'm driving (probably b/c they're on my right foot). That's not it, is it? Sounds like yours is in the wrong spot.

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Nope...this is sort of where my arch and heel meet. Very weird. I'm going to try ice though. It's driving me bonkers! :p

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

I recently replaced my Sidi shoes, since they were way too narrow and giving me cramps/overlapping toes and numb feet during every ride. Now my feet are MUCH happier in the new, wider shoes, but it's like the numbness and cramps have given way to something else.

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Perhaps it would be useful to eliminate a suspect by switching back to the old shoes, or to yet again different shoes?

Maybe the new shoes have some chemical or fibers in them that irritates your foot. Maybe the roomier shoes are letting your foot spread out, and the resulting tissue growth is itching.

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Originally Posted by laura*

Perhaps it would be useful to eliminate a suspect by switching back to the old shoes, or to yet again different shoes?

Maybe the new shoes have some chemical or fibers in them that irritates your foot. Maybe the roomier shoes are letting your foot spread out, and the resulting tissue growth is itching.

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Definitely not going back to the old shoes...cramping feet and pinched nerves was WAY worse than itching (and putting me at risk of permanent nerve damage). I suspect that the same nerves that had gone numb from the super-narrow shoes are now repairing themselves and causing the itching.

I would suspect a chemical issue, but there is no sign of actual skin irritation or allergy...it feels like it's under the skin...a little bit crawly-feeling at times. Years ago I had breast reduction surgery and as the cut nerves repaired themselves they would give the sensation of little electrical zaps. This is somewhat similar, only more annoying.

I've had great luck with treating itchy athlete's foot with tea tree oil - just one application usually zaps it.....however this is sounding like something else entirely....tokie

maybe it's some tough case of athletes foot. maybe your foot spray isnt killing the bacteria its supposed to kill. try using zerofungus oxyfend.its a cream which you can apply directly to the affected area. hope this helps.http://forums.teamestrogen.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

We've been having a tough time with mosquitoes these last weeks, and I can tell you, itchy feet are my constant companion. Given I just can't sleep with my feet covered, they are being badly hit. Especially when the critters bite through the calloused skin of the soles the resulting itch is most peculiar, "under" the skin. You usually can't see these

So -- have you thought of an insect bite?

FWIW, these benzocaine sticks help me a lot http://stingeze.com/stingeze-max.html .

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Originally Posted by chryss

We've been having a tough time with mosquitoes these last weeks, and I can tell you, itchy feet are my constant companion. Given I just can't sleep with my feet covered, they are being badly hit. Especially when the critters bite through the calloused skin of the soles the resulting itch is most peculiar, "under" the skin. You usually can't see these

So -- have you thought of an insect bite?

FWIW, these benzocaine sticks help me a lot http://stingeze.com/stingeze-max.html .

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Nah, it's not a bug bite. There's no mark. It still intermittently bothers me, but not nearly so bad as a few weeks ago.

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

I suspect that the same nerves that had gone numb from the super-narrow shoes are now repairing themselves and causing the itching.

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That would be my guess. If Lanacane doesn't help I don't suppose other forms of benzocaine would either. :(

Here's a wild idea ... what about capsaicin cream? It's a natural anti-inflammatory, plus it might help wake the nerves up a little more?

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

That would be my guess. If Lanacane doesn't help I don't suppose other forms of benzocaine would either. :(

Here's a wild idea ... what about capsaicin cream? It's a natural anti-inflammatory, plus it might help wake the nerves up a little more?

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That's a really good idea. It's a good thing to have on-hand, anyhow.

I really think it was my narrow shoes, since my symptoms have been gradually decreasing. I need to get around to selling those shoes. :p