What makes your feet swell and feels like there's a burning sensation all the way up

Hello Anon

Thank you for writing.

You may have what is called peripheral neuropathy.

Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the peripheral nerves. These are the nerves that connect your spinal cord to the rest of your body.

Many diseases and conditions can cause peripheral neuropathy. The damage may occur due to:

Lack of oxygen
Malnutrition
Compression
Cancer
Trauma
Inflammation
Toxins

Damage to the peripheral nerves often results in sensory (feeling) and motor (strength) symptoms in the:

Arms
Legs
Hands
Feet
Other parts of the body can also be affected. Symptoms depend on which nerves are involved. They can range from mild to severe and may seem worse at night. Sensations and pain may occur in the upper or lower limbs and move toward the trunk (eg, from the feet to the calves).

Treating the underlying illness can decrease or eliminate symptoms. For instance, if it is caused by diabetes, controlling blood sugar levels may help. In some cases, neuropathy caused by medications or toxins is completely reversed when these substances are stopped or avoided. Correction of vitamin B12 deficiency often improves symptoms.

Physical Therapy
Certain exercises may help stretch shortened or contracted muscles and increase joint flexibility. In long-standing cases, splinting the joint may be required to protect and rest it, while maintaining proper alignment.

Orthotics (supports and braces) may help with:

Deformities
Balance issues
Muscle weakness
Maintaining physical activity is also key.

Medications
Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications are often used to ease discomfort.

Drugs to treat depression and prevent convulsions sometimes relieve neuropathy symptoms. These medications are often given at lower dosages. Commonly used antidepressants include:

Amitriptyline (Elavil)
Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
Desipramine (Norpramin)
Imipramine (Tofranil)
Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
Commonly used anticonvulsants may include:

Gabapentin (Neurontin)
Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), patients of Asian ancestry who have a certain gene, called HLA-B*1502, and take carbamazepine are at risk for dangerous or even fatal skin reactions. If you are of Asian descent, the FDA recommends that you get tested for this gene before taking carbamazepine. If you have been taking this medication for a few months with no skin reactions, then you are at low risk of developing these reactions. Talk to your doctor before stopping this medication. *
Pregabalin (Lyrica)—recently approved for peripheral neuropathy
For severe and potentially life-threatening cases (such as Guillain-Barre syndrome ), treatment includes:

Steroids (such as prednisone )
Intravenous immunoglobulins
Other Therapies
These therapies are aimed at reducing symptoms and may include:

Relaxation training
Biofeedback
Walking
Exercise
Yoga
Warm baths
Massage
Acupuncture
Transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation

Surgery
Surgery can relieve the pressure on nerves. For example, surgeons commonly release fibrous bands in the wrist to treat carpal tunnel syndrome .

Anon, it's a good idea to talk to our doctor about being tested for diabetes and running other tests to get to the bottom of this pain. We cannot diagnose anything of course, just give you a general guide. Please keep us posted.
Best,
Susan