I had several things going on. I’ll try to recap. Sorry for the length. About 3 years ago, I had a quarter size burning spot on my right foot, midway back sort of bottom near the side that burned intermittently. Felt like a hot poker held to my skin. Not red or inflamed though. I wasn’t sure what it was, but since I had had plantar fasciitis for years, wondered if it was related. I saw a top ortho podiatrist, who took xrays, examined and didn’t know what it was. He said he didn’t think it was neuropathy. I kept wearing my orthotic shoes and enduring it. No problem with other foot. No numbness.

Years go by. Burning spot increases in intensity and frequency. I discussed it with my primary and a second top ortho podiatrist (different hospital than the first). He didn’t know what it was either, but didn’t think it was neuropathy. So, i kept wearing supportive shoes. My primary said it sounded like neuropathy. I endured.

Then in September 2023 I got covid. Right after that, I got tingling, numbness and burning in both feet. This was in addition to original hot spot! The original hot spot got so bad, I asked my primary for meds. He prescribed a small dose of Gabapentin. (During this time, I also had intermittent tingling in my hands when asleep waking me up. Also, suffered smell/taste disorder, which I still have.) and fasciculations throughout my body. The small dose of Gabapentin did reduce the burning a lot. But, I couldn’t take the med due to vision issues. It caused eye discomfort and blurry vision.

My primary referred me to a neurologist and he ordered tests, blood, EMG, MRI, etc. He said I did not have neuropathy. My primary was surprised. I then followed up with a third podiatrist, who said he thought it likely was neuropathy, though I have full sensation and good circulation. He offered to give me a shot in my foot, which I declined, due to it causing high blood sugar (I’m Type 1.).

Not long after that, the new burning in my feet stopped. The original burn spot gradually stopped! In the last 2 weeks, I only felt a slight twinge of burn for a couple of seconds. There is no more tingling, but there remains slight numbness. That still bothers me and it may remain.

So, I had Vitamin B12 deficiency, post covid syndrome and type 1 diabetes, …..was it any of those things or something called burning skin syndrome ? Idk. I was reducing my A1c during the period the symptoms improved, but my Vit B12 was recovering too. I had the original hot spot before covid.

I hope you can find some relief. I am so relieved to be free of that burn, though I still don’t know what caused any of those symptoms. I did not have a biopsy.