I feel tired, sleepy, and have burning feet. What causes it?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 38 years old, my weight is 185 pounds, and my height is 173.7 cm. This started about five years ago. I have been to the hospital a few times, but currently, I am not on any medication. I always felt sleepy, tired, and weak, even though I did not do any hard work.

Sometimes, I feel a sharp pain in my head and a freezing sensation in my head. I have a serious burning sensation in my foot anytime I stand for a while. I always feel sleepy and find it very hard to wake up in the morning. I have done an HIV test and a kidney function test. But they are all negative.

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Based on the symptoms you have described, like constant fatigue, body weakness, sharp but short pains in your head, feeling sleepy all the time, difficulty waking up, and burning sensations in your feet, several possible medical explanations need to be explored further.

The fact that this has been going on for five years without a clear diagnosis is understandably frustrating and concerning. Despite your HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and kidney tests coming back normal, your symptoms point to medical issues like:

Peripheral neuropathy, which often causes burning feet and is sometimes linked to vitamin B12 deficiency,
Chronic fatigue, especially with unrefreshing sleep, may also be related to hypothyroidism, anemia, vitamin D deficiency, or even a sleep disorder like sleep apnea.

Since you are not currently on any medication, and over-the-counter solutions likely have not helped, it is important to revisit a comprehensive evaluation.

You should do blood tests, which include:

Complete blood count.
Thyroid function tests like TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) and T4 (thyroxine).
Fasting blood sugar and HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin) for diabetes.
Vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels.
Liver and kidney function tests.
Electrolytes (especially magnesium and calcium).
Inflammation markers like ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) or CRP (C-reactive protein).

In the meantime, you will benefit from making a few lifestyle changes, such as:

Taking high-quality B complex vitamins.
Improving your sleep routine.
Eating protein-rich meals.
Staying hydrated.
Engaging in light physical activity like walking can help improve circulation and reduce fatigue.

This combination of symptoms should not be ignored, but the good news is that many of the possible causes are treatable once properly diagnosed.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.