Tingling, numbness, and burning in the feet feel like a foot problem. The sensation is there, so the cause must be there too. Frequently it isn’t. Nerves supplying your feet begin in your lower spine and travel the length of your leg before they arrive. They pass through gaps between bones, under ligaments, around joints, and through muscular tunnels. Irritation anywhere along that route can produce symptoms at the far end — and the location of the symptom tells you far less than people assume. This article works up the body, from the toes to the spine, describing what can go wrong at each level and what distinguishes it. If you’ve been treating your feet without progress, the answer may be somewhere further up the line.