I always have hot feet at night. Some people’s feet are little ice balls but mine are smoking. It’s not athletes’ foot or from wearing python boots in July. They’re just hot. The tops of my feet seem fine to the touch, but the sole is several degrees warmer. I have to sleep with my feet out from under the covers. If I don’t, my feet bother me so much I can’t get to sleep.
I need a name for my affliction and maybe a foundation dedicated to its resolve. Well, “hot feet” in stupid Latin would be Hotus Feetus. And for stupid and lazy people, we’ll call it HF. There. I now have HF syndrome and The Institute for the Cure of HF.
So give generously to find a cure. All donations are completely tax deductible, like my bar tabs as a medical expense and my cat as my infirm dependent grandmother.
All my cures are self prescribed. I start with my feet out from under the covers. If that doesn’t’t work, I’ll lie on my stomach and bend my knees to a 90 degree angle. My theory being if I can get the blood to drain out my feet they may cool off. This only seems to work in the mildest of cases.
I’ve also stood in an empty porcelain bathtub. They’re cool and it sometimes helps. Or sit on the edge of the tub, put in the plug and stick my feet in a small pool of cold water. Sometimes holding them under a stream of cold water from the tap is the way to go.
I’ve also gone down to the basement to stand on the cold cement floor. This works well in the winter. In some extreme cases I’ve also gone outside in winter when its 20 below to stand on the ice covered cement walkway and a few times right out into the snow until my feet are so cold they hurt.
After alleviating my HF, I can almost always go back, get into bed, stick my feet out and go right to sleep.
So hot feet, although rare, may affect your sleep like it does mine.
Lately, I have been using a frozen pack. I got them in the bandage section of the drug store – they can be frozen or heated to treat sprains. I have a few that are about 11″ long by 5″ wide. I take one at a time out of the freezer, sit down, place it on the floor and gently rest my foot on it.
It hurts so good. Then I’ll switch to the other foot and keep rotating until it’s thawed out. If needed I’ll put it back in the freezer and get another one out.
Wow! This hit the spot. I thought I was the only with this condition.
I thought I was an oddball too – well, nevermind. The side of the bed I sleep on is up against a wall with two windows. I normally kick around in my sleep, putting my feet against the cool wall or the window glass itself. During the summer, I have taken socks, ran them under the sink and put them in the freezer. Now this gets too cold but it’s better than hot as far as I’m concerned.
I have never tried the frozen socks as yet but have ice packs in my bed and it just doesnt help as much.. when my room is so hot it seems nothing works and i have fans and all going.. its like all night putting covers on then off. The more i toss and turn the more my feet get hot.I know its poor circulation in my legs, and i have lost weight and still have the problem.. but in winter when my room is so cold i sleep much better! Exercise helps somewhat cause then i am more tired but not always.. i am soooooo frustrated. I need sleep so now trying Lemon balm drops to see if i can get to sleep better than pm pills..
I try to cool my feet down with ice packs before I go to bed. Or ry sitting on the edge of your bathtub and splash your feet in some cold water.
I’ve never tried lemon balm drops – let me know how it worked for you.
My feet also do the same thing… I’ve tried just about everything to get it to stop but, they burn up no matter what. It seems the only semi-cure is a small, powerful fan set on high pointed directly at my feet continuously through the night. I have a theory though. Your idea is too ice them but, maybe… If they are heated, their surroundings will seem that much cooler. ..And i don’t mean to lay in bed with a heater on your feet because this sounds suicidal for already burning feet! I mean, before you step into bed, run hot water over your feet. (as an example, considering my feet don’t get hot until i lay down) this way, they’ll already be hot and everything that surrounds them will just seem cold.
Just a theory though ^.^
So funny to read someone else flips around and puts their feet on the cool window, or gets a cold pack out of the freezer. For me, it is getting worse and worse. I used to only be afflicted once every couple/few months. Now, pretty much every night. I've even taken sleeping pills so I can get a good nights sleep. This may sound kinda funny, but really it's not…it's pretty miserable.
Hey, you do what you need to do to get some releif.
i have this too
I am so glad I vound you all…
My "Hot feet @ night wwhen I lay down Syndrome" is driving me crazy!
I need this support (not arch) just hot foot syndrome support right here!
I have tried so many different soluttions.
Nothing works! I am so tired from no sleep that I am thinking of "AMBIEN"
Just to pass out!
But if anyone has a better solution, please let me know.
I need to sleep!!!!!!!!!
I just read that it could be a Diabetes thing…. ugggggggggg!
I hope not, because my grandmother had diabetes and both her legs had to be amputated! ahhh I hate that would amputated!
Now I'm so afraid I might have Diabetes but I am fat, old, I hate to exercise and love all the wrong foods!
Maybe I'm doooooomed.
Is there anyone here to talk to about this?
Searching for answers but Please don't tell me I need to diet, exercise and eat right!!!!!!!!!
I have heard that 1000 times
I have found that any doctor I have asked has no clue about what causes hot feet. I have only found that icing them down helps.
Just got done reading an article about using Vicks Vapour Rub in unconventional ways… this would seem to be another good to find another unconventional use. Anyone want to take a shot and see how it goes? The thought here is the menthol will cause the familiar "cool burn" effect and maybe relieve your HF…
Thanks for the tip. Anyone want to give it a try? Maybe I’ll pick up a small bottle and try it myself as I could get to sleep for hours last night.
I have had hot feet for more then ten years on and off and on usually later in the day. About two years ago I started to get hot hands. Now about three months ago my hands started to hurt and have stiffness and weakness. I have been taking Diclofenac Sodium which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory for about one month now. My feet have felt cool almost cold now a few times and I have not had a bad episode except when i forgot to take the drugs.
Thanks Lance! I am going to try that.
I always find that my feet start getting hot in the early evening. If I try to keep the rest of my body cool by wearing lighter clothing, I find that it helps.
I have this as well. Trying filing the dead skin off of your feet. A buildup of dry, dead skin doesn’t allow your feet to breathe. Then put the gold bond lotion with menthol on your feet. Works like a charm. I’m also trying tea tree oil, but the verdict is out still.
Thanks for the suggestions!
Dude I have this problem and I have the cure! I rub Tiger Balm (Vicks Vaporub is good too, but Tiger Balm, the red stuff is best) into my soles, giving them a bit of a massage and I find that I fall asleep a few minutes after. I hope it works for you.
Great idea, thanks.
Hi
I’ve been suffering terribly from HF for the last week – haven’t slept a wink, night after night. Going to try some of these ideas out. Best thing I’ve tried so far is to leave my feet out of the bottom of the bed and let my dog lick them. That cools them down a treat.
Some people can used a spray bottle of water, but you solution is innovative and free. Thanks for the tip!
I have had the same problem for years. Recently a friend advised to soak my feet in cold water for 5 minutes before going to bed. It works like a champ! I also used to have disturbed sleep and that is resolved as well.
Oh I sympathise with you all. I also flip the covers off and stick my feet out of the bed. Its the soles that burn so bad, and they are actually hot to the touch. I fopund out what my problem was… I always had a drink of Vodka & coke or some other drink, just the one before my dinner. I got told I had some liver damage, so immediately gave up my daily tipple. I noticed that my feet didn’t burn anymore. I have a drink now and again, and then the HF syndrome starts again. Maybe it’s just me, but it may help someone else. Another trick I found was to moisturise them liberally before bed, then put them out of the bed. Works enough to get off to sleep. I would be pleased to know if the not drinking, has also helped anyone else.
Great suggestions.
The not drinking didn’t help me at all. In fact, I gave up caffeine *and* alcohol for several months. No joy. My 9-year-old has the same problem, and I know he doesn’t drink alcohol, or caffeine for that matter. We’re both thinking about inventing socks that you can slip cold packs into.
You can sit on the side of your tub and splash your feet in an inch of cold water before bed. But cool socks, neat idea!
I always thought I was a weirdo because my feet got so hot at night and I can’t sleep. I’m glad I came across this and these tips. I recently bought a fan to point right at my feet, and right now it seems to be working OK.
Thanks for the great tip using a fan.
Glad to hear there’s more out there. I always end up kicking my sheets off, moving my feet around to cooler spots of the bed, or putting them against the wall. I sometimes take a wet towel and put it over my feet but they heat up too quickly. I also have hot ears! Total bum sesh…
Boy, your too hot top to bottom! I sit on the edge of the tub and run cold water over my feet. Leave the plug in and then splash around in a few inches of cold water. Works pretty good.
Icyhot or especially biofreeze. Just figured out it works like a charm.
Thanks for the great tip!
I have this problem too,i have had it a few years now and its getting worse.I have had so many sleepless nights,but what i do now is take a COLD water bottle to bed with me and with that in between my feet i can normally get to sleep ok.If i do wake up i just find the cold water bottle again and hopefully drift off to sleep.Hope this will help you.
Great idea! Thanks for sharing.
I have just recently in the past year started to deal with HF. I am 19 and absolutly must sleep with a fan directly on me. I even stayed at a friends basement and it was 63 degrees down there.. and STILL had the fan on me. I normally just stick both my legs out from my one blanket and let the fan do work. From the quick googling I’ve done it can be cause by multiple things but diabetis is really what worries me. is this something serious enough to get it medically checked out?
If you are worried, by all means to your doctor.
So many people just like me =(
I’m 21 now, and i have this since i remember!
It’s really painfull, i’m walking with flippers on the street and my feet are so hot that makes me go home sooner.
My solution is: big and really WET TOWEL. I put it over my feet and legs. It makes me sleep so damn good…
(It’s 3:40 PM and i’m on bed with the towel on my limbs. Can’t stand being outside on summer..)
Great idea using a wet towel. Ever try a mist bottle and spray your feet when they get dry and hot?
I’ve had the same problem as long as I can remember. I’ve noticed that its much worse when I drink soda, or eat sugar before bed. Although I’m not diabetic, it would make sense that a sugar rush or imbalance could be causing the sensation…Try WATER ONLY at least a couple hours before bedtime….no sugar. Just a theory.
Great idea. Maybe some readers can give it a try and let everyone know how it worked for you.
For years I have been sticking my feet out at the end of the covers. It was the only way I could sleep! Lately though my feet have been so hot at night I have been tossing and turning in bed trying to find the cool spots. I only get to do this for a little bit because my wife gets angry at all my movement so I lay there as miserable as can be trying not to move with hot feet! I do drink almost daily, I’ve found on weekends when I drink to the point I can;t remember much I go to sleep instantly lol or maybe I just pass out! I read everyones comments so I’m going to start running down the line of remedies to see what works for me!
Give some ideas a try for sure. Let everyone know how it goes.
I am suffering from a sleepless night right now because of HF. I have noticed that it is worse if I have any kind of caffeine after 2pm or so. Tea, soda, and chocolate all seem to have the same effect. Some nights I have HF without the caffeine but definitely seems to be a factor for me. I have tried standing on a cold tile floor, a basin of cool water, wet socks, and peppermint lotion. I know I don’t have diabetes because I had a blood panel done recently but I wish there was some medical explanation.
It’s great that you identified the things that make your feet hot at night. It still seems random for me.
wow I’m glad that I’m not alone with this problem. My partner also gets angry with me for being restless in bed. I find that I can fall straight to sleep on my cool leather sofa without a problem, but its not a great solution. I’m away on business right night and cannot sleep because of my annoying hot feet. wish I could have my leather sofa right now.
There are a lot of people who have hot feet at night. Try some of the sugestions in the article or the comments and let us know.
HF here too! I also drink a lot, like some of the other guys in the thread. Couldnt it be related to alcool?
It comes and goes with me regardless of drinking. Anyone else?
I have the same problem! One thing I discovered recently is that the small of my back is the same temperature as my feet. If I sleep on my side and allow my back to be cool, so will my feet.
Great tip. I’ll give that one a try.
Yup, same here! I have always been this way, my mom, sister and niece too. I slather on baby lotion and have a fan, usually works, but on a really bad night, I have a cold foot soak, then lotion and fan. It’s a miserable thing, but it can be dealt with. Hempz lotion is good too.
Someone suggested wetting some cotton socks then wearing a pair of wool socks over top as a way to keep the feet cool. Thanks for the Hempz lotion idea.
My suffering of HF is like everyone else’s.. Bad news. You know the feeling, find the cool spots, and for a few seconds.. heaven, then find another and so on. I bought a ‘Chillow pillow’ from ebay. as a last resort, was fairly dear for what it is, BUT it works, and then some! you get that lovely ahhh.. feeling, but you haven’t got to find another cool spot, it actually stays cool. (by morning is all warm, lol) My problem is though the soles of my feet, and I have to put it higher up so that it lays on the bottom of of my tootsies, laying on my back. But I get to sleep all night. Well worth the money. They are about £30.00 give or take.
Great idea. My feet are the same way. The tops feel fine – it’s the soles that are cooking away.
Grierson-Gopalan syndrome…. look what i found! wikipedia
Here’s the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_feet_syndrome. Maybe it’s a vitamine B definciency as I don’t have anoth other symptoms.
man…right now i have this burning sensation on and its almost 2 am and im still nt getting any sleep…so i decided to google this problem im having since quite some time now…and look thr are many others….i thought i was the only one experiencing this shit lol…i v read the suggestions….im gonna strt em right nw lol…thx a lot guys
Keep trying different things until you can find one that works for you – then let me know!
I’ve got HF to, had it for 20 odd years. The best thing I have tried is vitamin B2 . The dose for the first week or 2 than stick to recommend dose. I get my feet better and stop taking B2 and the pain and heat start up again after a while so I start again. Have tried all of the above over the years B2 gives me the freedom to forget about HT
I’ve got to try the B2. Sometime my feet are fine, then it acts up for nights on end, then goes away again for a while. Read up on it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_vitamins
Suffer too from HF, rubbing castor l oil is my solution needs about 20 mins to take effect.
Great idea, thanks!
I too suffer with HF, have done so for a number of years. I have just started putting sox in the freezer!
I am going to try all the suggestions. I hope I get some relief soon!
Great idea. Let us know how it works!
I have had this my whole life!!!
I
As I type this I am sitting like monkey on my couch clutching a very cold water bottle between my hot feet or as I jokingly call them Patas Calientes.
So nice to know I am not totally insane!!!
I keep a water spray bottle in the fridge then keep it by my bed at night just incase I wake up with warm patas.
Good luck all my hot footed peeps!!!
I thought I was nucking futs until I wrote this post about having hot feet. Seems quite a few people are in the same situation.
Thanks all for your suggestions!
Vitamin b2 is the solution. Take one capsule few hours before you go to bed.
Thanks Mike.
I eat a lot of yogurt – a good supply of riboflavin.
I decided to give B2 a go. It’s only been a few days, I’ll let you know how it worked out. On the plus side, I certainly have the most wonderfully yellow pee.
I too have had this problem for several years, it is nice to know I am not alone! I thought it was to do with hormones, but are willing to try some of your good advice, believe you me I have tried so many things. It is ridiculous to lay in bed with no bedclothes on in the middle of winter but that is how I seem to end up most nights if I want any sleep at all. If someone finds a miracle cure will will all be extremely grateful.
It is great to get some feedback to let me know I wasn’t alone with hot feet at night. Maybe we can find a solution.
BTW, I have been taking B2 for a couple of weeks. It hasn’t really helped.
Well, Well, Well…. I am not a weirdo! There are many of us…!!
I spent much of my teenage years and adult life spraying my feet with cold water, running them under a cold tap, and of late resulted to a fan sitting at the bottom of my bed 365 days a year cooling my feet so I can get to sleep (although was middle of winter with heating on, but feet roasting and body cold!)
What I have tried… What havent I?
Welcome to the secret society of hot feet at night sufferers. I mentioned having hot feet at night while at work and everyone that I was nuts. Nobody’s even heard of it. Well Dan, you are not alone.
Ahhh…finally! Someone who understands! I haven’t slept in 3 days from this crap….going try the vicks…..
Let us know how it works for you. Thanks.
I too have suffered from this for about a year, drives me bonkers to the point where I feel the whole universe will explode at any moment out the tips of my toes. I tried the B2, and it worked for a few weeks but the HF came back. Packs of frozen veggies work well too, but it takes forever to cool the bad feet down. Tonight I have mixed about 10 drops of pure peppermint essential oil with 1 tablespoon of coconut massage oil, and rubbed all over my left foot, while I have been reading the other posts on here my foot has cooled down and is ready to sleep, so I am about to oil my right foot now and hopefully I will be cooled and sleeping shortly. If you are going to try this idea be careful to wipe your hands well after application as you do NOT want peppermint oil in the wrong places!!!!!!
Maybe put an old towel under your feet so as not to get stains on your sheets………good luck…….. Thank You, Bob
Let us know how it went.
Wow, I suffered from HS for years and years. My husband called me “his little heater”. I did everything you guys did too! Since then I found out that I had CLL ( chronic lymphocytic leukemia ). And got chemo which put me in remission. Then my HS went away, so I didn’t think much of it then i just thought I got hot feet from the illness. So my daughter started getting HS, and I started getting really worried til I came across this chat. I realized that it wasn’t the remission that stopped the HS, it was the fact that I cut back on sugar, went to honey, lowered my a salt intake, eat more fiber, take a multivitamin plus a sublingual vitamin B 12, all things the doctor told me to do to stay healthy. My feet are freezing when I go to bed every night now and it feels wonderful.
Great you overcame having hot feet at night! I started getting hot feet when I was in my teens.
I have had this problem for years. The best cure I have found is to put on wet cotton socks and hang my feet out of the covers. For extreme cases I will aim a fan at my wet sock-covered feet. I can fall asleep right away if I do this, it works so fast. The other method I use has been mentioned: an ice pack in my bed. I wrap it in a towel. The only thing is that it takes some manuevering to keep it on the soles of my feet where it is needed. Oddly, I have problems getting my feet warm at night way more often these days than the hot feet issues. The problem has exactly the same effect: I can NOT fall asleep until my feet are a normal temperature.
Great ideas! I remember once going outside in the winter to stand in the snow for a minute. My feet were so cold they hurt like crazy for a few minutes after I got back in but then I fell right to sleep.
Your idea sounds less painful.
SMH…. i know this pain o too well. All you want to do is sleep… but you cant because your FEET are on freakin fire! ive had this problem myself since i was a teenager (maybe being a teen is were it starts?) when i was young it would only happen when i stayed with friends over night. now it happens regularly. but i think i may know what causes it… well i have a couple theories. First, maybe it could be stress/ or anxiety throughout the day, or at night when your calming down and have a chance to have a calm mind and reflect… wich ultamately gets you to think and thinking can cause so many problems!!! or my second theory is that since we walk on our feet all day and put constant pressure on them, couldnt it be true that our feet are swollen thoughout the day, and if they are swollen then blood supply is being cut off during the day. so when we relax in bed with our feet and head and the same angle the swelling in our feet will go down, thus letting blood flow through our feet better. this would mean that with less bloos supply though the day our feet will be cool but when the blood is flowing it will warm our feet up to a temp they arent used to making them feel extremely hot. ive been suffering for 14 years and i have read almost every thing i could about this…. i just wish drs woulod realize its real and they should look into it rather than just give us a sleeping pill and forget about it.any ways thanks for a suport page its greatly needed…. ice packs in bed are a true nights sleep life saver
Thanks for your theories. My feet have been blistering hot lately when I’m trying to get to sleep. Right now I think it’s because I’m too warm in bed. It’s a transition period from winter to spring where I still have the winter comforter on because it gets too at night, but it’s too warm when I get into bed.
It seems like I vent heat from the top and bottom – head and feet. When I switch from the winter to spring blankets, maybe it won’t be as bad.
HF!!!!! I always say my feet have fevers. Hahaha. I’m so glad I googled this. I’m not alone! I’m going to try some cooling lotions/creams. I always sleep with a fan, but not directly on my feet. I also interchange the bottoms of my feet on my opposite leg, which is always cold. Or on top of the cool blankets… I hope the lotion works!
We are not alone. The heck with ET, hot feet at night is an issue with a lot of people.
I started having problems with hot feet around age 24 or 25. I’ve tried peppermint lotions, washing my feet with peppermint soap and turning a small fan on my feet. The fan is what helps most consistently.
I’m a fan of your comment. Thanks, Whitney.
Wow, I am glad to know I’m not whacked out. This is such an issue for me. Right now, I’m in bed with greasy feet (lotion), and a fan pointed directly at them, and yes the covers are off of them. Wtf? I need some relief.
You’re o.k., I’m o.k. But it is a weird thing to have happen – hot feet at night.
Tnx pals u hv helpd me out, i thot i am d only weired one, i wil try ur suggestions, my feets are really cooking, cant find sleep.
Lots of people seem to have this same issue – hot feet at night while trying to get to sleep.
Hey guys!
This has been driving me insane! I have bad circulation and during the day my feet are usually ice cold, which is fine… but at night they are hotter than the sun! I usually shuffle them around until iv run out of cold bits of mattress and duvet… then begin shuffling them up the wall.. and then finally up my partners legs (when he is the only thing left that I haven’t boiled with my feet!). It drives us both insane!
I also have restless leg syndrome, but weirdly… the 2 conditions never ever occur at the same time! Odd!
Im going to begin trying all these suggestions soon, but for now am just glad I’m not alone in my hot feet agony! x
Let us know how it goes and what you found that works for you to cool your hot feet at night.
Wow it is somewhat comforting to find others that have the same problem! I am to the point I am checking with my doctor at my next checkup. I am going to try the vicks. try to find something that works. It started out occasionally but progressed to every night now. My feet have become so dry! it is miserable!
Try a few things for your hot feet and let us know how it goes.
I thought I was the only one with this issue my solutions were to put a fan up againts my feet throughout the whole night or put an ice pack on my bed and leave my feet on it throughout the whole night
It is a strange thing to have. I’ve stood outside on an icy sidewalk to cool my hot feet. In retrospect not a great idea – lucky my feet didn’t get stuck to the ice. Outside in my PJs at 2am stuck to the sidewalk would have been a bummer.
OMGosh, I can’t believe I found this site….you know the old saying..misery loves company!! I’ve tried just about everything; wet socks, biofreeze, cold water splashing, lotion, etc….what works the best for me are the ice packs. I stand on them until they’re about defrosted, run jump in bed and most often fall asleep before my feet become hot again. It’s the weirdest da*n thing isn’t it, this HF stuff? But, it’s nice to know we’re all not alone in this, miserable as it may be.
Welcome to the hot feet club! You have it figured out – cool them off and get to sleep before they heat up again.