Kebas kaki (numb feet) is usually harmless pins and needles that happens when you sit or sleep on your leg, and it goes away within minutes once you move. Numbness that lasts, keeps coming back or starts in both feet needs checking, because common causes include diabetes, nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy), a trapped nerve in the back such as sciatica, vitamin B12 deficiency and tight or high-heeled shoes. Call 999 for sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, which can be a stroke, or for numbness in both legs with loss of bladder or bowel control.
Bila kebas kaki perlu ke hospital segera
Call 999 immediately if numbness comes with any of these:
- Signs of a stroke, which come on suddenly: weakness or numbness down one side of the body, the face drooping on one side, being unable to lift both arms, or slurred or confused speech (NHS). Act even if the symptoms go away. See our guide to strok (stroke).
- Signs of a serious back problem: weakness or numbness in both legs that is severe or getting worse, numbness around the genitals or bottom, or being unable to pee or control when you pee or poo (NHS).
Apa itu kebas kaki?
According to the NHS, pins and needles feels like a pricking, tingling or numbness sensation. It happens when the blood supply to the nerves is cut off, usually when you sit or sleep on part of your body, and it only lasts a few minutes. It stops when the weight is taken off and the blood supply returns.
The NHS advises seeing a doctor if you constantly have pins and needles or it keeps coming back, because this can point to an underlying cause.
Punca kaki kebas
According to the NHS, possible causes of long-lasting or repeated numbness in the feet include:
| Cause | Typical clues (NHS) |
|---|---|
| Pressure on the leg | Comes on after sitting cross-legged or sleeping on your leg; goes away within minutes |
| Diabetes (kencing manis) | Pins and needles, pain or numbness in the hands and feet, often starting in the toes |
| Peripheral neuropathy | Numbness, tingling, burning or shooting pain, loss of balance, weakness in the feet |
| Sciatica | Pain and pins and needles that travel from the back or bottom down one leg to the foot |
| Vitamin B12 deficiency | Numbness and pins and needles, tiredness, a sore red tongue, problems with balance or memory |
| Morton’s neuroma | Burning or stabbing pain between the 3rd and 4th toes, feeling like a pebble is under the foot |
| Raynaud’s | Pins and needles in fingers or toes that change colour |
| Other causes | Some medicines (including some for seizures and chemotherapy), drinking too much alcohol, a poor diet, nerve injury, multiple sclerosis |
Do not try to diagnose yourself. If numbness keeps happening, a doctor can examine you and arrange blood tests to find the cause.
Kebas kaki dan kencing manis
According to the NHS, diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy in the UK. Over time, high blood sugar can damage the nerves. This usually affects the longest nerves first, so symptoms typically begin in the toes and feet and slowly spread upwards, later affecting the hands.
This matters in Malaysia: the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023 found that 15.6% of people surveyed had diabetes, and many younger adults did not know they had it. If you have numb or tingling feet and have not had a blood sugar test recently, ask your doctor or klinik kesihatan for one.
If you already have diabetes, the NHS says it may help to gain better control of your blood sugar, stop smoking and cut down on alcohol, and that people at higher risk should have regular foot and nerve check-ups. The sooner neuropathy is diagnosed, the better the chance of limiting the damage.
Ibu jari kaki kebas
Numbness in the toes (ibu jari kaki kebas) has several possible causes:
- Tight or high-heeled shoes that squeeze the toes.
- Morton’s neuroma: according to the NHS, a thickening of tissue around an irritated nerve between the toe bones, causing shooting, stabbing or burning pain between the 3rd and 4th toes, a feeling of standing on a pebble, and sometimes tingling or numbness. It is often linked to tight, pointy or high-heeled shoes, running and other foot problems such as bunions or flat feet.
- Early nerve damage, especially from diabetes, which often starts in the toes of both feet.
For Morton’s neuroma, the NHS suggests wide, comfortable shoes with a low heel and soft sole, soft insoles or pads, resting and raising the foot, and losing weight if you are overweight. See a doctor if the pain is severe, keeps coming back, has not improved after 2 weeks, or you have tingling, weakness or numbness. For other foot pain, see our guide to sakit tumit.
Vitamin B12 deficiency
According to the NHS, vitamin B12 deficiency can cause nerve symptoms including numbness, pins and needles, muscle weakness and problems with balance, along with tiredness, a sore red tongue, and problems with memory or mood. You are more likely to be low in B12 if you:
- do not regularly eat meat, fish or dairy, or follow a vegan diet without B12-fortified foods or supplements;
- have pernicious anaemia, an autoimmune condition that is more common in women around 60;
- have had stomach surgery or have a bowel condition such as Crohn’s disease;
- take certain medicines, such as metformin (a common diabetes medicine) or proton pump inhibitors for acid reflux.
The NHS stresses that B12 deficiency should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible, because some nerve problems can become permanent if left untreated. A blood test can check your level; do not self-treat without finding the cause. See also our guide to kurang darah (anaemia).
Kebas kaki with back pain (sciatica)
If numbness or tingling travels from your lower back or bottom down the back of one leg to your foot, it may be sciatica. According to the NHS, it happens when the sciatic nerve is irritated or compressed, and usually gets better within a few weeks to a few months. The NHS advises keeping as active as possible, gentle exercise and heat packs, and not sitting or lying down for long periods. See our guide to sakit pinggang for more. Remember the emergency signs above if both legs are affected.
Kebas kaki in women: shoes, standing and diet
Some everyday habits common among women can play a part:
- Shoes: the NHS links tight, pointy and high-heeled shoes to Morton’s neuroma and toe pain and numbness. Save heels for short periods and choose wide, cushioned shoes for long days.
- Sitting position: sitting cross-legged or kneeling on the floor for a long time, for example during prayers or family gatherings, can press on the nerves and cause temporary pins and needles. Change position regularly.
- Diet: if you rarely eat meat, fish, eggs or dairy, ask your doctor whether your B12 should be checked.
- Blood sugar: if you have not had a blood sugar test recently, new numbness in your feet is a good reason to get one.
If your feet also look swollen, see our guide to kaki bengkak. For numbness in the hands, see tangan kebas.
Cara hilangkan kebas kaki
For ordinary pins and needles after sitting or sleeping on your leg, the NHS says it usually stops once the weight is taken off and the blood flow returns. You can:
- change position and take the weight off the leg;
- gently move, stretch or walk around;
- avoid sitting cross-legged or in one position for too long.
Traditional remedies such as massage or a warm soak may feel comforting, but they do not treat an underlying cause. If numbness lasts, keeps coming back or affects both feet, see a doctor rather than relying on home remedies.
Looking after numb feet
When your feet are numb, you may not feel a cut, blister or burn. According to the NHS, untreated nerve damage can lead to a foot ulcer that becomes infected, and in severe cases to gangrene and amputation. To protect your feet:
- check your feet every day, including between the toes;
- wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes;
- see a doctor about blisters, cracked skin or any cut or sore that is not healing; the NHS advises people with diabetes to see a doctor or diabetes nurse about blisters or cracked skin on the feet.
When to see a doctor
Based on NHS advice, see a doctor if you have:
- pins and needles or numbness that is constant or keeps coming back;
- pain, tingling or loss of feeling in your feet, or loss of balance or weakness;
- a cut or ulcer on your foot that is not getting better;
- diabetes and any new numbness in your feet.
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and may arrange blood tests, such as blood sugar and vitamin B12, and refer you to a specialist (neurologist) if needed. Treatment depends on the cause.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Apa punca kaki kebas (what causes numb feet)?
Most short episodes of kebas kaki happen when you sit or sleep on your leg and the blood supply to the nerves is briefly cut off; it stops within a few minutes when you move. According to the NHS, numbness that lasts or keeps coming back can be caused by diabetes, nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy), a trapped nerve in the back such as sciatica, vitamin B12 deficiency, some medicines, drinking too much alcohol or Morton's neuroma in the foot.
Why is my ibu jari kaki kebas (why are my toes numb)?
Numbness in the toes can come from pressure, such as tight, pointy or high-heeled shoes. Morton's neuroma, an irritated nerve between the 3rd and 4th toes, causes burning or stabbing pain and sometimes numbness, according to the NHS. Long-lasting numbness that starts in the toes of both feet can also be an early sign of nerve damage from diabetes, so see a doctor if it does not go away.
Is kebas kaki a sign of diabetes?
It can be. According to the NHS, diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy in the UK, and it usually starts in the feet with numbness, tingling or burning pain. In Malaysia, the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023 found that 15.6% of people surveyed had diabetes, and many did not know. A simple blood test can check your blood sugar.
What is the cara tradisional hilangkan kebas kaki (how do I get rid of it quickly)?
For ordinary pins and needles after sitting or sleeping on your leg, change position, take the weight off the leg and gently move or stretch it; the NHS says it usually stops when the blood supply to the nerves returns. Massage or warmth may feel comforting. If the numbness keeps coming back or does not go away, home remedies are not enough, and you should see a doctor to find the cause.
When is kebas kaki an emergency?
Call 999 if numbness or weakness comes on suddenly down one side of the body, with face drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech, as these are signs of a stroke. According to the NHS, also go to the emergency department if you have numbness or weakness in both legs that is severe or getting worse, numbness around the genitals or bottom, or cannot control when you pee or poo.
Can vitamin B12 deficiency cause numb feet?
Yes. The NHS lists numbness, pins and needles, muscle weakness and problems with balance among the nerve symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. It is more likely if you do not eat meat, fish or dairy, have certain stomach conditions, or take some medicines such as metformin or long-term acid-reducing medicines (PPIs). A blood test can check your level, and it is important to treat it early.
How do I look after my feet if I have numbness?
If you have reduced feeling in your feet, you may not notice cuts or blisters. The NHS warns that untreated nerve damage can lead to foot ulcers that become infected. Check your feet every day, wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes, and see a doctor about blisters, cracked skin or any cut or sore that is not healing, especially if you have diabetes.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor. In an emergency, call 999. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
References
- Pins and needles — NHS
- Peripheral neuropathy — NHS
- Morton’s neuroma — NHS
- Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia: symptoms — NHS
- Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia: causes — NHS
- Sciatica — NHS
- Type 2 diabetes: complications — NHS
- Mat Rifin H, et al. Conducting the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023 in Malaysia with focus on methodology and main findings on non-communicable diseases. Sci Rep. 2025;15:25531
- Stroke symptoms — NHS
