What is causing the numbness and pain in my feet?

Here is My Question:
Is nerve damage causing numbness in my feet to turn into pain? Last year, I had a lesion on my spine that caused numbness from the waist down. After steroid treatment it gradually subsided and I am able to walk safely again. However, my feet feel mildy numb when I first get up. It subsides but gets much worse when I walk for more than 45 minutes at a time. If I am at work, where I am standing all day, the numbness becomes very painful. Usually 4 or 5 hours into my shift it starts to hurt. Some days I can't make it until the end of my shift. It feels like my feet are being crushed by a steamroller! I usually sit in the break room for at least an hour before I feel like I can make it to my car. Would it make sense to assume the pain is the result of pushing too much, past the numbness?

Answer:
You are describing neuropathic pain which can be caused by nerve damage (possibly from the spinal cord or peripheral nerves running to your feet in your case). I'd recommend you speak with your neurologist about your symptoms to help determine the cause but also potential treatment to help take the edge off your neuropathic pain so you can function better at work.  

A. Scott Nielsen MD MMSc
Neurologist and MS Specialist at Kaiser Permanente