I have been experiencing foot numbness for the past couple of weeks; not pins and needles but a numbness and my foot near my toes feels "fat". what could be the cause?

Symmetric : Symmetric numbness affecting all the toes, often making the toes feel "wooden" or "like balled up socks, " or "swollen" (without visible swelling) can be a sign of a kind of nerve damage called peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by a large number of conditions, but in developed countries the most common condition is diabetes. Other things that can cause peripheral neuropathy include infections, vitamin deficiencies, and hereditary conditions. Other things that can cause symmetric toe numbness could possibly include problems affecting the spinal cord or blood vessels. Because many of these conditions can get worse or result in permanent injury if not detected and treated early, it is important to get the problem checked out. Starting point could be a primary care doctor ( family practice or internal medicine) who can determine if neurology consultation is needed.

As : As the answers from dr krob and dr jaffery indicate, you provided too little information so you got conflicting and confusing advice. When you go to see your doctor, you need to make clear if this problem involves one foot or both feet, as it makes a bid difference in how one would think about the causes. Peripheral neuropathies come in a variety of types but in general the term speaks to disease of multiple nerves in multiple places, whether in a symmetric pattern (stocking & glove distribution, for example) or in various scattered different nerves ("mononeuropathy multiplex"). So one would think about testing for one of these types of neuropathy if both of your feet are affected symmetrically. On the other hand (or foot, actually) if it is only one foot that is having the problem, one would look to some kind of nerve compression syndrome, in the foot, at the ankle, in the pelvis, or at the level of the spine where the nerve root might be compromised by degenerative spine disease. Other important questions: was there any kind of foot trauma or back trauma preceding the onset of this complaint of numbness? Does your numb area actually feel anything, or does it not sense heat or cold or pressure?