Noob With a Numb Toe

bstway

Barefooters
Jul 27, 2015
1
0
1
64
So, I’m a noob “BFR” and already frustrated. I’m 56 years old 5’8” 150lb. man in good physical health that has never had any “problems” with his feet. I have, however, mangled my feet with over 40 years of running shoes, ice hockey skates, ski/snowboarding boots amongst other bad encasements. So, I have bunions, high arch and crooked toes. A couple of months ago I decided strengthening my feet would be a good thing. So for a month I was close to 100% barefoot while just mulling around and doing some foot exercises. One thing lead to another and I purchased Correct Toes, Lems Primal 2’s and Xero Huaraches. Introducing them into my life very gradually I was totally hooked on the notion that I could fix my years of abuse. Most of the time I was just wearing the CT’s barefoot while mulling around then two or three days per week in my Lems on and off throughout the day. I was also wearing the CT’s with my Huaraches while commuting to work on my bicycle three days per week. I would run in the Huaraches without the CT’s three days a week starting with a couple hundred yards and up to my last distance of two miles. My feet were starting to have some “sensations” the next morning after a run but would subside immediately after walking around a bit. Then things went south. A couple of weeks ago I was doing some body weight exercises barefoot with the CT’s on. Some of the exercises had me lunging into the air. Thus, coming down pretty hard even though I felt the impact was being adequately absorbed. This didn’t seem to cause any strange affects until the next morning. Ever since that day my left fourth toe and sometimes the foot to the outer edge gets numb and makes using the CT’s with my Lems annoying. There is absolutely no pain what so ever just numbness. I’ve since stopped the entire process since I don’t want to mess with nerve issues in my feet. Do you think I merely pinched a nerve in my toe with the CT’s while coming down from lunging and it will just take time to calm down? Or, do you think there is something more going on here? Sorry for the winded introduction and complaint.
 
Frustrating, but explainable. If you have high arches, you tend to supinate and your feet are relatively stiff. Combine that with bunyons and crooked toes, I am not sure how barefoot running would resolve that, and with less support no less, since crooked toes and bunyons exacerbate the problem by causing overpronation. Usually we see bunyons with people whose feet turn out. I am guessing that the crooked toes were from years of walking or running with shoes that were too small for your feet, which will cause hammer toes.

Without actually evaluating you personally, it is hard to make a recommendation other than perhaps, your feet and calves are very stiff and that you have core issues. Looking at the rest of the evidence would be more helpful than just concentrating on your feet though. I may suggest seeing a good chiropractor who has skills in extremity manipulation and myofascial release treatment.

Looking solely at the feet in my many years of experience is a losers game, since core problems will increase the level of impact at the ground and cause over and under striding.

I hope that helps. BTW, in my experience, not everyone has a problem solves by barefoot running, and some people get worse. On the other hand, others may have problems running shod, so there is no one size fits all
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sid