Hello, TJ, many tests (ultrasound scans, electromagnetic resonance, etc) and a full neurological study, have rejected the neuroma
Some helpful folks have referred me to this group. I had been a shod runner on and off for about 20 years but then a couple of years back my right foot started getting numb when I did more than 3 miles and if I kept going the numbness actually could reach my calf. The only thing that helped was taking off my shoes. I even ruined a new pair of socks running in them to finish a half-marathon. So I switched to barefoot but wussed out on the sharp gravel and thorn-fested fields so compromised by running in watersocks. That was awesome and I made sure to follow the form I'd read about in Barefoot Kenbob's book. All was blissful and after a year or so I could easily run 25 miles a week absolutely pain and numbness free! Then (cue spooky music) I suddenly started experiencing a bit of numbness around my metatarsal phalangeal joint, between my second and third toes. A reddish bruise appeared on the top of my foot but quickly faded. I rested two days and then I was good as gold!...for a month. Then around the last day of May I went for a less than a mile run in the fields and felt fine. Came inside, ate dinner, but when I stood up I had so much pain in that toe/foot area I thought maybe I had broken something. It felt swollen but really didn't look it at all. The next day I could walk on it so I figured it probably wasn't broken after all. The same mild and short lasted bruise appeared. I rested longer. I ran and felt great but then experienced numbness the next day. I rested longer. I ran again and the numbness afterwards returned and sort of stayed. It feels like there is moleskin stuck to the bottom of my foot but there is nothing there. My big toes are so short they are downright stumpy, makes my second toe look like the Jolly Green Giant standing next to Sprout. So I have been resting because cycling has also brought the numbness. My two trial runs were totally barefoot but it didn't seem to hurt or help the situation. Thank goodness I am still able to swim laps because going weeks without running makes me feel antsy - I wanna move & sweat, especially in this gorgeous weather. So...will I be doing damage to run this way? I looked up Morton's neuroma and wasn't thrilled with the 'remedies' of wearing orthotics (wha??) or having the nerves removed, etc.
Well, I think I qualify to join this fellowship. It is actually quite difficult to feel my 'knuckles' but it seems pretty clear that my big toe knuckles take a step down, and my second toes are slightly longer than the big toes. (I also have ring fingers longer than my index fingers which I think I read may be connected.)
If we are still doing the Viking names thing I am Karen Eriksdottir as my name is Karen and my dad was Eric!
Frustratingly, I have never had a problem with this until I started bare footing a month or so back to try and rehabilitate a slight bunion on my right foot. The bunion was due to wearing shoes I now realise were too small and narrow, not to the mortons toe as far as I know.
However, have done a very very very small amount of barefoot and minimal shod running the last two weeks (never more than a minute at a time interspersed with walking, repeated 6-8 times) I am now experiencing a pain in the ball of my left foot especially when I walk on my kitchen vinyl floor barefoot. Particularly if I spin or twist on the ball of that foot. It feels different from the various stiffness discomforts that I was expecting from using my feet so differently. It is a sort of sudden pain - not awful but feeling like something that shouldn't happen.
I am feeling very frustrated by this and wondering if I am being silly to start running, but I have really enjoyed the little I have been doing.
Well, I think I qualify to join this fellowship. It is actually quite difficult to feel my 'knuckles' but it seems pretty clear that my big toe knuckles take a step down, and my second toes are slightly longer than the big toes. (I also have ring fingers longer than my index fingers which I think I read may be connected.)
If we are still doing the Viking names thing I am Karen Eriksdottir as my name is Karen and my dad was Eric!
Frustratingly, I have never had a problem with this until I started bare footing a month or so back to try and rehabilitate a slight bunion on my right foot. The bunion was due to wearing shoes I now realise were too small and narrow, not to the mortons toe as far as I know.
However, have done a very very very small amount of barefoot and minimal shod running the last two weeks (never more than a minute at a time interspersed with walking, repeated 6-8 times) I am now experiencing a pain in the ball of my left foot especially when I walk on my kitchen vinyl floor barefoot. Particularly if I spin or twist on the ball of that foot. It feels different from the various stiffness discomforts that I was expecting from using my feet so differently. It is a sort of sudden pain - not awful but feeling like something that shouldn't happen.
I am feeling very frustrated by this and wondering if I am being silly to start running, but I have really enjoyed the little I have been doing.
I suppose I wonder why that isn't up there as a big red asterisk point on all the 'barefoot running is good for everyone' headlines.
If you're having issues with morton's toe I highly recomend this insoles they aren't orthotics is just an insole that corrects the toes aligment. Sorry I haven't read the whole thing do not sure what's your issue with your toes/feet.I looked through the first few pages but I likely missed it. I'll go poke around some more. Thanks again.
Space Girl