Just the one physical side effect......

Hi y'all, Having now bored y'all to tears about the lands end to john o' groats ride I completed
last week, I'd like advice as to whether the one physical side effect I've encountered is likely to
be permanent or not.... I used standard pedals and newish walking shoes with thick soles. The idea
being I could get the leverage I'd need without too much foot pain and if things got really messy, I
could walk a fair distance if need be without suffering either. During the course of the ride (keep
in mind I was completing around a hundred miles a day, for roughly 9 days), I noticed my middle
three toes on each foot were tingling, from about day 4 or 5. I am now the best part of a week off
the bike and the toes are still tingling. It's not quite a totally numb feeling (wouldn't like to
try sticking a sharp pin in them to check ;-), more of just a ....tingling. It comes and goes in
intensity. I've tried running, swimming, walking and just resting with no great improvement. I
assume I've damaged a nerve that runs through the ball of my foot to the toes and hopefully it will
settle down in time. If it's still the same after a month I will visit my GP. In the meantime,
anyone had any experience of this kind of thing or any views as to what may be going on. Keep
expecting to look down and seeing them going black, ready to drop off
!! ;-)
Cheers, Dave.

 

"Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi y'all, Having now bored y'all to tears about the lands end to john o' groats ride
I
> completed last week, I'd like advice as to whether the one physical side effect I've encountered
> is likely to be permanent or not.... I used standard pedals and newish walking shoes with thick
> soles. The idea being I could get the leverage I'd need without too much foot pain and if things
> got really messy, I could walk a fair distance if need be without suffering either. During the
> course of the ride (keep in mind I was completing around a hundred miles a day, for roughly 9
> days), I noticed my middle three toes
on
> each foot were tingling, from about day 4 or 5. I am now the best part of
a
> week off the bike and the toes are still tingling. It's not quite a
totally
> numb feeling (wouldn't like to try sticking a sharp pin in them to check ;-), more of just a
> ....tingling. It comes and goes in intensity.
>

I had the same thing in my fingers (nerve damage) from the vibration transmitted to the 'bars . It
took many months to go away completely, perhaps a year if I recall correctly.

--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W http://www.simonmason.karoo.net

 

my mates hand went numb during our holland trip, and it was ok after a couple of weeks.
another friend (while climbing) lost all feelin in one arm, it returned to normal again after
couple of weeks

panda

"Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi y'all, Having now bored y'all to tears about the lands end to john o' groats ride
I
> completed last week, I'd like advice as to whether the one physical side effect I've encountered
> is likely to be permanent or not.... I used standard pedals and newish walking shoes with thick
> soles. The idea being I could get the leverage I'd need without too much foot pain and if things
> got really messy, I could walk a fair distance if need be without suffering either. During the
> course of the ride (keep in mind I was completing around a hundred miles a day, for roughly 9
> days), I noticed my middle three toes
on
> each foot were tingling, from about day 4 or 5. I am now the best part of
a
> week off the bike and the toes are still tingling. It's not quite a
totally
> numb feeling (wouldn't like to try sticking a sharp pin in them to check ;-), more of just a
> ....tingling. It comes and goes in intensity. I've tried running, swimming, walking and just
> resting with no great improvement. I assume I've damaged a nerve that runs through the ball of my
> foot to the toes and hopefully it will settle down in time. If it's still the same after a month
> I will visit my GP. In the meantime, anyone had any experience of this kind of thing or any views
> as to what
may
> be going on. Keep expecting to look down and seeing them going black, ready to drop off
> !! ;-)
> Cheers, Dave.

 

"Dave" <[email protected]> writes:

>During the course of the ride (keep in mind I was completing around a hundred miles a day, for
>roughly 9 days), I noticed my middle three toes on each foot were tingling, from about day 4 or 5.
>I am now the best part of a week off the bike and the toes are still tingling. It's not quite a
>totally numb feeling (wouldn't like to try sticking a sharp pin in them to check ;-), more of just
>a ....tingling. It comes and goes in intensity. I've tried running, swimming, walking and just
>resting with no great improvement.

Even on a short ride or walk I can get this. Tight shoes make it happen faster, but it usually
happens at some point anyway. If it was caused by a short ride/walk it usually goes away within an
hour or so of stopping. I've not tried a ride or walk in the vicinity of what you've achieved to
know how long it would last then, however:

I also get it from wearing certain types of high heeled shoes *&) The worst kind (my ABBA silver
platforms spring to mind) worn for an extended evening of dancing (and carousing) cause it to stick
around for up to a fortnight and it gets better in a gradual, barely noticeable way until one day I
realise that actually, it's gone now.

I too suspect some kind of nerve damage. I don't know how serious it is and whether I should steer
clear of the high heels at least, but so far it's always got better eventually.

Claire

--
Still prettiest by far.

 

Last June, after an event in France where we rode c.320 miles in 2.5 days, I had a 'numb' toe for
c.6 weeks. But it wore off eventually, and during that period it didn't prevent me improving my PBs
for 10,15 & 25 miles. So, maybe give it time and spend your money at your LBS rather than on
pharmacy or physio...

Dave wrote:
>
> Hi y'all, Having now bored y'all to tears about the lands end to john o' groats ride I completed
> last week, I'd like advice as to whether the one physical side effect I've encountered is likely
> to be permanent or not...

--

 

I got back from a 6 week tour 3 weeks ago, and both my big toes are still numb. Apparently it can take months for it too wear off. It's not really a problem though, unlike the numb hands/fingers I get on most long rides, which sometimes get so bad that I can't change gear

 

"Claire" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> "Dave" <[email protected]> writes:
>
> >During the course of the ride (keep in mind I was completing around a hundred miles a day, for
> >roughly 9 days), I noticed my middle three toes
on
> >each foot were tingling, from about day 4 or 5. I am now the best part of
a
> >week off the bike and the toes are still tingling. It's not quite a
totally
> >numb feeling (wouldn't like to try sticking a sharp pin in them to check ;-), more of just a
> >....tingling. It comes and goes in intensity. I've tried running, swimming, walking and just
> >resting with no great improvement.
>
> Even on a short ride or walk I can get this. Tight shoes make it happen faster, but it usually
> happens at some point anyway. If it was caused by
a
> short ride/walk it usually goes away within an hour or so of stopping.
I've
> not tried a ride or walk in the vicinity of what you've achieved to know
how
> long it would last then, however:
>
> I also get it from wearing certain types of high heeled shoes *&) The
worst
> kind (my ABBA silver platforms spring to mind) worn for an extended
evening
> of dancing (and carousing) cause it to stick around for up to a fortnight
and
> it gets better in a gradual, barely noticeable way until one day I realise that actually, it's
> gone now.
>
> I too suspect some kind of nerve damage. I don't know how serious it is
and
> whether I should steer clear of the high heels at least, but so far it's always got better
> eventually.
>
>

No more cycling in high heels ?!!?....damn, where's the fun in that then ? ;-)

>
> Claire
>
> --
> Still prettiest by far.
No doubt! and certainly in Abba-esque platforms....

 

"Alex Noel-Tod" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Last June, after an event in France where we rode c.320 miles in 2.5 days, I had a 'numb' toe for
> c.6 weeks. But it wore off eventually, and during that period it didn't prevent me improving my
> PBs for 10,15 & 25 miles. So, maybe give it time and spend your money at your LBS rather than on
> pharmacy or physio...
>
> Dave wrote:
> >
> > Hi y'all, Having now bored y'all to tears about the lands end to john o' groats
ride I
> > completed last week, I'd like advice as to whether the one physical side effect I've encountered
> > is likely to be permanent or not...
>
> --
Ok, thanks all for responses. I think the combination of continual high mileage combined with
'rough tarmac' conspired to create the condition. I'm hopeful, following on from these responses
that it will clear up in the near future. I wore shoes a half size too big as I'd heard about the
effects of cold / wet weather in tight fitting shoes...must be honest, didn't really wear high
heels ;-) As I probably won't be doing much more than the once a week 50 miler or so, I will
probably stick with the shoes I use as I never had any problem with them prior to this marathon
effort. Thanks again, Dave.

 

"kat" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I got back from a 6 week tour 3 weeks ago, and both my big toes are still numb. Apparently it can
> take months for it too wear off. It's not really a problem though, unlike the numb hands/fingers I
> get on most long rides, which sometimes get so bad that I can't change gear
>
>
I've got drop bars that used to send my thumbs / fingers numb, in the cold it was even worse. I
fitted pipe lagging foam around the top straight part of them and haven't had the problem since,
even in the cold (guess that's the insulation effect of the lagging ;-) Know what you meant about
the gear changing problem though, especially on my old racer style roadbike with the downtube gear
levers. Bad enough that you have to reach down to them, even worse when you have to look to make
sure you've got a hold of the levers before pushing down or pulling up !...ah the joys..... Dave.

 

"Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...

> As I probably won't be doing much more than the once a week 50 miler or so, I will probably stick
> with the shoes I use as I never had any problem with them prior to this marathon effort.

I also think this is minor nerve damage that will probably clear up by itself over the next few
weeks. If they were my feet, however, and I were still planning to do longish rides I think I'd be
seriously looking a new good quality shoe and pedal system.

Disclaimer: I am not medically qualified.

BTW I haven't yet added my "well done", so let me do so now. I had a feeling you'd get there.

--
Dave...

 

"Dave Kahn" <[email protected]> wrote in message

<snip>
>
> BTW I haven't yet added my "well done", so let me do so now. I had a feeling you'd get there.
>
> --
> Dave...

Thanks Dave ;-) Dave.

 

On Thu, 3 Apr 2003 17:43:52 +0100, "Dave" <[email protected]> wrote:

>I wore shoes a half size too big as I'd heard about the effects of cold / wet weather in tight
>fitting shoes...must be honest, didn't really wear high heels ;-)

I suffer from the occasional numb middle toe. In a strange counter intuitive way I find that
tightening my shoes helps - I have velcro (sp?) straps that can be adjusted. I have wondered if a
loose fitting shoe allows the feet to move too much in the shoe and this is causing pressure on
nerves/restricting blood flow.

John T.

Remove the singers of Spam before replying

 

"John Tomlinson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Thu, 3 Apr 2003 17:43:52 +0100, "Dave" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >I wore shoes a half size too big as I'd heard about the effects of cold / wet weather in tight
> >fitting shoes...must be honest, didn't really wear
high
> >heels ;-)
>
>
> I suffer from the occasional numb middle toe. In a strange counter intuitive way I find that
> tightening my shoes helps - I have velcro (sp?) straps that can be adjusted. I have wondered if a
> loose fitting shoe allows the feet to move too much in the shoe and this is causing pressure on
> nerves/restricting blood flow.
>
> John T.
>
> Remove the singers of Spam before replying

heh-heh....just when ya think...... Must admit though to having similar type of shoe that I normally
use for cycling but half a size smaller, never had any problems with those, apart from getting
caught out in the rain and getting really cold feet...never had any numb toes / tingly nerve type
symptoms though. cheers, Dave.