Numb Big Toe

Mikey23

Mortons neuroma. What an excellent name for a condition. Not meaning to trivialise of course. I would try to eliminate one possible cause ie cold feet by whichever means works best for you. I have tried all sorts, the latest being waterproof merino socks. Two pairs of socks doesn't seem to do it for me and could cause lack of circulation by making shoes too tight. Had some neoprene overshoes for Christmas but not managed to pull them on yet...

Does seem to me a medical condition and well worth getting it checked out ...

m4ttc

SmoggySteve wrote:

m4ttc wrote:

Thanks for all the advice and sorry it's all booted off.

I don't think the shoes are too tight. They are very comfy. I wore two pair of socks yesterday as I thought it maybe the cold but to no avail. I suppose I could try overshoes. It could be poor technique as I am a beginner and it is my left foot which is the weaker of the two.

Thanks for the help guys.

There is a possibility it may be cleat position. If you are pushing to far forward from the ball of your foot and onto your toes you are in a way pushing your toes into the end of your shoes. I have done this before when I first started riding. Maybe moving the cleat a bit further back could help. Also look at how they are lined up. Do you use cleats with a float or fixed? If the rest of your foot is warm and its just your big toe, I dont think its likely to be the cold. Still, try whatever you can to fix the problem.

Thanks. I think this is the most likely. I do feel as if maybe I could be 'banging' the toe into the end of the shoe. They are Shimano SPDs which I could move back a few mms to see if it makes any difference. Thanks a lot

mustol

I get numbness/cramping in my left foot and lower leg. I go through stages of it and mine is caused by sciatic nerve irritation - basically I have a long-term lower back problem (which I keep in check by regularly stretching, core strengthening and visits to an osteopath) which causes piriformis syndrome (a pain in the butt!) - the piriformis gets inflamed and irritates the nerve. If all of the above suggestions fail - it's worth getting it looked at. My symptoms are worse when pushing hard on tough climbs, but I can usually alleviate the problem by getting out of the saddle - this just seems to help stretch out the muscles.

TKF

ShutUpLegs wrote:

You do come across as being a bit of a dick tbf fair

Oh what delicious irony

EPO Delivery Man

Have you tried moving the cleat about on the shoes to see if that helps with the numbness? It might be you have it too far forward.

There has been some recent research into cleat position suggesting that for some people, being under the ball of the foot isnt ideal. The thinking behind it is down to the pedal stroke. Most people position the cleat in the middle of the shoe, clip in and then rotate the pedals to see if it feels ok. They then go for a ride only to find that their actual pedal stroke action changes due to power delivery, fatigue etc. so the ball of the foot ends up either angled up but most commonly down (ie: toes point down) this then moves the center of the power transfer of the foot and cleat either further forward or further back. A result of this can be numb toes, or hot spots over the foot in various places.

Worth checking out and experimenting with the cleat position just in case?

EPO Delivery Man

mustol wrote:

I get numbness/cramping in my left foot and lower leg. I go through stages of it and mine is caused by sciatic nerve irritation - basically I have a long-term lower back problem (which I keep in check by regularly stretching, core strengthening and visits to an osteopath) which causes piriformis syndrome (a pain in the butt!) - the piriformis gets inflamed and irritates the nerve. If all of the above suggestions fail - it's worth getting it looked at. My symptoms are worse when pushing hard on tough climbs, but I can usually alleviate the problem by getting out of the saddle - this just seems to help stretch out the muscles.

Try a different seat, as sciatic nerve irritation actually starts in the lower back, transfers down the glutes then into the leg. So a different seat may help.

smoggysteve

EPO Delivery Man wrote:

Have you tried moving the cleat about on the shoes to see if that helps with the numbness? It might be you have it too far forward.

Not sure if you read the thread but we kind of already came to that assumption. Still, if you think so too then its a probable cause tbh.

EPO Delivery Man

SmoggySteve wrote:

EPO Delivery Man wrote:

Have you tried moving the cleat about on the shoes to see if that helps with the numbness? It might be you have it too far forward.

Not sure if you read the thread but we kind of already came to that assumption. Still, if you think so too then its a probable cause tbh.

Didnt read all the bullshjt no, just the OP.

It could be a cause, likewise it could be thick socks overheating the foot causing the toes to swell.

mustol

EPO Delivery Man wrote:

mustol wrote:

I get numbness/cramping in my left foot and lower leg. I go through stages of it and mine is caused by sciatic nerve irritation - basically I have a long-term lower back problem (which I keep in check by regularly stretching, core strengthening and visits to an osteopath) which causes piriformis syndrome (a pain in the butt!) - the piriformis gets inflamed and irritates the nerve. If all of the above suggestions fail - it's worth getting it looked at. My symptoms are worse when pushing hard on tough climbs, but I can usually alleviate the problem by getting out of the saddle - this just seems to help stretch out the muscles.

Try a different seat, as sciatic nerve irritation actually starts in the lower back, transfers down the glutes then into the leg. So a different seat may help.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I also get the symptoms whilst I'm walking around (not as bad - but they're there). I feel very comfortable on the sadlle, so pretty sure it's not that. Obviously, the cycling position puts greater pressure on the lower back. Once I got into spring last year, the numbness gradually eased off and I was generally fine for about 6 months - on the same saddle. My piriformis problem is most noticeable whilst sitting at my desk for prolonged periods (need a new career!). Strangely for me, it's getting in the miles that seems to help - I think just getting strength into the right muscles must help make up for any weaknesses elsewhere.

Mikey23

Just a quick tour of the Internet on toe numbness gives some interesting and quite scary possibilities. It seems to unqualified little me that there might be some underlying condition that needs to be sorted out from disc or nerve damage to diabetes. My advice would be get to your GP, get it properly diagnosed and hopefully it is easily sorted

smoggysteve

Mikey23 wrote:

Just a quick tour of the Internet on toe numbness gives some interesting and quite scary possibilities. It seems to unqualified little me that there might be some underlying condition that needs to be sorted out from disc or nerve damage to diabetes. My advice would be get to your GP, get it properly diagnosed and hopefully it is easily sorted

I'm not suggesting you are so please don't take offence, but the whole looking up an illness or condition based on vague symptoms is turn us into a nation of hypochondriacs.

He was cycling and gets 1 numb toe. I get numb toes. Yesterday I got in from a 3 hour ride at -3 Celsius and they were all numb. I had to go through that whole agonising pins and needle phase of the blood coming back. If it was happening randomly through the day I would seek medical advice , but as its only in one toes while cycling I would think its quite obvious the cause was either to do with his shoes, cleat position or maybe seating position.

slowmart

For the risk of getting flamed :oops:

I starting road riding in January managing to do 305 miles in that month. The previous two months had ben taken up recuperating from a seizure. Prior to that i went mtb'ing and nowhere near the miles i accomplished in January. You know 10-15 miles, numerous stops for chats and cake and general pss taking after someones ambition exceeding their skill level.

My aim was to return to health asap and the old adage winter miles, summer smiles was used and employed.

Now my humble body wasn't used to knocking out 100 miles a week and a certain bodypart was constantly going numb and losing sensitivity. Unfortunately this bodypart was my manhood. The worst part was having sex post ride and I had no sensation from the head :shock: :shock: :shock:. The brain was saying this looks great but where's the feeling........ A rare and very strange situation.

I was applying chamois cream prior and sudocream post ride. Yes it was January and cold but no other body part was as issue. It seems that simply my body was not "bike fit".

I have used the maixm P is for plenty regarding chamois cream and I very pleased and relieved to say I have no numbness and all is well. Which is great as I had a follow up to my bike fit and even i felt uncomfortable sharing this with the young female bikefit technician.

Find a local shop that do a bike fit and see how that goes.

navrig

Did you spend enough time wearing the shoes either in the shop or at home before riding in them just to be sure they fit? Different makes have different fits and hence the sizing on the label doesn't always mean they will fit. Shimano are too narrow for me but Specialised fit fine width wise if I buy a 43.5 against a 42 shoe size.

Socks can make them too tight. I've work thinck socks to try keep my feet warm and ended up with colder and number feet/toes. They felt fine at the start of the ride but after a few miles the feet swell and the pressure increases. Thin socks for comfort and overshoes for warmth.

So whilst there may be plenty of space for toes the pressure may well be around the mid foot thus cutting blood flow.

smidsy

Don't go there...I suggested the shoes may be too tight and was positively castrated!

navrig

smidsy wrote:

Don't go there...I suggested the shoes may be too tight and was positively castrated!

I noticed. I reckon you are probably right. Sport shoes are a nightmare to get right and so many people buy on line and just wear what is delivered.

I took me a long time to work out the best shoe/sock/overshoe combo for winter riding. 30+ miles with numb and frozen toes would put you off cycling for life.

♠ChumBucket♠

smidsy wrote:

Don't go there...I suggested the shoes may be too tight and was positively castrated!

You suggested it after being told they were NOT too tight. Then, you took the hump & made an unprovoked aggressive post subsequently! :roll:

Mikey23

@smoggysteve ... None taken.

I assumed it was the op that said he gets this numbness when he is walking around as well as on the bike but checking back, I see it wasn't. I'm of an age now when niggles and pains are of more concern than when I was a youngster and on balance, I prefer to seek the advice of trained professionals over a group of random strangers on a net forum...

m4ttc

I think it is more likely that there is some movement inside the shoe and the tip of toros banging ever so slightly against the inside of the shoe. This could be the clear position or maybe even the saddle hight resulting in my ride pattern not being vertical enough and more horizontal if that makes sense.

I will just keep experimenting