Pins and Needles in my toes

[Frankieg]

Dear Forum I was wondering if anyone is experiencing my problem. I have started to train for my Camino my first 3 to 4 kilometres are great but then I start to feel a burning sensation in my right toes followed by pins and needles I have to keep on moving my toes within my shoes trying to disperse the pain and regain some feeling, it's not shoes problem because I have experience this feeling using different shoes I did a little research on the internet and tried some suggestion like putting a little wedge between my toes but that only helps for a while then the discomfort starts again. Has any one suffered or suffering from the same problem and does anyone have any suggestion for me to try? :idea:
I am looking forward to doing the Camino but I am dreading this problem and I would like to have it solve before my Camino in May 2013
Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to all.

 

[ouroboros]

I had tingling and numbness in my outer toes and solved it with two things:

Boots with a wider toe box: my left foot was wider than I realized and I ended up with larger boots, two full sizes larger to get the toe box space I needed. You can fill in the extra space with lambswool and socks, but your feet will expand at least a full shoe size on the Camino.

Aertrex orthotic insoles with a metatarsal support pad, to spread the metatarsal bones apart and relieve nerve pinching, and to correct the foot position with strong arch support. I also have plantar tendon fibromas, scar tisssue on the arch tendon. The insoles felt strange at first, but then felt perfect and they really made my feet ride and feel much better.

These two modifications made all the difference in my training and on the Camino. I had not one foot problem in 600 km.

Buen Camino!

 

[RENSHAW]

I can add that by the time I had walked three quaters of the Camino Frances , the front pads of my feet lost sensation. I feared that during the last 10 days or so , that I was causing myself permanent damage to my feet.Five weeks of walking over half a marathon each day, every day, with a pack - no wonder! It took about two months or so for all sensation to return - no damage done. ............Except for an insidious Camino addiction. :mrgreen:

 

[95033trek]

Hi Frankleg,

I have a similar problem that kicks in after about 10 km, and in my case it's a neuroma (a swollen nerve between two toes). Nothing dangerous, but it can be painful. I tried injections that unfortunately made it worse. Am currently walking with custom orthotics, and while not the perfect solution, they have helped quite a bit. There are other treatments, some more extreme than others.

If it's a neuroma, your MD or podiatrist can easily diagnose it and make recommendations.

Good luck to you and your feet.

Betsy

 

[tyrrek]

Hi Frankleg,

I have a similar problem that kicks in after about 10 km, and in my case it's a neuroma (a swollen nerve between two toes). Nothing dangerous, but it can be painful. I tried injections that unfortunately made it worse. Am currently walking with custom orthotics, and while not the perfect solution, they have helped quite a bit. There are other treatments, some more extreme than others.

If it's a neuroma, your MD or podiatrist can easily diagnose it and make recommendations.

Good luck to you and your feet.

Betsy

Yes, it could be Morton's Neuroma. I get it in my left foot, especially at the start of a day's walk, then it tends to wear off. For me, fortunately, it's more uncomfortable than painful.
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Morton's-Neuroma.htm

Buen Camino!

 

[Jubilado]

You really have to get a professional diagnosis here. It could well be nothing important, but medical advice must come from professionals.

With the right advice, you can have a great walk!

 

[Al the optimist]

On a light note Lise T. It's the first time I've heard a lady complain of having tight butt muscles!
allan

 

[Sienna Moon]

Pins and needles in the toes is an experience I have had and continue to have with my Merrell boots, with my Saloman and others it is not a problem. I have a very high arch and sometimes the last of a shoe boot or the like is not suitable. It does not matter which way I tie the laces it still continues as for some reason they just catch a nerve after a while. On the net there is a video of different ways to tie the laces and I did try this but still in the Merrells it continued but in other shoes it solved it. Try after a couple of hours to retire your laces after removing the boots and giving your feet an airing. It is often that after a couple of hours of walking your feet will have changed dimension, and the lacing will need altering accordingly. Keep them loose in the toe and arch area. Hope this help Regrds Sienna

 

[Frankieg]

Thank you all for taking the time in trying to solve my problem I will watch the video and links above I do have a very high arch and I will take your advise very seriously and do some home work I have also complain to my husband while walking that my hamstring feels very tight and he worries that I may do damage to my hamstring looks like it all tide in with my toes.
High arch, tight hamstring, tight butts, wowww what else do I need!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Frankieg

 

[RENSHAW]

wowww what else do I need!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Frankieg

A good streaching routine before and after each day - I am very Lazy when it comes to this.

 

[max44]

from a medical point of view, see A doctor and insist on a full panel blood test as well.
Next time you get parasthesia, try pushing your toenail as see if it goes from a light colour back to pink within two seconds. (Capillary refill) note this down for your doc.
Think simple first. Not diseases. For example, you could be low on potassium or other salts from walking and sweating. (Tight muscles)
Pain in one are does not mean that is where the problem is. For example, a lot of indigestion type pain is from a pinched nerve in the back.(referred pain) Your toe issue could be a lumbar issue or circulation.
The more info you can give your Doc when you see him/her the better. Otherwise, it's a guessing game.

This is a specialist lower limb site http://sock-doc.com/
The information here is excellent and may help you (and others) with fixing the problems yourself.
What he says in this free website is medically correct and he is a specialist.
Regards to all

 

[zakosdad]

Be careful with the stretching especially with cold muscles (old theory) - current teaching is to only stretch warm muscles - after walking, running etc.

Buen Camino

 

[Frankieg]

Thank you max44 I have had back problem last couple of months and had to go to hospital for some quick relief and had a catscan result was that I had a bulging disk and i also have a strait spinal cord that put me back with my walking a little my back is getting better everyday and I am back walking i also find doing some dead lift exercise (recommendation from my husband) does help. I will read the link you sent right now. We fly out of Sydney the 27th of May and start our Camino first week in June I can't wait lucky I have a few months to sort out little problem like toes, back etc.. :x
Have a great day.

 

[max44]

Thank you max44 I have had back problem last couple of months and had to go to hospital for some quick relief and had a catscan result was that I had a bulging disk and i also have a strait spinal cord that put me back with my walking a little my back is getting better everyday and I am back walking i also find doing some dead lift exercise (recommendation from my husband) does help. I will read the link you sent right now. We fly out of Sydney the 27th of May and start our Camino first week in June I can't wait lucky I have a few months to sort out little problem like toes, back etc.. :x
Have a great day.

Hope this sorts your toe issue out once the disc is back in place. I think you mean you have a straight spinal column This is not uncommon and just means you will need to adjust you load a little. Keep the heat and massage going on that disk. This will help the muscles keep everything in place. Make sure your pack is sitting on your hips and not on your shoulders when you walk otherwise you will have more downward pressure on your spinal column.
Little things, but they will help a lot.
Enjoy you camino

 

[JansCamino]

Does the tingling let up when you loosen your shoelaces? We have blood vessels and nerves that run right under where our shoelaces are. When my feet start to tingle, I know that my laces are too tight and just loosen them up a bit. It takes a few minutes for the tingling to go away, but it does. Your shoes might feel loose when you do this because you are probably used to lacing more tightly, but if you have the right socks, it should not create blisters.

 

[Frankieg]

Does the tingling let up when you loosen your shoelaces? We have blood vessels and nerves that run right under where our shoelaces are. When my feet start to tingle, I know that my laces are too tight and just loosen them up a bit. It takes a few minutes for the tingling to go away, but it does. Your shoes might feel loose when you do this because you are probably used to lacing more tightly, but if you have the right socks, it should not create blisters.

JansCamino thank you for your reply and taking the time I haven't been in the forum for a while due to other commitments and I didn't see your question. I do tend to have the laces tight and I will certainly loosen them on my next walk we went for a 13k's walk yesterday and I had to change shoes a couple of times it's ok to do that where we live but i cannot afford to carry 2 pairs of shoes on the camino so I have to try other option I am taking a pair of sandals my husband is improvising at the moment and we are trying different insole for high arch I really want to have this problem solve before we start our Camino. I am excited about the walk but apprehensive about my feet

 

[hecate105]

For any foot problem - or none! I was told years ago to stop every 2-4 hours and take boots and socks right off for 20 mins or so, it allows the feet to relax and breathe. It certainly works - I have fibromyalgia and suffer from lots of aching in my feet and legs - but doing this makes it much better. I don't get blisters either. I do it when walking and when cycling. Worth a try!

 

[Frankieg]

For any foot problem - or none! I was told years ago to stop every 2-4 hours and take boots and socks right off for 20 mins or so, it allows the feet to relax and breathe. It certainly works - I have fibromyalgia and suffer from lots of aching in my feet and legs - but doing this makes it much better. I don't get blisters either. I do it when walking and when cycling. Worth a try!

Thank you hecate105 for your advise every little bit helps I am trying different ways and saw a youtube video about How to tie shoe lace for people with high arch and I will put that into practise on my next big walk hopefully over the week end.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOE28brAcEc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOE28brAcEc

 

[Al the optimist]

Great video link Frankleg. I'm happy with the way I lace but it gives me ideas if I encounter problems during a camino. Thanks
allan

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Some of the lacing techniques put a lot of lace pressure on the top of your foot. Some 2x2" gauze pads can help.

 

[Frankieg]

Some of the lacing techniques put a lot of lace pressure on the top of your foot. Some 2x2" gauze pads can help.

Hi Falcon269
I haven't had a big walk since I found the new way of lacing shoes I can't wait to put the technique into practice I will report soon as i can with a verdict
Thank you for the advise.

 

[Frankieg]

Great video link Frankleg. I'm happy with the way I lace but it gives me ideas if I encounter problems during a camino. Thanks
allan

You are welcome Allan I have saved so many links to do with the Camino from this forum glad i was able to add my own.
Frankie