toes go numb while riding

I did not notice this happening till maybe around early 40s, but my toes go
numb--painfully so-- when I ride a ride. Happens fairly quickly in a ride,
even just a mile to the grocery. Doctor did not find anything wrong such as
diabetes or foot problems. When it first started happening, other cyclists
suggested using clip-ons and good pair clip on shoes with a hard sole. So I
bought some decent shoes and bought pedals on one side clip-on / toe clips.
(Toe clips and sneakers for short rides in the city such as to work,
grocery, library, etc.)

Used the clip ons dozen or so times and still same problem. Really did not
notice much if any improvement as opposed to just using sneakers and toe
clips like I had for years. I love riding, so tough through it and try
wiggling my toes periodically. It goes away slowly after maybe 15-60
minutes when I stop riding.

Have other cyclists had this problem as they have gotten older? I'm about
50 now, and have had the problem 7-8 years. I wonder if it is nerve damage
from the decades of cycling? Also, my hands don't seem to handle holding me
up on the handlebar as well either. Nothing goes numb; just not as
comfortable anymore, even with decent padded gloves. Maybe I am just
getting old and fat?

"Gus" writes:

I did not notice this happening till maybe around early 40s, but my
toes go numb--painfully so-- when I ride a ride. Happens fairly
quickly in a ride, even just a mile to the grocery. Doctor did not
find anything wrong such as diabetes or foot problems. When it first
started happening, other cyclists suggested using clip-ons and good
pair clip on shoes with a hard sole. So I bought some decent shoes
and bought pedals on one side clip-on / toe clips. (Toe clips and
sneakers for short rides in the city such as to work, grocery,
library, etc.)

Used the clip ons dozen or so times and still same problem. Really
did not notice much if any improvement as opposed to just using
sneakers and toe clips like I had for years. I love riding, so tough
through it and try wiggling my toes periodically. It goes away slowly
after maybe 15-60 minutes when I stop riding.

Have other cyclists had this problem as they have gotten older? I'm
about 50 now, and have had the problem 7-8 years. I wonder if it is
nerve damage from the decades of cycling? Also, my hands don't seem
to handle holding me up on the handlebar as well either. Nothing goes
numb; just not as comfortable anymore, even with decent padded gloves.
Maybe I am just getting old and fat?

You may want to go for a full nuorological workup - maybe
first a full physical and blood tests for vitamin deficiency.

That said, I can relate to all of these experiences (just
over 50 myself). So it's not as if there must be something
terribly unusual going on.

(Have you ever tried Shimano SPD sandals - those are really
great!)

My $0.02, Try largish flat pedals, such as BMX, and sandals. THe more support in the pedal, and the less restriction to the toes, the better. If that works, you can become a shoe-bee (sandals with sox) in the winter. Wool sox with waterproof over sox work well in the cold.
Good luck,
Larry

On Saturday, July 20, 2013 4:15:14 PM UTC-4, Gus wrote:
I did not notice this happening till maybe around early 40s, but my toes go

numb--painfully so-- when I ride a ride. Happens fairly quickly in a ride,

even just a mile to the grocery. Doctor did not find anything wrong such as

diabetes or foot problems. When it first started happening, other cyclists

suggested using clip-ons and good pair clip on shoes with a hard sole. So I

bought some decent shoes and bought pedals on one side clip-on / toe clips.

(Toe clips and sneakers for short rides in the city such as to work,

grocery, library, etc.)



Used the clip ons dozen or so times and still same problem. Really did not

notice much if any improvement as opposed to just using sneakers and toe

clips like I had for years. I love riding, so tough through it and try

wiggling my toes periodically. It goes away slowly after maybe 15-60

minutes when I stop riding.



Have other cyclists had this problem as they have gotten older? I'm about

50 now, and have had the problem 7-8 years. I wonder if it is nerve damage

from the decades of cycling? Also, my hands don't seem to handle holding me

up on the handlebar as well either. Nothing goes numb; just not as

comfortable anymore, even with decent padded gloves. Maybe I am just

getting old and fat?

Hi Gus.

Just some ideas. Are your socks or shoes snug? They could be cutting off circulation as the foot expands a bit. How about where the sock send on your legs? Are they snug or tight there? How is your foot position on the pedal? As we age our feet change and what was comfortable when young may nt be comfortable now.

Cheers

Sir Ridesalot wrote:
On Saturday, July 20, 2013 4:15:14 PM UTC-4, Gus wrote:
I did not notice this happening till maybe around early 40s, but my toes go

numb--painfully so-- when I ride a ride. Happens fairly quickly in a ride,

even just a mile to the grocery. Doctor did not find anything wrong such as

diabetes or foot problems. When it first started happening, other cyclists

suggested using clip-ons and good pair clip on shoes with a hard sole. So I

bought some decent shoes and bought pedals on one side clip-on / toe clips.

(Toe clips and sneakers for short rides in the city such as to work,

grocery, library, etc.)



Used the clip ons dozen or so times and still same problem. Really did not

notice much if any improvement as opposed to just using sneakers and toe

clips like I had for years. I love riding, so tough through it and try

wiggling my toes periodically. It goes away slowly after maybe 15-60

minutes when I stop riding.



Have other cyclists had this problem as they have gotten older? I'm about

50 now, and have had the problem 7-8 years. I wonder if it is nerve damage

from the decades of cycling? Also, my hands don't seem to handle holding me

up on the handlebar as well either. Nothing goes numb; just not as

comfortable anymore, even with decent padded gloves. Maybe I am just

getting old and fat?

Hi Gus.

Just some ideas. Are your socks or shoes snug? They could be cutting off
circulation as the foot expands a bit. How about where the sock send on
your legs? Are they snug or tight there? How is your foot position on the
pedal? As we age our feet change and what was comfortable when young may
nt be comfortable now.

Cheers

Hard soles shoes are good to prevent foot cramps but i dont see how they
would help numbness. Numb toes is not something I've seen before.
Something restricting blood flow?
--
duane

On 20/07/2013 22:09, Dan wrote:
"Gus" writes:

I did not notice this happening till maybe around early 40s, but my
toes go numb--painfully so-- when I ride a ride. Happens fairly
quickly in a ride, even just a mile to the grocery. Doctor did not
find anything wrong such as diabetes or foot problems. When it first
started happening, other cyclists suggested using clip-ons and good
pair clip on shoes with a hard sole. So I bought some decent shoes
and bought pedals on one side clip-on / toe clips. (Toe clips and
sneakers for short rides in the city such as to work, grocery,
library, etc.)

Used the clip ons dozen or so times and still same problem. Really
did not notice much if any improvement as opposed to just using
sneakers and toe clips like I had for years. I love riding, so tough
through it and try wiggling my toes periodically. It goes away slowly
after maybe 15-60 minutes when I stop riding.

Have other cyclists had this problem as they have gotten older? I'm
about 50 now, and have had the problem 7-8 years. I wonder if it is
nerve damage from the decades of cycling? Also, my hands don't seem
to handle holding me up on the handlebar as well either. Nothing goes
numb; just not as comfortable anymore, even with decent padded gloves.
Maybe I am just getting old and fat?

You may want to go for a full nuorological workup - maybe
first a full physical and blood tests for vitamin deficiency.

That said, I can relate to all of these experiences (just
over 50 myself). So it's not as if there must be something
terribly unusual going on.

(Have you ever tried Shimano SPD sandals - those are really
great!)


+1 for the sandals. I used to get numb feet feet but haven't had them in
the 10 +years I've been riding with sandals. I use them in winter and
wet weather with sealskinz waterproof socks.


I also got numb hands which I solved by changing to ride with drop bars
which ensure my wrists are always held straight, I think the condition
was call Guyon's canal syndrome

On Saturday, 20 July 2013 21:15:14 UTC+1, Gus wrote:
I did not notice this happening till maybe around early 40s, but my toes go
numb--painfully so-- when I ride a ride. Happens fairly quickly in a ride,
even just a mile to the grocery. Doctor did not find anything wrong such as
diabetes or foot problems. When it first started happening, other cyclists
suggested using clip-ons and good pair clip on shoes with a hard sole. So I
bought some decent shoes and bought pedals on one side clip-on / toe clips.
(Toe clips and sneakers for short rides in the city such as to work,
grocery, library, etc.)

Used the clip ons dozen or so times and still same problem. Really did not
notice much if any improvement as opposed to just using sneakers and toe
clips like I had for years. I love riding, so tough through it and try
wiggling my toes periodically. It goes away slowly after maybe 15-60
minutes when I stop riding.

Have other cyclists had this problem as they have gotten older? I'm about
50 now, and have had the problem 7-8 years. I wonder if it is nerve damage
from the decades of cycling? Also, my hands don't seem to handle holding me
up on the handlebar as well either. Nothing goes numb; just not as
comfortable anymore, even with decent padded gloves. Maybe I am just
getting old and fat?



Walk a couple of miles a day, scrub your lower legs and feet in clean water each day and stop eating gluten and milk/whey. Eat good fats, greens and ripe fruits. Eat enough good fats to keep your skin oily and enough fruit to keep your belly soft and without pain.

On Saturday, July 20, 2013 4:15:14 PM UTC-4, Gus wrote:
I did not notice this happening till maybe around early 40s, but my toes go

numb--painfully so-- when I ride a ride. Happens fairly quickly in a ride,

even just a mile to the grocery. Doctor did not find anything wrong such as

diabetes or foot problems. When it first started happening, other cyclists

suggested using clip-ons and good pair clip on shoes with a hard sole. So I

bought some decent shoes and bought pedals on one side clip-on / toe clips.

(Toe clips and sneakers for short rides in the city such as to work,

grocery, library, etc.)



Used the clip ons dozen or so times and still same problem. Really did not

notice much if any improvement as opposed to just using sneakers and toe

clips like I had for years. I love riding, so tough through it and try

wiggling my toes periodically. It goes away slowly after maybe 15-60

minutes when I stop riding.



Have other cyclists had this problem as they have gotten older? I'm about

50 now, and have had the problem 7-8 years. I wonder if it is nerve damage

from the decades of cycling? Also, my hands don't seem to handle holding me

up on the handlebar as well either. Nothing goes numb; just not as

comfortable anymore, even with decent padded gloves. Maybe I am just

getting old and fat?

Does it happen at any other time, other than bicycling?

Try a Google search on "peripheral neuropathy" and see if that sounds like your problem.

- Frank Krygowski

On Sunday, 21 July 2013 15:58:27 UTC+1, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On Saturday, July 20, 2013 4:15:14 PM UTC-4, Gus wrote:

I did not notice this happening till maybe around early 40s, but my toes go



numb--painfully so-- when I ride a ride. Happens fairly quickly in a ride,



even just a mile to the grocery. Doctor did not find anything wrong such as



diabetes or foot problems. When it first started happening, other cyclists



suggested using clip-ons and good pair clip on shoes with a hard sole. So I



bought some decent shoes and bought pedals on one side clip-on / toe clips.



(Toe clips and sneakers for short rides in the city such as to work,



grocery, library, etc.)







Used the clip ons dozen or so times and still same problem. Really did not



notice much if any improvement as opposed to just using sneakers and toe



clips like I had for years. I love riding, so tough through it and try



wiggling my toes periodically. It goes away slowly after maybe 15-60



minutes when I stop riding.







Have other cyclists had this problem as they have gotten older? I'm about



50 now, and have had the problem 7-8 years. I wonder if it is nerve damage



from the decades of cycling? Also, my hands don't seem to handle holding me



up on the handlebar as well either. Nothing goes numb; just not as



comfortable anymore, even with decent padded gloves. Maybe I am just



getting old and fat?



Does it happen at any other time, other than bicycling?



Try a Google search on "peripheral neuropathy" and see if that sounds like your problem.


That sounds like medical copyright gobbledegook to me. What props are needed to support the illusion? Magic box and wand?

On Sunday, 21 July 2013 19:50:19 UTC+1, Phil W Lee wrote:
Dan considered Sat, 20 Jul 2013 14:09:52

-0700 the perfect time to write:



"Gus" writes:



I did not notice this happening till maybe around early 40s, but my

toes go numb--painfully so-- when I ride a ride. Happens fairly

quickly in a ride, even just a mile to the grocery. Doctor did not

find anything wrong such as diabetes or foot problems. When it first

started happening, other cyclists suggested using clip-ons and good

pair clip on shoes with a hard sole. So I bought some decent shoes

and bought pedals on one side clip-on / toe clips. (Toe clips and

sneakers for short rides in the city such as to work, grocery,

library, etc.)



Used the clip ons dozen or so times and still same problem. Really

did not notice much if any improvement as opposed to just using

sneakers and toe clips like I had for years. I love riding, so tough

through it and try wiggling my toes periodically. It goes away slowly

after maybe 15-60 minutes when I stop riding.



Have other cyclists had this problem as they have gotten older? I'm

about 50 now, and have had the problem 7-8 years. I wonder if it is

nerve damage from the decades of cycling? Also, my hands don't seem

to handle holding me up on the handlebar as well either. Nothing goes

numb; just not as comfortable anymore, even with decent padded gloves.

Maybe I am just getting old and fat?



You may want to go for a full nuorological workup - maybe

first a full physical and blood tests for vitamin deficiency.



Particularly vitamin B12 (cobalamin).

Easily fixed with injections of hydroxocobalamin, but low levels cause

nerve damage, which will be permanent if left untreated.


I believe that the sciencey stuff is not a worry for those who eat liver, eggs and greens from the garden.