Pain and numbness in right foot

[Orange utopia]

I have my first metric century on Saturday. It is going to be the longest distance I have ridden since 1999. I am very excited and I am pretty sure I am ready. My only concern is that in the past month or so I have been getting lots of pain on the outer edge of my right foot along with numbness that goes from the toes and through the ball of the same foot.

I have adjusted my cleat position several times and I don't think that is it considering it just started and I was riding just fine in the current position with no pain. I have been keeping my shoe very lose and trying to wiggle my foot around a lot to take the pressure off on any one spot but it still hits me around mile 20 or so on every ride now no matter what I do.

any other suggestions? I could probably use a good fitting again but honestly I don't think it is position since it just started. I don't have time to get a fitting in before Saturday anyway. I thought about trying some new footbeds in my shoes but I have never had good luck with those in the past since my foot is almost flat. They always cause me a lot of arch pain, at least for walking an running with them.

[KnottedYet]

Dropped metatarsal head.

Specialized BG insoles have met buttons built in, or you can buy them at a shoe store (you want supports/buttons, NOT cushions!) for about $12 a pair. Make sure to put them in BOTH shoes, even if you are only really having trouble with one foot.

[Orange utopia]

Thanks for responding, I will look for some of those buttons today. I don't think I will be able to find the specialized footbeds locally but I will call around and see.

[Hi Ho Silver]

I'm resurrecting this thread to ask for further advice. I got some of the foot pads today because I often have the previously described pain in my left foot when I ride my bike hard. The pain never seems to occur when I walk or do other activities. Should I be wearing this "button" pad all the time or just when I'm riding?

Thanks,

Jean

[zoom-zoom]

Another suggestion is considering whether your shoes might be too narrow. I had this issue in Sidis. Switched to a pair of men's shoes (Louis Garneau, since even Sidi women's shose were a bit loose through my heels) and the problems pretty much disappeared. I still have to loosen my shoes by about the 10 mile mark on most rides, at least when the weather is warmer and my feet swell. I couldn't get my Sidis any looser and my foot was hanging over the sides of the sole piece. The problem was definitely more noticeable on my wider/longer right foot.

[pinsonp2]

I bought the BG footbeds a couple of months ago and that has made a big difference for me. I was beginning to have the 'burning' in in the ball of my foot even after a ride. The footbeds seem to have alleviated that issue.

P2

[Hi Ho Silver]

Another suggestion is considering whether your shoes might be too narrow. I had this issue in Sidis. Switched to a pair of men's shoes (Louis Garneau, since even Sidi women's shose were a bit loose through my heels) and the problems pretty much disappeared. I still have to loosen my shoes by about the 10 mile mark on most rides, at least when the weather is warmer and my feet swell. I couldn't get my Sidis any looser and my foot was hanging over the sides of the sole piece. The problem was definitely more noticeable on my wider/longer right foot.

You raised an interesting point -my foot pain is only in the left foot, which is my wider and longer foot. I'll try to check out some new shoes. Thanks for pointing me to a possible cause and solution!

Jean