Foot Neuroma? help, please...

[Miranda]

As I was geeking out Sidi Mens Mega width shoes on this board thinking surely I can't be the only woman in the world to possibly need them, I came across something called Morton's Neuroma...

OK, have you ever been so messed up for SO LONG a certain way that you don't even think it's "not normal" anymore? Well, I'm starting to think my issues go beyound my Sidis and pedals, I think it's my feet.

I have what I think are the symptoms of this condition, but my feet also do something really weird on top of it. I don't know if this means my issue could be something other than the m-neuroma.

The second and third toe pull straight up in a cramp like they were attached with strings like a puppet show doll. Omg, it hurts SO bad. It can travel up my leg too. It's really hard to straighten the disfigurement out when it does it. In the cycling shoe miles out is really bad.

Rightie is more of the problem child. But both feet have a thickened bump thing in the ball of my foot about under second and third toe. The ball of the foot goes to sleep. Then this cramping thing starts. And worse next, the toes mentioned draw themselves up in a very gross disfigured painful manner.

I'm praying my insurance might pay for a foot doctor, AND I can get an appointment before the year turns over to meet a new deductible. But gheez...

I have a Sidi shoe store of wider stuff, I ordered the yellow cycling SuperFeet, and now I'm thinking I need one of these met bump thingys I read about. EDIT: Just got in recent orders, not tried yet, btw.

Google and the search here gave me some info. But I didn't know about the toes drawing up. If you know of the thread, or different word to google, let me know too. Thanks!

[OakLeaf]

I can't speak to your neuroma, but when I get foot and leg cramps, it's typically because of form/fit issues. I had my saddle way too far forward earlier this year, and was ankling quite a bit. When I moved my saddle back and started trying to concentrate on pushing through my heels, the cramps went away. Although I was getting it in the big toes and up the foot through the shin... so it may have no relation to the trouble you're having.

Hope you get it worked out though

[TahoeDirtGirl]

Oh do I know what you are talking about in reference to normal.

My toes do the opposite, they cramp downward. They have yet to really figure it out and I'm going to Boston (aka the big city) to see a sports medicine specialist who hopefully can figure it out. Mine is definately from my posterior tibialis muscle because if you push on the inside of my calf I want to jump out of my skin! It's all from poor arch supports in that I think I spent years thinking my arches were low and they are really high. Who knows.

The ball of the foot thing is very odd...most of the time injuries to the feet is because of impact like running and jumping, I hardly found anything about cycling. I'll mention it when I go to this guy, I'm curious about it myself...hang in there!

[wnyrider]

I had numbing, tingling, and localized pain when I was diagnosed with a neuroma when I was pregnant. Mine was in the area between the third and fourth toe of just my right foot. The podiatrist made me a form to wear on my foot. The best way to describe it is moleskin worn on the bottom side of the ball of the foot with a cut out in the area of the neuroma. It was to relieve pressure in that area. The neuroma was annoying, but was not as bothersome until the birth and I began playing softball that spring. I was the catcher. The Neuroma became excruciating. The podiatrist said the worst thing in the world was the position of my feet when I squated playing catcher. I would be balancing with my weight on just the balls of my feet with the heels up...(does that make sense?). He said to try to have the feet flat when squatting or go on my knees. Since then, even now sitting at the computer I am conscious about not bending at the ball of my foot, thus putting increased pressure on the neuroma. I try to keep my foot flat. The edge of the bicycle pedal is another issue to be conscious of. It'll be interesting to see how the yellow cycling SuperFeet work for you. Do you have a podiatry school nearby? Maybe they have training clinics. I am concerned about the fact that your toes are actually physically drawing up. Sounds really uncomfortable. Hmmm? Maybe you can buy some moleskin and experiment with that.

[Crankin]

My husband had it; tried the inserts, ultra sound, cortisone. Nothing worked, so he had the surgery. It's better, but his feet are still "sensitive." A lot of shoes bother him, but no problem with cycling shoes.
It appeared after he walked 50 blocks in NYC in dress shoes.

[AmyN]

I had a problem with pain in my right foot while riding. When I got to around 25 miles on the bike I felt like there was a vise around the ball of my right foot. Extremely painful. I tried the mega width Sidis but still had the problem. I finally saw a podiatrist (a cyclist himself) who diagnosed a neuroma. His initial treatment plan was for me to ice the foot several times a day and take an antiinflammatory 3 times a day for several weeks. It really helped to calm the pain. He liked the inserts I was using - Alines - which have a good metatarsal arch support. I also started using thicker socks (Smartwool). I finally discovered that my shoe size had changed. I had always worn a size 9 but now need a 9.5. I switched from wearing a size 43 mega Sidi Genius to a 43.5 Sidi Rocket (similar to the Zeta style) which has 3 velcro straps and a softer feel. I' ve also had to replace most of my street shoes. I am happy to report I'm painfree now and can ride all day without any of the pain I previously experienced. Good luck in getting rid of your pain.

[Velobambina]

Yoga Toes. Look them up.

I have had issues w/my feet as well and unfortunately, am genetically destined for bunions. I started using Yoga Toes, on a daily basis, earlier this year, and my feet feel much better.

[Miranda]

Yoga Toes. Look them up.

I have had issues w/my feet as well and unfortunately, am genetically destined for bunions. I started using Yoga Toes, on a daily basis, earlier this year, and my feet feel much better.

Those things look killer! I saw a heading for them since I have been trying to geek out my issue more, but didn't click on the link until now. I saw some exercises where you just try to spread your toes apart like that device, and release. OK, my poor lame toes on my right foot, that does the pulling straight up in the air weird thing, won't even spread apart right. It like the two toes are fused together inside my foot. My brain things, "ok, toes... SPEARD/STRETCH... (then notta)". It reminds me of another time in my life when I was diagnosised with a neurological/immune disease. I had peripheral neuropathy, and with the damage, my extremities couldn't move due toe the nerve damage. From what I've read about the neuroma, I'm assuming this is because how the nerve is hurt in the process. From the toe stretching exercises I tried on my own, I now have two bruises on the tops of my feet (opposite where the calases are on the ball of my foot). It looks like someone tried to drive a knitting needle through my foot. Oh crud noodles.

[Miranda]

Thx girls for you support and responses thus far. When I was googling the toes pulling up again, I found a couple folks asking questions about it, but not a definate answer. I think that goes to the heel. Which I have heel pain too, besides the balls. Gheez.

I called the insurance company, and we do have a couple podiatrist in our network in Mayberry. Trying to make an appointment today. BUT... the insurance covers zero for custom orthotics.

They would help pay for the doctor, PT if warranted, surgery... but not something to help potentially prevent the problem. Now to ME, that's just sorta backwards ...umm, if I would have had good support, proprer stuff, etc. for my feet in the first place... wouldn't that cost less than a surgery bill?

I don't think I'm to that point. But sometimes these things just don't make common sense.

EDIT: Well, I have my appointment scheduled with one of the two docs in Mayberry for the insurance network... I went with the 30yr practice guy, it's about a 3wk wait as a new patient. I hope I picked the right doc. The spin teacher used the other doc, and had orthotics made. The 30yr guy a GF whose DH is a marathon runner went to see him. He didn't get the orthotics, but some other stuff and improved. Guess, well see.