Numbness

[mlb929]

I've been watching my ChiRunning DVD and thought I had a pretty good handle on it. I've been running about 4 miles every other day for the past three weeks. I do kettle bell work the opposite day. This AM, while running, trying hard to focus on my ChiRunning technique, my foot went numb. I've never had this problem before. I tried loosening my shoe, and that only seemed to make it more noticable. I worked for a podiatrist for 8 years, so am pretty sure I have the correct fit and pay close attention to my foot angle and they are facing forward, something I've worked years to overcome of over-pronation.

Any idea why my foot would be tingly numb at the end of the run? About the last 1/2 mile if that makes a difference. Or what I changed to create it. I payed close attention to my pelvic rotation.

[Jacquie Mardell]

Numbness could be a lot of things. The two areas to rule out are circulation and nerve. Your first thought was circulation so you checked your shoe tightness. So that probably isn't it. That leaves some kind of nerve involvement. It could be in the foot or it could be referred from somewhere else. Where did your foot go numb - in the toes, the whole foot? How long before it went away? Did it still feel numb later in the day, or only when running? Can you retrace your steps, so to speak and identify any differences in today's run? Anything that was different about your strength routine yesterday? Any changes in your back? I'm just flinging guesses here since I can't see you, but is it possible that a slight difference in the way you moved with the kettles caused your back muscles to respond by tightening, which could have sent some nerve messages down the chain, which can result in numbness, which is nature's way of saying "Hold on here a minute, I have a problem". If you were focusing on hip rotation,that might have involved your back more than usual.

Or is it possible that something in your path - a stone or root or unevenness in the ground - tweaked a nerve in the foot or caused the feet to swell and create some impingement of the nerves between the toes? That is pretty common, even with properly fitting shoes. Go through your mental evaluation and see what you can find. Try again day after tomorrow, focusing on the sensation and see if it returns, and try to pin down the trigger as it occurs.

[mlb929]

Just thought I would update for anyone interested or having the same problem. I was diagnosed by one dr as having circulation issues, and told to stop running before I dropped dead I promptly ignored and looked for a second opinion. After nerve testing, I have been diagnosed with tarsal tunnel. I'm opting to avoid orthotics, I don't like the rigid answer - and am treating with NSAIDS and Vitamin B12. After researching, I believe it is connected to my hypothyroid and will seek further treatment answers there as well. Thanks for the help. BTW - Great Dr who made the diagnosis told me I didn't need to quit running, which on the internet seems to be a common response to people with this problem. He did suggest exercise to increase my ankle flexibility.