Saw my Podiatrists (one is a Cat2 racer) today. All Neurological and biopsy tests came back normal. The diagnosis is nerve compression in the balls of my feet. My orthotics were adjusted slightly to correct right foot arch pressure. The combination of Sidi 6.6 Mega Wide shoes with stiff soles and the orthotics have eliminated the ball of foot painful hot spots (felt like little hot ball bearings in the my shoes). I was able to ride a double metric a couple of weeks ago with no pain.
The Cat 2 podiatrist suggested that I change from Speedplays to a wider platform pedal. He doubts if I will ever be able to completely eliminate the numbness, but wider platform pedals will distribute the pressure over a larger area and (probably) stop the numbness from getting any worse. It is a tough one to do because I have been riding Speedplays for 20 years and love them. However, if I can continue to ride and not make the numbness worse, I am willing to make the change.
Thanks for the posts