vantassell

I've been trying to figure out my foot pain for quite some time.

I'd call it hot foot, but I think it's a little different. It's a pain on the bottom of my feet, right along the ball of my foot (if you drew a line across the widest part of my foot, whatever you'd call that). If I numbered my toes from largest to smallest 1 through 5, my pain would be between toes 1.5-2.5. It sometimes feels like it moves around, but it's right around that area always. Usually after 30-40 minutes or so. Doesn't matter if it's Winter, Summer, inside, or outside, it happens.

It lingers after being of the bike, just walking around afterwards I can still feel the pain. I get large callouses under my big toe (toe 1) and little toe (toe 5). My big toe it's almost behind outside of the 'sit bone' so to say. For my little toe it's just outside of it. The pain from the callouses being formed sometimes confuse me as to where it hurts exactly, making me thing more than one thing is going wrong.

My big toe will go a little numb on the outside as well. But the main problem seems to be the pain right under the ball of my foot (toes 1.5 - 2.5). I've tried riding with sidi's (that may have been slightly too small) and now with northwaves (definitely big enough) and have had the same problem. I've had custom insoles from the LBS, the sports medicine doc for the Utes (local college sports team), surefoot (super fancy ski boot fitter), and esole ($30 insole at REI). They've all felt better than the previous solution, but none have fixed it. I tried riding with platforms and running shoes (my feet don't hurt in those) and have felt the exact same pain.

Sometimes I am convinced that it's a circulation issue, and other times I'm convinced it's a bruising thing, and other times i'm convinced it's a nerve pinch thing. I "think" i've had symptons of all three.

Any guess from the internet doctors?

My next step is trying some LeWedge thingies, or maybe a new shoe. But i don't know how a shoe could fix a issue that an insole couldn't.

Steev

Have you looked at your cleat placement?

DXchulo

I was thinking along the same lines as Steev- you might be having a fit (not a foot) issue. Try getting a fit by whoever the local fit guru is in UT. If that doesn't work, it sure does sound like you've tried a lot of solutions. At that point maybe you should go to the doctor.

RT

If you have health insurance, it is also very much worth a trip to a reputable podiatrist. Cycling did not help a condition I did not know I had - tarsal tunnel syndrome. I have been dealing with plantar fasciitis for about 15 years, and orthotics really helped. Check your fit for sure, but also see your doc.

mx_599

did you try a wide shoe?

vantassell

Yes, i've tried moving my cleats all the way back and everywhere in between. Not much help there.

I have insurance, but everytime I go to a doctor it seems fruitless. But I may try it again.

I think so, the northwave has a pretty big toe box, that's why I picked it.

Does anyone think new shoes would even help?

mx_599

if you have a wide foot and you have never tried a shoe specifically for wide feet, than yeah a new wide shoe will probably help like a lot if there is no other problems. i use a wide shoe and if i ever had to wear a normal or narrow size i could have some of the problems you describe. i can't go more than a couple miles without my feet killing in a regular width shoe

i use sidi mega for road and mountain

johnny99

What did the sports medicine doc say? I doubt you'll get better advice from anonymous people on the internet than from a real doctor that actually inspected your feet. Fit issues like this can be very complicated.

sstorkel

What type of shoes are you using? Specifically: do they use laces, Velcro, or ratcheting straps to secure the shoe to your foot?

I find it interesting that you don't have problems when you ride in running shoes: I had a similar problem to yours and eventually determined that it was because I was tightening the ratcheting straps on my shoes too tight. It sure felt secure, but it was also putting just a bit too much pressure on my foot. Found this out by accident when I left one of the ratchets a bit loose... and all my foot pain went away!

George

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...rton-s-Neuroma

clausen

A few things, that I find help. Properly fitting shoes, I get hot foot with Shimano shoes even though they are wide enough but not in Sidi mega. Wool socks I find are much better than any synthetic I've tried, my preference is Defeet wooleator cheap and they last.

You have an injury, you need to let it heal other wise your just aggravating it, even if you fixed the original cause.

roadiejorge 

I recently realized that I was wearing shoes with too narrow of a toe box and while I never really paid mind to it, I did after getting a sharp pain in my 1st metatarsal on my right foot. I went to a shop with a knowledgeable staff who informed me I have been using too narrow of a shoe. I've since gotten wider shoes and added an insole that provides more arch support and cushioning in the forefoot and have no complaints.

mx_599

yes, exactly. they aren't like laces. a solid velcro or ratcheting strap is not forgiving as your foot swells/expands from downward force. this also goes hand in hand with a wide enough shoe. if the shoe is too narrow and the closures are loosened it's still going to hurt a little because the shape of the shoe curves up and will push toes. so if you start with a wider shoe...

vantassell

He just tried to modify my insole with more support under my big toe so it didn't bottom out. The bone under my big toe is deeper (i don't know how to describe it, it's the first part of my forefoot to hit the ground) than the rest. It didn't help much.

Maybe I wrote it unclearly before, my mistake. I DO have the same pain with running shoes and platforms on the bike. When I just go running in those same shoes, I have no foot pain.

I've read that ordeal and it terrified me. But i've deduced that's not what's going on, but it's just a guess.

I've been thinking it might be a problem with my socks, they might be a little too tight or something. I've actually got a larger size on order at the LBS, it's even wool too. So hopefully it'll help out a little.

vantassell

I'm thinking i'm going to try another doctor, new socks, and possibly new shoes from an LBS with a good return policy