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i have been trying to find the cause of this for the past year. I recently bought new trainers (old ones had no cushioning left!) and this has made a small difference, however not completely gone.
I am interested in all the comments re running style and willing to give it a go (but like you i have a couple races coming up so not best timing).
I dont have any pain though,during or after and it does go after around 5 miles. just worried its doing damage somewhere.
did you try the pressure socks?
I know i am not offering help but just to let you know you are not alone!
The numbness does sound like a shoelace issue- I know you'd already have thought about that but just check your feet once your getting the numbness- your feet swell when you get hot and when you run, even if your shoes don't feel suffocating if they are just sqeezing on the wrong vein then your going to be reducing the circulation and your going to get numbness. Dehydration is another thing to think about as this can cause numbess in some people- electrolytes can also play a part. Are you getting enough potassium? (Bananas are rich in potassium as are most sports drinks or make your own with a water a pinch of salt and a pinch of sugar, add 50% orange juice and don't add the sugar for more taste).
Have you tried asking a sports specialised physio for advice on your technique? Can work out expensive but if it prevents a possible problem then its money well spent. Many colleges will have sports physio students who are watched by tutors so normally the advice is very well explained and you get an automatic second opinion. Also don't forget that as you tire your technique is likely to change so be wary of anyone who says "its not your technique" after watching you run for the first 30 seconds, it could still be your technique or even your posture. We have so many veins which all connect with each other all over our bodies, there are also nerves in our spine which relate to different parts and if you damage one, you get symptoms in another part of your body, eg if I were to damage my back somewhere in the middle, I could end up with numbness or even pain in my arm and hand. Not saying thats what it is, but its perhaps worth thinking about. Maybe look up the lower back and consider your posture- its very well known for runners to have lower back issues in particular. If it is this a sports physio could help with massage but you'd need regular sessions or to know how to release the area yourself. Again, not saying thats what it is but thats what I'd look to if I had tried so many other things already.
Also, try to keep a log of it, when it happens and how bad it is. I used to get numb feet (toes) when cycling or using a cross trainer to begin with (running for me seemed to be the only area I could get away without this!) I found that it eventually went away after a few weeks of perseverance (the beauty of gym machines like that is that you can basicly undo your shoes and keep going without too much issue, undone shoes had made no difference at the time) I decided in the end it have been about my body learning to adapt to things as it did go away for me.
I undone my shoes as loose as they will go with no luck. Done a 6 miler this morning about 300m in it happened but I battled through for 2 miles and again it dissapeared and I finished quite strong. What I'm going to do Saturday is have 3 Miles warm up run have a good stretch thengo out and see what happens
I eat 2 bananas a day and eat very well etc I drink 3 litres of water a day. Could always drink a bit more because I sweat alot whilst running.
As you say perhaps its my body adapting too. its not as if I cant run I just dont want to be doing any long term damage. I might do my first HM see how I get on then go see somebody as thats the only way i'll get an answer I feel
Well, keep a diary/log how soon it occurs each time- also log your sleeping habits along side and make sure you get quality rest days (where your not spending the day stressed out) the reason for adding the sleep/rest days in your notes is because if your not resting properly your body isn't going to be able to recover as much and its going to come back to running stressed and this could prompt the numbness to kick off earlier- a body thats overly stressed could easily shut down the circulation to your outter extremities over that of your core. Just a theory.
As far as the bananas and water goes, its not the quantities you eat and drink @(they sound fine by the way) whats important is getting the balance right, if you don't have the right balance of electrolytes your just as badly affected as if your dehydrated but just in a different way.
It does sound more like a cirulatory issue though as it only affects one area, I think your guess at compartment syndrome sounds like the most likely and I'm sure you've already read the in's and out's of that by now (if not try the physioroom website and the sportsinjury website as well as wiki and NHS direct which will have more information and perhaps different things to try).
Tried a sports massage or roam roller yet? 'The Stick' can also work if you use it every day but its something you have to keep yourself doing to get any real difference and there is a right and wrong way of doing either.
Is it your lower back thats the problem?
Hope you get sorted soon
The fact that you are able to run through would suggest to me that you should continue running just be a bit more easy in your first few miles and allow the tissues to adapt more to the sudden tightening required from running. If your pains are worsening or there is pain after which you had not previously had then it would be best to hold off but for now it sounds as though your body is coping.
Check out a test called the SLUMP - it is a from of testing and treating sciatic nerve restrictions.
Also reading about your desire to change running styles - I can highly recommend a book called CHI running by Danny Dreyer. I have found this extremely useful in allowing my athletes (and myself) to make the change from heel strike to mid-foot in a controlled sensible fashion.
Greg
Wow that is a lot of info to process in just one post. You've done well TheVicar if you've managed to assimilate it all. I'm most certainly intrigued by this foam roller. It makes me think of those things we used to cling onto in the swimming pool at school. Hope the ones for massage are a bit smaller. I will definately look into getting one of those, as money is tight and can't really afford a professional sports massage on a regular basis.
Will have to try and remember the little steps philosophy next time I'm out running too.
Have you heard of shin taping? Some people swear by it, i'm awaiting my delivery of Rocktape from www.sportstechlab.com.
Heather
www.love-hate-runner.blogspot.com
Try 2 tennis balls strapped together - really cheap and gives a much better workout than the roller - I promise!!
Greg
Hi Greg,
Slumpt test I looked up and I thought what have I got to do with the setting time of concrete lol But found what you meant. This is what the Doc got me to do and thats what made him decided it was a back problem. When I done it the numbness appeared. Yeah I mean I can still run but my speed drops way down for a few miles until I shake it off and I pick up again after. I would just love to be able to run injury free because I know I can give a lot more than I am its so frustrating. Somebody mentioned the CHI running book I will have to have a look. But I'm off out for a 6 miler tomorrow I know I will have the problem but Ill grin and bare it for now
Oooo thanks Greg.
Forgive my apparent stupidity, but strap them together how?
Do you mean tie them together in an old sock or something?
Heather
www.love-hate-runner.blogspot.com
I hope that all makes sense?
Greg
Lol I think so.
Thanks a lot Greg, will get my bum down to Sports Direct to pick up some balls
Heather
www.love-hate-runner.blogspot.com
How are you doing at the moment? Still running?
Hi,
I've stopped running because after a long run thinking I can just run through it, my foot is now permanently numb
Been a week and still not heard from physio. So to be fair not much has happened. Reading up on it too I'm not going to be running for a while. So instead for the next few months I've taken up long distance walking events to feed my competitiveness as walking is not a problem!
So yeah not great news and admittedley I was thinking my back was the least of my problems. I tried all sorts and spent a lot of money trying different things, lo and behold it was my back
If you got the same problem lie on your back and get somebody to lift you leg 90 degrees and see if you get tingling in your foot. Thats all the doc done to me to decided what was up
Be interested to hear how things progress, so hopefully you are able to update here.
Check out a much used test called the lumbar SLUMP test. This is a way (similar to doing the straight leg raise SLR) of seeing if there is any restriction to the movement of the nerves originating from your lower back supplying the legs.
Greg
Hi all,
Got first physio appointment this friday. Seeing as my race was the day after it might be leaving it a bit late lol. However i've got back into walking and other things at moment. Got caving this weekend then a 23 mile walk next weekend then coasteering. This should take my mind off of things. Strange that I cab have an apparent back problem but I'm quite well enough to do all these other activities
However I would like to get back running even if it's just to keep fit and not compete. Nothing quite beats waking up for a run before work 
There is still lots that can be investigated and done.
Good luck for now
Greg
It's took me well over a year to be properly diagnosed; spent a fortune on new shoes, knee supports, insoles etc but what made a difference was going to into 'running rehab'. Turns out it was my technique; I was all over the place as a result of chondromalacia meaning I was moving my weight away from my bad knee which, in effect, I'd made lazy and hence short hamstrings which gave me pain in my shin.
Even though I initially tried running through the shin pain eventually my other knee and sometime the foot would go numb.
I'm now on the road to recovery but it's taking ages and just this week the pains have returned so it's back to square one, yet again.
I'd already decided not to race this season, other than club handicaps, as going too fast puts my legs under pressure. This means another year of not doing proper races, and I'm realising I'll probably never be able to do the big events I was hoping to do, mostly fell races.
But I am 46 so I know I'll never be up at the front of the field. I try though, and rarely give in, which is why I've been injured!
To treat the problem
1) stretching
2) ice
3) running on the grass and not on the asphalt
It can appear like a stupid thing but for personal experience I can tell you I used the following shoes
1) Asics Gel Support and I had terrible knee pain
when I changed them with the Nike Lunarlon (neutral) the knee pain was just a memory but the shin splints pain is very very strong now. So i decided to do other for 2-4 weeks like cycling and then I will buy new shoes with double cushions , if this doesn't work I need to see a doctor.
Hope this helps, sorry about the mistakes but I am writing very quick.
Hi all,
A few weeks down the line and the exercises seem to have worked. Just spent a week in sunny swanage and ran loads! Most i done was an 11 miler along the coast path. I also done a 5 miler on the roads too. This before would have been a no go. So it seems the exercises have fixed me for the time being. However I'm trying to do my trail running as its a lot easy on the old body. Plus I bought a road bike to use for cross training. I have entered the black death run on may 13th and would hope to do this just to finish as that would be a massive mental barrier out the way
I've been following your thread for a while. How are things now? Fully recovered?
Any updates vicar?