Dodgy toe..... docs?

[titiany]

My mate did a 24 hour kart race last year, and for about 4 months afterwards had a numb big toe. (or at least, suffered various degrees of numbness).

It went away eventually.

However, he's just come back from doing another 24 hour race this week, and low and behold, the numb toe is BACK!

Is this caused by vibration or something? Or sitting in the kart for prolonged periods? Will he have to put up with a numb/cold toe for another 4 months, or can he do something to make it go back to normal?

And (a question direct from him) will it fall off? :hehe:

[D_Mike]

Could be the vibration... the vibrations from karts make me cough a lot and sometimes my right foot goes numb (its just on the "floor" all the time!). I guess its a similar thing to the disease that pneumatic drill operators get?

[titiany]

D_Mike said:

I guess its a similar thing to the disease that pneumatic drill operators get?

White finger / HAVS. I thought that. But it's not gone white or anything, apparently.

[speedychrissie]

the disease that pneumatic drill operators get is called raynauds (thats what my doc called it anyway!)
i have the same thing in my hands and they go numb and start changing colour very quickly in the cold. but they very rarely get affected by vibration (lucky i guess as i am in training to be a dentist!)

it is possible it is vibration inducing localised raynauds. if so then it isnt too much to worry about but there is little that can be done about it either.

altho my hands dont go numb for 4 months at a time

[mechsympathy]

Could be a couple of things... I'd expect white tip to affect all his toes rather that just one, but if the inside of his foot is more in contact with the pedal/sterring column etc then that could explain that. But I would expect it to get better more quickly than 4 months. Raynauds is (IIRC) more related to poor temperature control of the blood vessels and wouldn't result in continual numbness.

Which bit of his toe went numb? Something that long lasting is probably down to a nerve compression, possibly due to tight shoes. There is also a condition called Morton's neuroma which is where a bulge on the nerve gets compressed between the base of the big and second toes.

[Chim Girl]

mechsympathy said:

Raynauds is (IIRC) more related to poor temperature control of the blood vessels and wouldn't result in continual numbness.

I have it in my hands and feet, it only occurs when I get cold. Numbness, white then blue fingers and then pins and needles for about 30 mins once they get warm again.

[dave_s13]

Don't think it'd be a Mortons neuroma, they tend to ilicit pain rather than numbness and are the result of chronic hypermobility in the forefoot. In other words, he'd know if he had one, they bloody hurt.

Sounds like the vibes/pressure have caused some nerve damage (axontmesis). The nerve is basically intact but the outer sheath has been damaged.

There's nothing you can do AFAIK apart from give it time, 4 months sounds about right for a nerve to repair BTW.

I would suggest that for the next 24hr stint he wears an insole made out of a thick wedge of Cleron/Poron, this should/may act to dampen the vibrations and prevent the problem.

Don't take any of that as gospel though, its all off the top of my head and may be slightly off.

If it's a real problem best person to see (imo) is a Podiatrist.

>> Edited by dave_s13 on Thursday 1st September 10:24

[dave_s13]

Won't be Raynauds either, would effect the whole foot/hand and not just after karting, would happen regularly as well.

[BliarOut]

Could he cut his toe off to prevent a recurrence?

HTH

[mechsympathy]

dave_s13 said:

Don't think it'd be a Mortons neuroma, they tend to ilicit pain rather than numbness and are the result of chronic hypermobility in the forefoot. In other words, he'd know if he had one, they bloody hurt.

Good point. (Note to self check before you post)

dave_s13 said:

Sounds like the vibes/pressure have caused some nerve damage (axontmesis). The nerve is basically intact but the outer sheath has been damaged.

I figure a neuropraxia is more likely (even in the absence of a neuroma) - an interruption of nerve conduction rather than the actual breaking and regrowth of an axon. But the recovery timescale could be indicative of an axonotmesis...

dave_s13 said:

There's nothing you can do AFAIK apart from give it time, 4 months sounds about right for a nerve to repair BTW.

Either way prevention is better than cure.

dave_s13 said:

I would suggest that for the next 24hr stint he wears an insole made out of a thick wedge of Cleron/Poron, this should/may act to dampen the vibrations and prevent the problem.

Or possibly a wedge between the toes. If he wants to prevent the problem it's worth going to a suitable professional for a prod and a poke to try and elicit some symptoms and give some slightly more directed help.

dave_s13 said:

If it's a real problem best person to see (imo) is a Podiatrist.

But then you would

[dave_s13]

[whoozit]

Slight thread derailment, but since the foot doctors are here . . .

I broke my ankle (shattered tibia) in a motorbike accident last year. The repair hasn't gone all that well and I'm still having physio (not all that helpful) and have recently seen a podiatrist who's prescribed custom insoles. The initial repair was carried out by a trauma specialist who isn't all that bothered about rehab/post-op care. Both physio and podiatrist have recommended seeing a post-op lower limb specialist and the name that's come up in London is Michael Davis. Any thoughts?