Anyone elses foot fall asleep when they run?

[kmonty33]

Whenever I go out running I notice that my foot starts to feel numb like it fell asleep whenever I get near the 3 or 4 mile mark. It doesn't hurt, its just annoying and kinda screws up my running form and slows me down a tiny bit. So I can easily finish the next 2 or 3 mile. Does anyone else experience the same sort of thing or is it just me?

[ljm9304]

do you have a burning numbing pain on the outside of your shin inbetween your ankle and your knee?

[scskowron]

It's happened to me a few times. If your shoes are tight, try loosening them. Also try stretching extensively before running. If it happens every single time you run, I'd see a doctor because you might have circulation issues.

[kmonty33]

No, there isn't any burning and nothing with the shins. I've had stress fractures from track back in high school, so I know its not that.

It may be the tight shoe thing and not stretching enough. I know my hip flexors and lower back are real tight. Do you think that could maybe be restricting some blood flow to my lower leg or something?

[Chubb88]

Yep, I've been there, was my third time out running, I did three miles, not timed or anything just to see if I could do it. I got it around like the mile and a half mark but my left foot went totally numb around 2. I was running in skateboarding shoes at the time though... plus like I said it was just my third time out so I wasnt running right. Is it just one certain foot or both? Its always my left, I got a shine splint a week later in my left too from running wrong and in skateboarding shoes. That could be it with you too man, just running the wrong way, hitting the ground too hard in the wrong spot and angle or something. I hope this helped man, good luck and have fun running

[kmonty33]

Yeah, its always my right foot. But sometimes it won't happen as bad, just a little tingling.

Not to sound rude, but I don't think it is my running style, I did track all through middle and high school, so I have good light steps with good strides with minimal impact. I run real soft now because of the stress fractures I got in high school. I am really unflexible though, so I think I just need to work on that and it should get better.....

[Nihilo]

No..Did you ever consult someone about this? seems like it can be a problem especially if your faced with a nice 25k route.

[kmonty33]

No, I havent seen a physician yet. If it doesnt get better in the next week or two of running I will for sure.

[TheJesterIM]

your shoe laces might be too tight.

[kmonty33]

Yeah, that could be it. I do like to lace em up pretty tight haha! Thanks!

[r3mz]

yea it happens to me. .and it seems to be my right foot too!I thought it was just me, they told me it was the shoelaces but it not! still does it and it always happens around the 3rd or 4th mile mark too. It gets numb and gets really annoying but once you hit the 5th mile mark its out of your head. But i noticed when i stop running i can feel blood flowing down my leg?. . i dunno were retarded haha

[kmonty33]

Dude, thats so weird. I'm glad its not just me! When I get done running and walk a little bit to cool down, it doesn't take much longer than 30 seconds to a minute for the numbness to go away. I dont know what it is, but I can still run with it... Crazy!

[ljm9304]

It would behoove all of you complaining of numbness and having pain that subsides after stopping the exercise, to go to a orthropedic surgeon asap. I'd had many of these same symptoms and was almost mis-diagnosed with shin splints, but a simple test revealed I had compartment syndrome. Basically it is when you leg compartments, 1 or all 4 of them, are to small for the muscle, so that when your muscle is used it cuts of the nerve that runs to your foot, as well as cutting off circulation of the main vain that runs through there as well. At first I was able to deal with it and just forget it, but down the road it gets worse, with longer and more frequent runs your lower legs can feel like they are on fire. If left untreated it can result in permanent nerve and tissue damage. I had the surgery that fixes this, it went well. It is not a very invasive procedure, they just cut the fascia (kind of like a second skin that seperates the compartments) to release the pressure, and stitch you back up. It only takes about a month to get back to running. I'm only a couple months post-my last op and have already passed my PST.
Hopefully nobody has this, but I have heard of people being misdiagnosed with shin splints for up to 6 years b4 getting the proper diagnosis and I dont want that to happen to anyone, I got lucky and the doc pin pointed it the first time I went in

[ljm9304]

Oh and whoever complained of tingling, I'd get a appt soon, same stuff happened to me. The proper way to diagnose this is with a pressure catheder test. Basically like getting a shot, except they arent putting anything into you, but just measuring the pressure in the leg. Feel free to PM with any q's if you got em.

[kmonty33]

Thanks for the info. I remmeber that my senior year of high school I got an injury during a football game. A 300 pound lineman fell on the side of my calf. I didn't think much of it, it just hurt. SO I kept playing. Turns out that when I went to the doctor that blood and other fluids had built up in my leg and if I kept running or if it got hit again my leg would have basically burst open from the pressure. And it was my right leg too...

Not sure if this would have anything to do with it. But self-diagnoses aren't a good thing. If it persists the next couple times I run I will def get it checked out. Thanks again for the info.