Numb toes and littl...
 

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Numb toes and little finger after ultra race

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I did a road bike ultra race for the first time (1000km), and got sore toes and hands as expected during the ride.  

It’s now 12 days on however and I still have mild tingling on my right little finger, weaker grip and numb toes.  

I have tried doing some ulnar nerve flossing and taking a bit of ibuprofen.

Has anyone had this before and have any idea of how long it might take to wear off, Dr Google seems to suggest a couple of weeks for mild cases.  

Think I need to go for a bike fit and look at some new shoes when I get back on the bike. 

Thanks 

 


 
Posted : 03/07/2025 8:21 pm
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Yes. About three months for full feeling to return to my fingertips after Paris Brest Paris. The ulnar nerve regrows very slowly.


 
Posted : 03/07/2025 11:00 pm
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If I get numb toes or hotspots on a long ride ( over 200 miles),it's usually down to starting off with my shoes slightly too tight.I now set off with them being too slack ( which feels wrong for a bit), then slowly adjust as my feet swell/settle in.The fingers/palm numbness I don't get so much as I am pretty good at moving around all the hand positions. Did you use a tri bars/armrest setup ?


 
Posted : 04/07/2025 7:07 am
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I had the same things happen once after a 12hr solo MTB race. It took a couple of months to go back to normal.


 
Posted : 04/07/2025 8:06 am
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Just to add, I've fitted aerobars this year mostly so I can get weight off my hands periodically. It's not solved the problem but it's better.


 
Posted : 04/07/2025 8:11 am
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I've had this for at least 6 months in both hands and feet. For a long time I couldn't touch my thumb and little finger together. I'd say longer than a year in feet, but both did resolve eventually. 

 


 
Posted : 04/07/2025 10:42 am
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I did an ultra gravel 6 days about 2 weeks ago.
Big toe on one foot "numbed out" almost completely on day 3.
It's fine now. 


 
Posted : 04/07/2025 9:13 pm
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Yes I used tri bars and spent a fair bit of time in them.  My set up was probably too road racer for the distance I was doing.

The final day I did 300 miles in 24.5 hrs.  

I have wide feet, and wide fit shoes but they probably still aren’t wide enough.  It was that weekend when it was 30oc + which probably meant they swelled more than normal.

My symptoms don’t sound as severe as some of those above so hopefully will settle down in weeks rather than months.  

It has slightly put me off doing another because it has effected my dexterity and grip strength both of which I need for work.

 

 


 
Posted : 04/07/2025 11:01 pm

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