Numb feet long after AT thru hike

[Northern Harrier]

I hiked the AT last year finishing at the end of August. I had heard it would take a month or two to get over numb feet. Nine months later: Feet are still numb - feel like the calluses on my feet have water under them. Doesn't hurt. I still take day hikes. I've heard of two other guys with the same phenomenom. Anybody else? Something to worry about or not? - NH

[MOWGLI]

I hiked the AT last year finishing at the end of August. I had heard it would take a month or two to get over numb feet. Nine months later: Feet are still numb - feel like the calluses on my feet have water under them. Doesn't hurt. I still take day hikes. I've heard of two other guys with the same phenomenom. Anybody else? Something to worry about or not? - NH

Yeah, me too. It finally subsided. See a Podiatrist if you're worried.

[Footslogger]

I wouldn't call them "numb". I do have some feeling in them ...but the tips of my toes are still having synapse misfires. When I stand barefoot in the shower there is a very dull sensation. This after a thru that ended on 10/0/03. Doesn't exactly cause me problems so I've never done anything about it.

'Slogger
AT 2003

[weary]

I hiked the AT last year finishing at the end of August. I had heard it would take a month or two to get over numb feet. Nine months later: Feet are still numb - feel like the calluses on my feet have water under them. Doesn't hurt. I still take day hikes. I've heard of two other guys with the same phenomenom. Anybody else? Something to worry about or not? - NH

The late DelDoc, who hiked the trail several times, used to check hikers feet to determine how many had numb feet. Most did as I recall.

His explanation was that a nerve runs close to the bottom of the foot and the constant pounding on a long distance trail gradually causes the nerve to become unresponsive.

Most of my numbness (at least the foot kind) cleared up after six months.

Weary

[MedicineMan]

Great to see you at WB....I met you during your thru in Central Virginia in the Apple Orchard Mtn. area.....good luck with your feet, but do you need them anymore since you've done your thru?

[Alpha]

I have a problem with my feet too...i just finished my thru-hike a couple days ago and my feet have been swollen up ever since, I don't have ankles, there just puffed up, can anybody explain why?

[The Solemates]

Ive never had any numbness of the feet, neither during, or after, our thru-hike. My wife had numbness for the first 2 months on our thru, but then it subsided after that and never came back.

[MOWGLI]

I have a problem with my feet too...i just finished my thru-hike a couple days ago and my feet have been swollen up ever since, I don't have ankles, there just puffed up, can anybody explain why?

I can't give you a medical explaination, but I can tell you that the human body was not designed to hike as far and as fast as you did. I took 5.5 months to hike, and my feet were numb for months. No swelling though. I suggest you sleep with a pillow under your feet at night. If you're sitting on a couch or in an office, try and elevate your feet. That should help with the swelling.

Look at the bright side. It's a great excuse to stay away from the Mall - if someone tries to drag you to one of those god awful places. "Uh, sorry - but my feet are swollen. Can't do it."

home.

[Seeker]

you might also consider seeing a chiropractor, especially one specializing in upper cervical (base of skull, or atlas bone) manipulation, as opposed to the traditional 'bone cracker' kind... doesn't hurt at all... here's a link to find one in your area... http://www.uppercervical.org/index.shtml

i got involved after an accident involving a horse (long story ) with resulting pain. great results, and quick too... they have a slightlyl different philosophy and treatment technique, but basically it's about abnormal pressure on nerves in the spine... ever wonder what the effect of carrying your pack had on not just your feet but your entire spine?

my .02 worth.

[the goat]

yeah, my big toes were numb on the sides and bottom for like 6-9 months afterwards.

[wren]

Towards the end of my hike, my feet got super sensitive - it was sensory overload to walk barefoot on pavement.. I did have some residual numbness in my toes as well. Overall I think it took at least 6 months for my feet to fully recover.

[neo]

i have had numb toe's after long section hikes,but the feeling has always came back neo

[Newb]

If it hurts when you do that....don't do that.

[atmuttley]

Every year I Section hike I get the same results. One year after a longer than normal section it was worse then previous years, I Went to a foot specialist and went through an injection process that went on fo 3 weeks 1 time a week, it helped! now I don't (can't for work reasons) hike as long of sections but still get the numbness but it resides on its own after 4-6 weeks. I would say if its been longer than that you may want to have a foot specialist look at them.

good luck!
atmuttley