Numb Big Toe

I just got back from a month-long, alpine climbing trip. We had good weather in the Canadian Rockies so spent a lot of long days on the rock. About a week and a half ago, my partner and I did the Beckey-Chouinard from Applebee Campground in a 21 hour day.

Since then, the outside and top of my left, big toe has been somewhat numb. It has some feeling, but definitely isn't 100%. I ignored it and sport climbed for two days on the way home, but otherwise haven't put on climbing shoes since the Beckey-Chouinard.

I wore comfortable rock shoes and my toes didn't bother me at all during the day. It was only afterwards when I noticed a problem. The skin and tissue has seemed fine and hasn't been discolored at all. It's just the nerves which have been giving me trouble. It was cold and my toes may have been a little numb during the approach, but warmed up quickly and stayed warm throughout the day. I really don't think that there was any frost nip.

Does anyone have any thoughts or had a similar experience? I've thought about going to the doctor, but assume they won't have any insight besides to wait and see.

Otherwise, I thought I would post this also as a warning to take to take off your rock shoes at belays on long alpine days even if your feet feel okay in order to give the nerves a break.

Should go away with time. I had one after an extended backpacking trip that I was woefully unprepared for. As far as I know, it's temporary nerve damage from consistent abuse. I had it for a few months (slowly faded over 2-3 months) after that long trip, then it came back in both toes for about a month after a particularly long and very very cold day in the Adirondacks that winter. I've heard it's very common with backpackers and thru-hikers.

That happened to me after doing the Grand Teton. It got about 90% better after about a week and 99% better by several months later

calluses can cause numbness on your toes, if you have an unusually big callus it could be the issue.

It's lupus, ygd.

That happens to both my big toes whenever I'm climbing regularly, so almost always. The only time it goes away is when I'm barely climbing for at least a few months, like after an injury, or some winters. It's disconcerting but it doesn't hurt or impair any function so I just ignore it. If you do go to the Dr. and learn anything interesting let us know.

Contusion (crush injury) of peripheral nerve. Peripheral nerves will grow back, probably a week to a month or so for minor nerves, several months or up to a year for major nerves. For major nerves, can be very painful as the nerve dies.

In high school football, I got clobbered on the outside of my lower leg. That night, worst pain I've ever felt. Thereafter, numbness on top and instep of foot plus entire big toe. Took 3 or 4 months to get any sensation back, a year before it felt normal. But it did grow back.

If your numbness is limited to the big toe and didn't come with a lot of pain, sounds like a minor nerve. Expect gradual recovery probably only taking a week or two.

(obligatory disclaimer, I'm not a doctor)

I have the same symptoms caused by winter climbing. Got it the first time about 7 years ago. The feeling came back in about a month.I Got it again 2 years ago and it never recovered. But I don't even notice when I'm climbing, I have better things to think about:)

Most likely the term for this is neuropraxia, direct physical injury to the nerve. This assumes you did not cause cold injury to it. These can recover with time. Nerves are slow to heal. Be careful not to reinjure the area if you wish to maximize recovery.

Rather froze my big toes on the SuperCouloir in Feb. 2011, the feeling more or less came back by July but to this day my feet give me trouble in the cold. The price of admission I suppose...