Anybody experience “Christmas Toes” what did you do?

[Robinhood21]

“CHRISTMAS TOES” - numb & tingling feeling in big toes, usually experienced by hikers going long distances with heavy packs.

It has been over a month now since I got back from Alaska and am still experiencing a numb and tingling sensation in my right toe. Packing moose a long distance for an extended period of time was the culprit.

My left toe seems it has fully recovered but my right toe is still numb and tingly. Some days better some days worse feeling.

From what I’ve read, in most cases it will go away in 2-3 weeks.

Who else has experienced this and how long did it take for a full recovery?

TIA
Ryan

 

[tony]

Try rolling your foot on a plastic coke bottle, one of those one you get out of the cooler at a gas station.
Freeze it or hot water, try both. Usually the first thing we’d have people do with foot numbness when I worked in the ED.

 

[IBen]

i get it every year. I feel that a callus shaver may help somewhat but it usually is around Christmas time when mine goes away

 

[ozyclint]

Yeah give it time. I had it this year after NZ.

 

[Robobiss]

I’ve had the outsides of both big toes numb since I was in the Marine Corps, it started 12 years ago or so, it has gotten slightly better, but not much. It’s still there.

That probably doesn't make you feel any better about it though .

 

[waspocrew]

My left toe is currently numb from my last hunting trip. Heading out for another week tonight, so likely won’t get any better for a couple months.

Only happens with my Crispi boots. I probably should try another model. My danners do just fine.

 

[Robinhood21]

I’ve had the outsides of both big toes numb since I was in the Marine Corps, it started 12 years ago or so, it has gotten slightly better, but not much. It’s still there.

That probably doesn't make you feel any better about it though .

Noooooooooooo!!

 

[Robinhood21]

Good info, thanks fellas

 

[Ozarkansas]

I had this in my toes for the entirety of my time in ROTC, when I was doing a lot of ruck races, and for a big part of my Army time. It stuck around for about 3 years after my last race, but still comes back on really long hikes.

 

[JBahr]

I get it every year.

I've tried several boots, socks, extended training with/without weight and nothing seems to prevent it. It's always a week in the woods typically with back to back 8-15 mile days or a long, hard downhill with weight that initiates it. Shows up the next day.

I'm typically done with that type of stuff by mid October and funny enough, seems to resolve itself by Christmas. Haven't tried any treatments to heal faster.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Got it in the army, never really left. I don’t think about it much since they are numb though…

 

[MountainTracker]

Dealing with this right now from a goat hunt two weeks ago. I also had the same thing happen last year after a goat and sheep hunt. Last year it took about 2-3 months to get back to normal, and a few months after that I lost a toe nail.

My pack base weight was 46 lbs.


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[ozyclint]

I lost a nail once too.

 

[MountainTracker]

I will say I never had this issue when elk hunting and packing heavy, but I did do a bit more pre season training with moderate weight like 25ish lbs on longer hikes once a week minimum.

The boots I was wearing during elk season were Lowas and Crispi boots. For goat and sheep only crispi with less flex.


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[Robinhood21]

I will say I never had this issue when elk hunting and packing heavy, but I did do a bit more pre season training with moderate weight like 25ish lbs on longer hikes once a week minimum.

The boots I was wearing during elk season were Lowas and Crispi boots. For goat and sheep only crispi with less flex.


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I did a lot of heavy weight training before the hunt with my Crispis and they were great. I was wearing my simms wading boots when we were packing out as we had to go through some marshy areas so I'm guessing that's where the issue is.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

By the end of Jan, duck season, I usually have a few numb ones, a few missing toe nails...and at least on nasty ingrown toenail that i have to operate on. It usually corrects itself by end of Aug...My wife made a comment the other day that she is surprised its Oct all my toes still have nails....LOL