Mortons Neuroma and Riding

[flamingnoravera]

I have booked a 6 day riding holiday in July in Spain and my holiday is now all booked and paid for . Last week i was diagnosed with Mortons Neuroma :( I had noticed that the last few times I rode or walked in thin shoes I got numb feet and so in advance of the holiday I thought I would book in to see the podiatrist who has given me an initial diagnosis and a lengthy proper appointment with a foot mechanics specialist next week. It is because I have very narrow feet with no padding on the ball and quite flat feet.

There is no way that I am not going on the holiday so I was wondering about what I could do. I may get prescribed an orthotic to wear in my boots which I hope will help. But i have been browsing around and thought about buying some special stirrups to take with me- these:

www.hmsaddles.com/products/hm-stirrup-irons

Do you think they will think I am mad? Do you think they need special leathers? If I tell them I have this numb foot thing will they say I cannot ride? (I can, I have been doing for ages but it hurts and although I have been riding with the numbness its only been for an hour not 4 hours).

I can email the place and ask about the tack and find out what they have, I think they have Spanish and English saddles but I dont know what Spanish stirrups are like- possibly wider?

Does anyone else have MN and how do you cope?

Hi I don’t have riding experience but have had MN - I found anything with good support and not flat prevented attack’s completely. Also the physio I was given really did help - All settled down with a couple of months and not occurred since. Good luck!

Thanks hardhead the thing about riding is that all your weight or at least a lot of it can go through the ball of your foot at some paces and so MN can be made much worse. The position of the foot in the stirrup is with the ball of the foot on the stirrup (not the middle of the foot forward of the heel as many non riders think). I am optimistic because since I had the diagnosis I have not worn my beloved cowboy boots (I live in the them usually but they are pointy) and have switched to fit flop shoes and not had pain, but I cannot ride in fit flop shoes or boots- they are totally unsuitable, dangerous even. So I will have to wear my proper, flat jodphur boots.

All your weight shouldn't be going through the ball of your foot. And there are plenty of better footwear options other than thin soled jodhpur boots. Mountain Horse and Ariat do some nice boots with a decent heel and solid soles that are great and very comfy. They need to be quite wide across the ball of your foot, narrow toes and thin soles are not good for MN.

I suppose I meant it feels like my weight is going through the ball of my foot at some paces, clearly it's not, but the numbness and pain do emphasise the ball of the foot contact. Thanks for the recommendations of ariat and mountain, I'll have a look.

I cannot wear anything with lace ups either- they make the MN worse, they seem to cut off the circulation across the top of my bony foot. I looked at Ariat and Mountain and it looks like I can go for paddock boots or some quite nice steel reinforced jodphur boots but they look so clumpy, I suppose I have to resign myself to wide fit. Mad, as my feet are so narrow they slip around in wide fit. I cannot wear hiking boots for walking even if they are two sizes larger than my normal shoes, my toes are numb in minutes. Darn this thing.

tatty what do you think about the stirrups? I had a look at spanish stirrups and they are very wide on the base which looks hopeful. Perhaps I will use a Spanish saddle- this will be new for me- I have ridden side saddle and western style but never Spanish style.

You might want to look at these.
Much more flexible than the English style flexi stirrups, you really bounce in them
www.raddery.com/flex-ride-stirrups-c102x2608745

purple thanks for this suggestion, they sound fab, can they go on ordinary leathers? I am now trying to compose an email to the owners of the finca to find out more about their tack so that they dont think I am that woman but get enough information so that I can take what I need to be comfortable. I also dont want them to think I didnt tell them everything when I filled out their declaration, at the time I booked I had not even thought I might have a proper condition, just a "bit on an issue with tight shoes".

Yes, I use the Webber type dressage leathers with mine but plain leather ones would be equally good.
The only Saddle you might have issues with swopping leathers are western saddles, anything else ought to work

Hi. I don't know about your specific condition. I have other issues!! but my instructor recently recommended those same stirrups or Sprenger bow balance. There are cheaper versions.

The idea being that increased mobility in your foot and ankle is a really good thing for many issues.

I also got myself some much better flexible rubber soled jodhpur boots. Which feel very like M and S footglove boots to wear.

When I mentioned it to a couple of pro riders I know. They said oh yes. I can't ride in anything else.

I had never heard of them.

All in all a massive improvement.

@Theresahairbrushinthefridge what make are the boots? I have to admit my boots are probably past it so new ones are in order.

I am not sure. I am away at the moment. I'll look when I get back and let you know. They were not super expensive.

I can't see them online. I'll have to let you know next week. In general I have found zip fronted boots a revelation. My older pull ons just grew and grew.

I am thinking about these
but I will wait till I have seen the mechanical specialist for advice before buying new boots. Still trying to compose an email about stirrups to the finca owner that explains what I need withouth it looking like I am a liability.

www.derbyhousestore.com/en-UK/Mountain-Horse-Stable-Jodhpur-Boots/dh5147443.htm?colour=Cinnamon

If its essentially hacking rather than really precise stuff why not just ride without stirrups?

So today I had a full mechanical assessment and I'm getting orthotics for the holiday and walking. I've always known I was a bit all over the place and now I know why I also have back pain and hate walking. My ankles are rigid, my hips face the wrong way and my bow legs force me to lock my hips and my feet are flat but can be helped.

All my mechanical stuff was worked on by an amazing specialist who filmed me walking, measured blood flow to my feet, examined my feet, ankles, shins, hips and pelvis along with my back and neck/head. She explained all manner of stuff that makes sense for my odd gait and gave me hope that I can ride comfortably in the immediate future and can improve and alleviate back pain that has been part of my life for years.

In two weeks I get my orthotics and in the meantime I can work on getting my body to build up muscles where I need them for better balance. I'm feeling super hopeful that after all these years it's not too late to get my skeleton to work properly.

Lots of no stirrups and work on the lunge then. Will be fun

I'd love to do lunge work but finding anywhere locally that offers it is (so far) impossible. I learned to ride on a lunge and I don't quite know why nowhere does it any longer (I learned in 1960s).

Wherever you're going to ride to get riding fit and brush up skills should be able to do private lessons, and if you ask for some lunge work they should agree to it.

I bought those boots but they are too wide at the ankles and flop around so they've gone back. My orthotics arrived on Monday and today I gave my first riding session with them in my old boots.

I've got a half hour private. I'm quite excited, it's been months since I e ridden.

I'm so hopeful for a ride with no numbness.

I just had a private lesson with the new orthotics in my old boots and NO pain or numbness. Lots of no stirrups and transition work. Next week lunge work, I'm knackered but happy :)

Lunge lesson today. I fell off! Cantering with no stirrups, she spooked (twice) and I landed on the floor the second time- nothing damaged apart from my dignity. We worried that the mare I was riding was finding the bend too much?

On a positive note, no numbness and my position has improved vastly already.

Look at specialist endurance riding kit. They tend to be made for comfort as riders are often doing 50 miles plus. The stirrups with the cages are great as you can then wear trainers or whatever is most comfortable for your feet.

DW went for the normal (plastic rather than metal) stirrups but the ones with shock absorbers when she was doing endurance.

I'm getting v excited, it's only a week now (and a bit) but I'm only taking normal kit- I'm going to buy a shiny new vented and washable liner helmet. But the orthotics are working and so are the fitness lessons and exercises I'm doing.

Right! It's only three days away and I'm bricking it now! I've got the "I don't want to go" feeling.

I need reassurance and a packing list! Help!

OP, I’m madly envious of your upcoming holiday. Good that you’ve got your medical stuff on track, so you’re all set to enjoy it to the max.

Have a fab time and if they’ve got Wi-fi do post an update or two