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Foot burn, foot pain, pins and needles when wearing snowboarding boots - solved &#x1f

34K views 72 replies 18 participants last post by  Buckedknave1092  
#1 ·
Foot burn, foot pain, pins and needles when wearing snowboarding boots - solved &#x1f

I had to share this to hopefully save a lot of people a lot of pain. My wife has suffered with foot pain ( mostly in the balls of her feet) ever since we started boarding about 16 years ago. We have tried everything, thin socks, thick socks, new boots, loose boots, moulded boots, new bindings, flow bindings, loose bindings and Rum!! We ha e spent hours in board shops trying different boots but after 10-15 mins the pins and needles/ numbness start. No “experts” have been able to help. This is without even being on a board.

We are off boarding soon and we’re determined to not go through this again so I started looking at the anatomy of the foot to see where the veins are that supply the majority of blood to the feet and it turn out there are two, one runs down the top of the foot. Some people’s veins run on or over the arch bone and pressing on this lightly with a finger can easily block blood flow to the toes. With this in mind I set about cutting the inner boot of her snowboard boots so that there was a large hole that meant no pressure was applied to this main vein. (Wish I could post a picture). The hole is about 1.5-2 inches wide and runs from just before where your toes start up to just before the ankle and along the highest part of the arch.

Bingo the pain/numbness foot burn is gone!

If you are suffering with continuous foot pain/numbness/pin and needles then I would seriously look at making sure you are not obstructing blood flow can cutting your inner boots to give the vein in the top of your foot room to flow.

Scary cutting up your boots but worth it I promise.

Really hope this saves a few people lots of pain. ?
 
#2 · (Edited)
Thanks for posting!
I assume she has a high arch? I know this story of numb/cold/hurting feet so well... bought battery heated socks, too, but run into troubles with almost every new boot. Combination of unthreading, hacking, AND heated socks was the remedy for me in 32 boots (https://www.snowboardingforum.com/boots/260151-high-arch-instep-boot-modification.html). Will keep your way in mind for a future boot where this doesn't work.

BTW: Once you have 10 posts, please come back and post the pics
 
#3 ·
She doesn’t have high arches, we had her measured. The issue I think is that the anterior vein crosses over the metatarsal bone and even a small amount of pressure on it blocks it. Again I have pics but will have to wait to post.

This is such a game changer, I would seriously recommend it. ???

I might start my own boot company as I really think this is the solution to so many people foot pain. I’ve also never seen this mentioned in any other forums on the web.... hence me posting.
 
#12 ·
Interesting. I never gave a thought on that vains have different layout in different ppl... I've several which cross cross along arch and metatarsal... is it those you mean?
Image
 
#5 ·
Just 10 posts (answers). You see your post count beneath your username
 
#16 · (Edited)
#23 ·
Good job on solving your issue! Btw, and for future reference for others reading this,... You might have been able to accomplish the same thing by shaving down that section of liner as opposed to cutting it out. I only mention this as it might be wise to start small before going all "Ginsu Knives" on your liners! ;) :lol:

It's possible you also might have been able to fix things by building up the liner slightly on either side of the problem.

Not diss'ing the OP's ingenious solution, just putting forward options for those who are a little more timid about cutting up their liners. (.. @neni, you can ignore this obviously! Nothing "timid" about you!!) ;) :laugh:

Angry snowboarder's Boot fit series might cover some of those options I mentioned also. (...haven't watched the entire series yet!) :shrug:

:hairy:
 
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#19 ·
Yup, pic are visible now. Thanks a lot!
 
#22 ·
That’s a really good idea, my only con earn would be that the moulding generally doesn’t last so would need to be redone. Also the bindings may close the gap created. By cutting out the liner you are creating a permanent space for the vein even with bindings on.


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#26 ·
Here’s a picture showing my wife feet after 20 mins of being in boots. The one on the left is the normal boot without modification. The right foot is with mod. The red patch on the left foot really show how well this works. You can also see the imprinted lines from her socks are much more defined in the left foot.
Image



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#31 ·
That's why we advocate proper fitting boots first. Even if it causes pain, if the boot is not holding your foot in place properly, most everyone cranks down on boots, bindings, or both to compensate. This can cause similar issues.

As for the OP's issue,... even tho this may well have been simply an Anatomy issue, she no doubt still needs tightly laced boots. Thus, if things don't match up well? Pressure!!

Be it anatomy or poor fit?? Foot pain can utterly ruin an otherwise EPIC day on the hill! :shrug:
@2by2handsofblue,... I hope this tip will solve your issue! :D
 
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#35 · (Edited)
Those are certainly high arches. Not @neni high,.. ;) :laugh: But yeah they're high!

Probably means a high instep too.

-edit-
Oops! Have to post a retraction. :embarrased1:

Re-checked the vid & she does fall into the normal range. My bad!! ;) :laugh:
 
#36 ·
If you have just one Boa, I find that is easily a problem as it will lead to no circulation due to that vein you are correct. If you have 2 Boa's, you don't really need to bother doing the bottom one up tight at all as your boots can still be tightened and the bindings will hold your foot in place anyway. Personally, I do my boots up tight then put on a product called "Strapins' and then actually loosen my boots off a bit as I know the circulation won't be cut off and they won't loosen for the rest of the day.
 
#40 ·
So today we’re off to buy a pair of boots. Going to be trying the idea of padding over the vein before heat moulding the boot and see what that does. My concern with this is that once bindings are put on they will close up the gap (that is basically just an air gap) and apply pressure to the vein again. I think we’ll end up cutting them up so watch this space.


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#42 ·
I had the problem of my bradshaw 32's making my left foot numb...solved it by using Boot Doc S8 insoles. I think before getting a proper arch support I was cranking down harder than need be when lacing the internal laces and pronating my foot besides cutting off circulation. I have a ton more stability now when riding and feel super planted with the new insoles so I am sold on them....beside fixing my own numbness issue.