Question
Hi, I'm a 47 year old male, medium frame, and about 195 lbs. About two years ago, I was 240 lbs. and tired of the mid-age spare tire so I took up walking at a relative fast pace. I walked two miles in 30 minutes five times a week. Getting back in shape was great. I never had any pain while walking or afterwards. Recently (over the last six months)I have been traveling and have not been walking frequently. I have been able to maintain the weight through diet. The problem is my left foot. If I point the toes of my left foot toward my right, stretching the outside edge of my left foot, a sharp pain develops for an instant. The pain is almost as if my foot immediately goes to sleep. It even feels shortly afterward that there is a round flat stone in my shoe between the outer edge and the shoe. Usually it goes away if I stop extending it. I notice it most often if I prop my foot up let's say on my desk at home after a day's work. Any idea what this could be?

Answer
Hi Steve and thanks for writing,

I'm not a physician but it sounds like pressure on a nerve to me. My advise is to do some simple gentle stretching exercises to stretch the muscles, nerves and fascia - I would strongly recommend you even try 5-10 private Pilates classes with a good Pilates instructor (find one trained in CLASSIC Pilates) and s/he can teach you some simple exercises you can do at home to work on your Core Strength as well as safely stretch the fascia (which they can explain to you).

If it gets worse (increases numbness and/or burning & tingling) then you should have a physician examine it.

I hope this answers your question,

Wishing you all the best,

Margot