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Thread: horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

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    Newbie viva_velouria's Avatar
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    Default horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

    Well it's my first full week of dancing....but I have to say...my legs hurt so bad....to the point that I need to go get a prescription pain killer tonight.
    Also one toe is numb.
    Is this sorta normal? Will I get use to it as I go? I don't want to be debilitated every time I dance.
    Thanks girls...
    AB

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    God/dess Zabrina's Avatar
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    Default Re:horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

    Are you breaking in a new pair of dancer shoes? That gives me numb-toe on occasion. If it keeps happening you might want to try another style or size of shoe.

    As for leg soreness, you will build up muscle strength and it will not hurt so much later on.

    Sounds to me like you need a day off or two!

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    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re:horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

    I agree with Mariah...but, she forgot something...

    Go get a good sports massage!!!

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    Veteran Member Nina77's Avatar
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    Default Re:horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

    Getting a massage sounds like a great idea! Also, drink plenty of water and stretch before dancing. I'm not a stripper yet, but I dance around alot and I notice that stretching and getting plenty of water makes a difference. Take care

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    Newbie viva_velouria's Avatar
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    Default Re:horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

    OOOO yea...that sounds wonderful.
    I was just worried....but I'm glad the toe and the soreness is normal.
    I'm just worried I won't be able to work out. :'(

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    Veteran Member vanilla_dog's Avatar
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    Default Re:horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

    I have never had a numb toe from dancing. I have had muscle pain but not like you are describing. Not a doc yada yada but IMO it sounds more like a pinched nerve or siatica. Does the pain kind of radiate from the hip down the back of the leg and ache? I had that and it was siatica. A chiropracter fixed it for me with one visit over 10 years ago. Pain never came back.

    Injury is one of the worst things that can happen to a dancer so I would not ignore it. I have seen ugly dancers, fat dancers, and old dancers but I have never seen a gimp dancer. Illness and injury can cost you thousands of dollars so don't ignore it.

    Spend a little now and make a lot later.

    You get what you put up with

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    God/dess Rhiannon's Avatar
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    Default Re:horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

    Quote Originally Posted by vanilla_dog link=board=25;threadid=7044;start=msg79972#msg7997 2 date=1078264558
    I have never had a numb toe from dancing. I have had muscle pain but not like you are describing. Not a doc yada yada but IMO it sounds more like a pinched nerve or siatica. Does the pain kind of radiate from the hip down the back of the leg and ache? I had that and it was siatica. A chiropracter fixed it for me with one visit over 10 years ago. Pain never came back.
    Eeek, VD.. I know the pain of Sciatica, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone! lol.. I had it a few years back and couldn't figure out what it was. It was a sharp pain that started from my middle back, through the butt, down the leg, and right to my toes. It was awful. I too, went to a chiropracter after being referred by my doctor after diagnosis. Luckily, it's neve returned.

    I'm not quite sure what the problem could be, Viva. One of my main "war wounds" from dancing is water-on-the-knee. That's the worst.

    Like Mariah said, you could change your shoe-style, and just keep at it until the muscle and strength build up in your legs. It could pass, but I would recommend getting it checked out by a doctor, just in case.

    Good luck to you.

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    Veteran Member ToriBaltimore's Avatar
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    Default Re:horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

    When I first started dancing I can remember literally crawling home on all fours from the pain in my feet. I thought I would never be able to walk again. The best thing to do is to keep working. I know it sounds like torture but your feet arent used to the stress you are putting on them and they need to in a sence be "trained".The longer you are a dancer..your legs will build muscle and you feet will get used to the pain. I think it took maybe a month or so before my body was really used to this new abuse I was giving it. Hope that info helps a little.........



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    Newbie BunEE's Avatar
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    Default Re:horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

    Hey - Chicky
    I've only been dancing for 2 weeks (part-time) I do about 3 nights a week and I am still dying. I take a say or two off in between the days I do work and I am so sore. I have bruises all over and my ankles hurt so bad - Everything hurts - Let's bite this bullet - it will get better - or so I hope! No pain no gain right.

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    Default Re:horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

    oh don't remember me of my beginning days... i used to go-go dance when i was 16 and back the like everything hurt so bad... it was muscles that u never use normally in a way which is like sports. dancing is a sport and you develop certain muscles, i think. the muscle pain will go away when ou get used to moves but the foot pain depends on the shoes.. some take more, some less activity to break them in.
    we had a girl once who fainted on stage in new boots...

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    Pamela
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    Default Re:horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

    New shoes, muscles not worked in along time, many reasons. One important part of dancing i have noticed, and i am quilty too, is dancing is tough for one, it's alot (or should be, fast or slow) of body movement, and we need to warm up our muscles by stretching out.

    I used to do this in a bathroom stall! It works! Limber up!

    Also look into shoes, very important, sounds like you may be losing some circulation during your moves. When you go home put your feet up and let the blood flow!

    Take care,

    Pamela

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    Default Re:horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

    LOL ! I'm am laughing with you .. the same thing keeps happening to me and I've only danced for a week.. every time I get the feeling back in that toe I have to go back into work!! hopefully my feet will get use to this SOON.. and the bruises on my knees I'm learning to try to do most of the floorwork with putting more pressure on my hands and arms to keep my legs looking like I was raped. .. good thing summer is not here yet..

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    Default Re:horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

    If the pain comes and goes it may not be a big problem. If it's constant see your podiatrist to be sure there's no nerve damage, sprain, or a fractured toe bone. Not to lecture but it's very important you stretch for five minutes before you hit the stage. Your muscles and tendons are less likely to tear if there's blood flowing in the areas you're about to work harder than usual. It's important you workout regularly (3-4 times a week). I find it's good to do some weight bearing excercize because it will improve your co-ordination and stamina. That means you can handle that late bachelor party instead of having to limp off home. It's good to do low-impact aerobic activity like elliptic machine, cycling, stair climbing etc. because you want your heart and lungs to get stronger and more efficient without your knees and feet becoming worn. Once you've shot your joint's cartilage out you are done. It doesn't regenerate. Please check out the Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding by Arnold Schwarzennegger. That book gave me the edge to outlast other dancers. No bullshit. Also, make sure your shoes are the right size. They can say size 8 but the way the shoe is cut can make their sizing an opinion not fact. Don't expect your shoes to stretch. Only leather shoes stretch. Patent leather and platforms don't stretch. Your foot just gets battered and numb. Buy cushion soled shoes and boots that allow room for socks. Change the shoes you wear from shift to shift to give your feet a rest. Don't stomp when you can tip toe. Don't slam your body down when you can glide. And don't think 20 year old athletes and dancers can't get arthritis. Most pros are out of sports and dancing by 30 and are on some form of pain reliever for life.
    “What a caterpillar calls the end of the world we call a butterfly.” - ECKHART TOLLE

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    Veteran Member MotherDaisy's Avatar
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    Default Re:horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

    Prescription pain pills can be dangerous. A very close friend and neighbor of mine ended up in rehab after several attempts to break her addiction to them. They have been deamed, "the equivalent to crack for housewives". Be careful with those!

    Before I started dancing I was hitting the gym everyday because I always saw strippers with these toned, athletic bodies. I thought working out hard was a requirement for the position!!
    Turns out that they were so toned and strong because dancing is hella hard work!! Don't worry if you are to sore to go to the gym now. Or go and do some light walking and LOTS of stretching.

    Sciatica also happens during pregnancy cause the baby is sitting on that huge vein and nerve area. That's why preg women are not supposed to sleep on their backs. It puts to much pressure on the sciatic nerve.
    Those who bring sunshine into lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves.

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    Default Re:horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

    Great advice MotherDaisy. Just keep flexible if you can't get to the gym. Pilates is a good way to go. There are many tapes to suit your specific needs.
    “What a caterpillar calls the end of the world we call a butterfly.” - ECKHART TOLLE

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    Default Re: horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

    Sorry to hear about your pain, hopefully by now it's gone. what you are talking about can be Sciatica like Rhiannon talked about (which I've fixed many times myself as a massage therapist). It can also be a circulatory problem in the legs and feet which would involve massage which I agree with Venus on, when you first start dancing it can be ungodly. Beyond that it depends on which toe is giving you the problem, I'm going with if it's big toe or little toe generally that has to do with shoes and those two toes tend to change the most when dancing in tight shoes because those two toes are directly hitting the sides, open toes are better if you are getting the numb toe. If it's around the middle of the foot, especially third and fourth toe that means that you have a Morton's Neuroma, if that's the case you will have to get regular massage therapy and may have to go to a podiatrist and get a cortizone shot. Also this can be metatarsalagia but that's sounds less likely because that would cause the ball of the foot or several toes to either be painful or numb. Also you could have tarsal tunnel syndrome as well, it's like carpal tunnel except it's not in the wrist, it's in the ankles and it will cause toes to go numb and your legs to be painful. Any of these are possible, I would go to the massage therapist first because most of those conditions are helped by what I do and generally is the cheapest option since most dancers don't have insurance. Hope this helps, I probably will link to this reply because I noticed a lot of these posts, hope this helps you

    Dale

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    Default Re: horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

    I danced for the first time on Thursday and Friday, was supposed to work Saturday but had to take off necause I was worthlessly sore and exhausted. I wouldn't have been able to do anything except sleep on stage and in customers' laps. All of my toes have been kind numb since Friday... like the tips of them feel numb, you know, that pins-n-needles feeling. I know I need better shoes and I'm hoping it will get better, but you are not alone!

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    Veteran Member Natalia108's Avatar
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    Default Re: horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

    Quote Originally Posted by viva_velouria
    OOOO yea...that sounds wonderful.
    I was just worried....but I'm glad the toe and the soreness is normal.
    I'm just worried I won't be able to work out.
    hun its totally normal you have only been there for a week your body is just getting use too it..

    After a while ya body just gets use too it..

    my feet wear that bad when i first went back that they were swallon and had cut marks from where the plastic was wearing in

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    Lightbulb Re: horrid leg pain..numb toe....first week...will it get better?

    [QUOTE=vanilla_dog] A chiropracter fixed it for me



    I see my chiropracter every two weeks even if I have not fallen. It makes a huge difference if I fall knowing that everything was where it should have been. It also helps me with any leg pain that I get. Try taking a multi vitamin every day it helps also.

    Hope all works out.

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