Human foot problem

["Carol Barrett" <cbar@lightspeed.net>]

Hi all-

I hope someone out there has knowledge of podiatry (human, not horse). For
the last year, I have had problems with the "ball" of my foot while riding.
After about ten minutes, it starts to ache, then burn, then my outer toes
go numb. As you can imagine, this is *very* uncomfortable when you're
riding 50+ miles! I about died on my last ride. I took an 800mg Motrin at
lunch and that helped. I had a couple of Cortizone shots, one worked, the
last one didn't. The problem is that after five minutes of getting off my
horse, the pain and numbness goes away. Consequently, it's hard to
pin-point where to direct the shot. I've tried shoe inserts and changing
shoes, too. I bought new Cloud stirrups.No relief. I've discovered that it
happens when I'm hiking down steep terrain, too. I thought it was, perhaps,
a pinched or bruised nerve, but I'm starting to think I have a small
"stress fracture" in one of those little bones that abound in one's foot. I
haven't had an xray yet. That's my next plan of attack. Anyway, if anyone
has ever had this problem, please offer me some advice! This is ruining my
riding "career". Thanks!

"Hop-a-long" Carol Barrett
Tehachapi, CA