Numbness with breaking in skates

[irenar5]

I got new Riedell 875 boots a week ago.  The first 3 hours the boots felt comfortable- I was pretty much able to do anything in them without using any padding at all.  After that I noticed that i have numbness over the top of both of my feet - between the big toe and the ankle.  If you look up Superficial Peroneal sensory  nerve distribution, you'll see what I am talking about.  The numbness stays all the time-not just when I skate.  There are no other symptoms, just feels numb when I run my finger over the foot.  My right (landing) boot has a terrible pressure spot when I skate- right in the bend between the ankle and the leg.  Bunga pad seems to help the pain during skating  but only if  I  position it lower than the bend and a bit more to the right (not directly over the pressure spot). 
The left leg has a raw spot a couple of inches above the outside ankle bone, and a pressure spot in the ankle bend as well. The left foot feels comfortable when I put bunga pads in, but I am forever retying the right one at the boards. 
I am ok with pressure spots, I have expected them, but the numbness is worrying me. 

I am sure I am pinching one of the branches of the superficial peroneal nerve, but my question is:  when does it go away?  Do I need to take a break until no more numbness?  IF so, how long does it take?  And, more importantly, how do I prevent it from happening again, if bunga pads don't really help?   Has anyone tried any other pads or gear?   Any suggestions, comments, experiences are welcome!!!!

[hopskipjump]

I would not hesitate to return them to the skate shop with the head guy to look at them.  Maybe they need more punching out.  when dd got her skates (Reidell also), we went back about 6 times.  After skating for 30 minutes she would go in and they would check spots on her feet for redness and then punch those spots.  Then she would skate another 30 minutes and she would go back again and they would punch more.  It was over 2 weeks and they were super nice about it. Did they do a heat molding?

[irenar5]

The heat molding was done, I have not had them punched out though.  Can a tongue be punched out?  It seems that the lace is digging into the foot at the front of the ankle bend. And bunga pads are really of not much help right in that area.   How long is the break in period supposed to be?  I am skating 8-10 hrs a week.   

[aussieskater]

It seems that the lace is digging into the foot at the front of the ankle bend. And bunga pads are really of not much help right in that area.

That sounds very much like lace bite?  Not sure why you'd have lace bite in new skates?  I second others' suggestions to take them back - afaik, the usual solution for lace bite is a new tongue.

[irenar5]

I am definitely taking them back!  After a week of skating, my tongues look well used- the grooves are quite deep.  Maybe I need different tongues? Are rubber tongues better?  (the ones I have are dual densitiy foam with microfiber lining).
Would you get lasting numbness with lace bite?
In the meantime, any suggestions on how to alleviate the numbness in the feet or does it just go away on its own?
Thanks!

[hopskipjump]

I have arthritis and foot numbness from it, it should go away.  Make sure to stretch your feet maybe wear a pair of supportive sneakers, do a foot massage.  if it doesn't go away after babying them, I'd call the doc on Monday.

[MadMac]

OW OW!! It does sound lace bite. The constant numbness is worrisome. I've had success in relieving lace bite by placing a rectangular-shaped gel pad under my bungas. I place it at the bend of the ankle with the length of the pad going up the front of the ankle/leg. I like my laces really snug over that area to hold my heel in place -- the pad give the laces something to bite into other than the front of my ankle.

You can also try varying the lace pattern each time you skate so the laces fall in a different pattern on the tongue and thus avoid creating the deep trenches in the tongue. 

Did you leave the top hooks undone while breaking in the boots?

Hope this is helpful.

[Isk8NYC]

They're pretty new, I don't think it's lace bite.

Sounds like the skates are too narrow or the OP is tying them too tightly.

[MadMac]

. . . or the OP is tying them too tightly.

That's a very good possibility.  Tying too tight over the top of the foot causes immediate foot cramping and numbness.  I've saved more than one skate-mom from having to buy new boots too soon by holding a little lacing clinic for the skater and the mom. 

[aussieskater]

They're pretty new, I don't think it's lace bite.

Sounds like the skates are too narrow or the OP is tying them too tightly.

Isk8NYC, you could well be right about the cause/s of top-of-foot numbness, but the bit about cutting in at the ankle bend is what made me think "lace bite" in addition.  I agree that new skates shouldn't have lace bite - I was wondering if maybe the tongue is faulty?

[irenar5]

Thanks everyone for the replies!  I just wanted to update you on what was happening. 

I saw a podiatrist- he said that the peroneal nerve is definitely getting compressed, but he was not sure whether the compression spot was on the top of the foot or in the ankle bend (due to individual variations in nerve anatomy).  So, I suppose, I could have tied them too tightly over the instep one day, since both feet have numbness over exact same area and only the right one has the lace digging in.   He also said not to worry as this condition (neurapraxia) will go away.  Athletes are particularly susceptible to it as we are unwilling to stop when things hurt :-)  In any case, the numbness may take weeks to go away, it is fine to skate, provided there is not more compression.

My boot fitter was not able to figure out why the right tongue is so uncomfortable, but it does appear to be wearing differenty from the other foot and my old boot tongues.  There appears to be lace bunching in one area, instead of two separate areas.  So, we are sending both boots back to Riedell to get the tongues replaced.  The fitter thought, maybe the right one's leather was too thin. Back to my old boots for a while....
Thanks again for all your help!!