Surfer's Toe

NH_surfer · 19th March 2005, 08:24

I have big toe issues. I have a tendency to dub my big toe on my trailing foot on the deck of my board when I get up. It only happens when my feet get cold and I loose a little feeling, but it hurts like a son-of-a-bitch. I try and spring up more when I get up which helps, but without fail, I'll snub it once or twice a session. My toe never quite heals between sessions, and the snagle-toe cycle continues.

I have split-toe 7mil Billabong booties, and I'm thinking about buying non-split-toe booties with the thought that the split toe booties leave my big toe more prone to deck snaggage.

Am I alone in this affliction? Thoughts on split-toe vs. non-split toe booties?

nhslider, any luck with your toe rot?

surfmonkey77 · 19th March 2005, 08:42

I drag my tow but have yet to jam it. The holes in my boots suck. On the bright side at least its not a rotorcuff injury.

NHSlider · 19th March 2005, 09:00

nh surfer, I too drag back foot sometimes, usually toward end of session when I am tired. I have a build up of scar tissue and callus on the lowest big toe knuckle - skin is really thin there so it is easy to disturb it. I also have a big scar over my achilles tendon from some bad chafing with a particular leash that is no longer of this earth.

My toe rot is better but I still have one fugly toenail (greenish yellowish), and the toe itself has nerve damage from being frozen solid. That toe is now the first thing to get cold, even just porking around the house. But it still works, so I can't complain.

I'd wrap that toe in a micro thin layer of spongey gauze, then one pass over with duck tape (not too tight). This should protect the toe flesh from repeated chafes, scrapes, etc. This worked with the hole that developed over my achilles and allowed it to heal.

LetGoOfMyElbow · 19th March 2005, 10:48

I have never used split toe booties, and have never had a toe problem with round toe booties. The only time ive hurt my toe by dragging it was without booties. I remember how much that shit hurts.

meatwagon 2 · 19th March 2005, 11:07

i have the reverse theory on the split toe. when i had a non-split toe boot i had more of a tendency to jam it cause the big toe was following all the others. when they should always follow the big daddy. ever since i went to a split toe quicksilver, i have never jammed it. but i think its because the split is on the inside of the boot, not a traditional split ninja type boot.

but i here you when i was jamming it it would be sore for months. good luck with that.

dangerD · 19th March 2005, 11:32

Semi-related, I have a big callous on the side of my rear foot form rollig it over on the deck once standing. It nver goes away and gets worse in the non-booty season as the wax seems to put more friction on it than the boot. My buudy has a corn on one of his feet and has to wear a boot on it year round or it get chafed and bleeds and never gets better. These are just some of the small prices we pay for our moments of bliss...

drtbkelb · 19th March 2005, 23:17

the tops of my toes are all scarred from dragging my foot when im not wearing booties.

Surf Troll · 20th March 2005, 01:12

Yeah.

PJI · 20th March 2005, 10:06

I've had the same problem with my right toe (I'm a regular foot) over the past 4 years. This happens only when I'm not wearing booties. Each year, it gets worse. I've tried using several layers of spongy water-proof bandaids sealed over by some 1/2" strips of duct tape (similar to NHSlider's recommendation). This works.
The problem for me is that I'll get 6 or more sessions in -- and life is good -- but... there comes that one day where it gets worn off after 3-4 hours -- and BAM -- the damage is done. Once that happens -- it's all downhill. The thing never will heal the rest of the summer/early fall, untill I get my booties back on. And yes, IT IS PAINFUL AS SHIT!!!!

It is almost as if the skin is ulcerated -- and the damage extends into the exposed nerve endings. One day last year, my tape wore off about 45-minutes into the sesh -- and I just compartmentalized the pain for the next 3 hours. I could hardly drive home -- almost couldn't see straight it hurt so bad.

Instead of becomming calloused, the tissue just gets weaker and less elastic. Weird. Never had this problem in the 60's (no wise cracks, please) with std. paraffin. I think some of the new formulas (I use Sex Wax/cold water/quick humps on the surface -- as hard as tropical for base coats) may contribute to the problem; too sticky may equal too much irritation/friction/pulling on the exposed skin. Dunno. But my hunch is that this is a bigger problem in colder water with softer waxes. And oh yes did I say... IT'S as PAINFUL AS SHIT!!!!

NH_surfer · 20th March 2005, 11:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by dangerD

These are just some of the small prices we pay for our moments of bliss...

So true. The pain I experience when surfing is nowhere near the mental pain of missing a good session.

Barry Cuda · 20th March 2005, 14:08

Is this thread about "toe in" surfing???
I would like to try it. Thank You.

medic3 · 20th March 2005, 14:11

surphlem is the resident expert on "the toe"

seamonkey · 20th March 2005, 15:24

order yours today!

samboard · 20th March 2005, 15:45

nice, i'll take two cougars please.

sam

NHSlider · 20th March 2005, 19:41

I think I need therapy now. Camel Toe Annie looks just like my Maw.

Surferdude925 · 20th March 2005, 21:12

Seamonkey- haha I was wondering when somebody was gonna bring that up!!..with that title it was destined at some point!

marops · 20th March 2005, 23:27

More pushups, Missy!

19th March 2005, 08:24	#1
NH_surfer Avatar free since 2005 Join Date: October 2004 Posts: 2,040	Surfer's Toe I have big toe issues. I have a tendency to dub my big toe on my trailing foot on the deck of my board when I get up. It only happens when my feet get cold and I loose a little feeling, but it hurts like a son-of-a-bitch. I try and spring up more when I get up which helps, but without fail, I'll snub it once or twice a session. My toe never quite heals between sessions, and the snagle-toe cycle continues. I have split-toe 7mil Billabong booties, and I'm thinking about buying non-split-toe booties with the thought that the split toe booties leave my big toe more prone to deck snaggage. Am I alone in this affliction? Thoughts on split-toe vs. non-split toe booties? nhslider, any luck with your toe rot?

19th March 2005, 11:07	#5
meatwagon 2 --->FART<--- Join Date: August 2002 Location: an island. Posts: 466	i have the reverse theory on the split toe. when i had a non-split toe boot i had more of a tendency to jam it cause the big toe was following all the others. when they should always follow the big daddy. ever since i went to a split toe quicksilver, i have never jammed it. but i think its because the split is on the inside of the boot, not a traditional split ninja type boot. but i here you when i was jamming it it would be sore for months. good luck with that. __________________ ®®®WaveSlut®®®

20th March 2005, 01:12	#8
Surf Troll Member Join Date: March 2005 Posts: 56	Yeah. __________________ Oh yes, that would be lovely. Thank you. Thank you very much.

20th March 2005, 21:12	#16
Surferdude925 Junior Member Join Date: January 2005 Location: san diego,boston Posts: 409	Seamonkey- haha I was wondering when somebody was gonna bring that up!!..with that title it was destined at some point! __________________ =====////////////)))))))))))======Aloha

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19th March 2005, 08:42	#2
surfmonkey77 Senior Member Join Date: July 2003 Posts: 519	I drag my tow but have yet to jam it. The holes in my boots suck. On the bright side at least its not a rotorcuff injury.

19th March 2005, 09:00	#3
NHSlider Senior Member Join Date: November 2004 Posts: 1,330	nh surfer, I too drag back foot sometimes, usually toward end of session when I am tired. I have a build up of scar tissue and callus on the lowest big toe knuckle - skin is really thin there so it is easy to disturb it. I also have a big scar over my achilles tendon from some bad chafing with a particular leash that is no longer of this earth. My toe rot is better but I still have one fugly toenail (greenish yellowish), and the toe itself has nerve damage from being frozen solid. That toe is now the first thing to get cold, even just porking around the house. But it still works, so I can't complain. I'd wrap that toe in a micro thin layer of spongey gauze, then one pass over with duck tape (not too tight). This should protect the toe flesh from repeated chafes, scrapes, etc. This worked with the hole that developed over my achilles and allowed it to heal.

19th March 2005, 10:48	#4
LetGoOfMyElbow logjammin Join Date: December 2004 Posts: 27	I have never used split toe booties, and have never had a toe problem with round toe booties. The only time ive hurt my toe by dragging it was without booties. I remember how much that shit hurts.

19th March 2005, 11:32	#6
dangerD Senior Member Join Date: December 2004 Location: North Shore Posts: 852	Semi-related, I have a big callous on the side of my rear foot form rollig it over on the deck once standing. It nver goes away and gets worse in the non-booty season as the wax seems to put more friction on it than the boot. My buudy has a corn on one of his feet and has to wear a boot on it year round or it get chafed and bleeds and never gets better. These are just some of the small prices we pay for our moments of bliss...

19th March 2005, 23:17	#7
drtbkelb Senior Member Join Date: October 2004 Location: NH, York Beach Posts: 937	the tops of my toes are all scarred from dragging my foot when im not wearing booties.

20th March 2005, 10:06	#9
PJI Junior Member Join Date: February 2005 Location: SoMENoBO Posts: 71	I've had the same problem with my right toe (I'm a regular foot) over the past 4 years. This happens only when I'm not wearing booties. Each year, it gets worse. I've tried using several layers of spongy water-proof bandaids sealed over by some 1/2" strips of duct tape (similar to NHSlider's recommendation). This works. The problem for me is that I'll get 6 or more sessions in -- and life is good -- but... there comes that one day where it gets worn off after 3-4 hours -- and BAM -- the damage is done. Once that happens -- it's all downhill. The thing never will heal the rest of the summer/early fall, untill I get my booties back on. And yes, IT IS PAINFUL AS SHIT!!!! It is almost as if the skin is ulcerated -- and the damage extends into the exposed nerve endings. One day last year, my tape wore off about 45-minutes into the sesh -- and I just compartmentalized the pain for the next 3 hours. I could hardly drive home -- almost couldn't see straight it hurt so bad. Instead of becomming calloused, the tissue just gets weaker and less elastic. Weird. Never had this problem in the 60's (no wise cracks, please) with std. paraffin. I think some of the new formulas (I use Sex Wax/cold water/quick humps on the surface -- as hard as tropical for base coats) may contribute to the problem; too sticky may equal too much irritation/friction/pulling on the exposed skin. Dunno. But my hunch is that this is a bigger problem in colder water with softer waxes. And oh yes did I say... IT'S as PAINFUL AS SHIT!!!!

20th March 2005, 14:08	#11
Barry Cuda Happy to be alive Join Date: February 2005 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 610	Is this thread about "toe in" surfing??? I would like to try it. Thank You.

20th March 2005, 14:11	#12
medic3 will surf for food. Join Date: August 2002 Location: south shore,ma,usa Posts: 1,953	surphlem is the resident expert on "the toe"

20th March 2005, 15:24	#13
seamonkey commercial free Join Date: November 2003 Location: pre-apocalyptia Posts: 5,361	order yours today!

20th March 2005, 15:45	#14
samboard Super Moderator Join Date: December 2003 Location: buzzards bay Posts: 4,377	nice, i'll take two cougars please. sam

20th March 2005, 19:41	#15
NHSlider Senior Member Join Date: November 2004 Posts: 1,330	I think I need therapy now. Camel Toe Annie looks just like my Maw.

20th March 2005, 23:27	#17
marops Jackass Join Date: July 2003 Posts: 1,638	More pushups, Missy!

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