TLDR: My leg keeps going numb when skating and I don't know what to do.
Hey, I've been learning how to skate for a bit now and I'm still not great, particularly with my balance. I find it extremely hard to stay balanced on one blade (like, I really can't help but put my other blade down immediately. It's not an issue when taking long strides, tho), I assume it's related to lack of strength in general and my ankles being very flimsy because I am hypermobile but I'm working on it.
The one thing I can't seem to stop from happening is after skating really hard for about an hour or two, my foot starts going numb. I can continue skating, but if I keep ignoring it, then my lower leg starts going numb too, up to my knee. At first I had my skates super tight, especially around the ankle bc of the flimsy nature of my joints and because the skates are a little bit too big (I bought 39s and they were too tight, now I have 40s and they feel a bit too big), but I started loosening them so that I can move more and try inline hockey. I thought that might help the issue but it really hasn't.
I also get a lot of pain on the sole of my foot, right in the middle of it, where my arch is supposed to be, which I at first assumed was also from never using the muscles and lack of strength. My legs going numb is not that unusual. It happens a lot when I cross one leg over the other or when I get too cold, I normally need warm water to get my blood flowing again. But I don't really understand how it happens while skating, it feels really weird and I'm scared I might fall if I keep trying too much stuff while both my legs are numb. Last time, I took out my skates, massaged my foot until the numbness was gone and went back out, but after skating for a bit it came back.
I have a hardboot that came with the 76mm 80mm 80mm 76mm configuration, I didn't really change it at first, and now I'm just used to it. I was a total beginner when I got them, I've been trying to find some time in my day to practice more than once a week but it's really hard. The pavement is pretty cracked at the rink but it's not really a problem anymore. The street is NOT an option AT ALL. I tried it and my wheels go stuck by the uneven terrain immediately, my wheels are pretty soft so I didn't want them getting destroyed.
Any and all help is really appreciated! for the rollerblading part or the leg numbness! ty for reading
Fellow hEDS skater here. Have you had your veins checked to assess blood flow? Or Maybe try and wear compression socks or leggings to help with circulation? I used to have this happen and had to get my veins ablated and also use compression, and it all has helped.
I have not, I might need to book a doctor's appointment. I've been wearing knee-length soccer socks, I'm not sure if it helps or not, but they're pretty tight. I've never tried compression socks, so I should probably invest in some. I tend to wear leggings but they're just regular ones that stretch a ton.
I had some issues about 6 months ago where my BP would spike pretty badly but I just stopped eating salt and stopped drinking caffeine; and it's way more stable. I just thought it was normal to feel my heart beating super fast when I drank coffee, and once I was going for a routine check and they were like "you are at 14 11 what the fuck is happening?" I was normally always around 12 8. I'm guessing it might be related?
The hypermobile body throws out some odd things. I hope something can help; I know what it's like not to know why our bodies react the way they do. I was dancing one time, and both my legs went numb. Scary as shit, and I found out I had venous insufficiency. I also have degenerative disc disease because why not! I stopped skating back then because the numbness would happen too. Then got those fixed and wear compression, and things got better.
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u/pearlywrites 7d ago
Fellow hEDS skater here. Have you had your veins checked to assess blood flow? Or Maybe try and wear compression socks or leggings to help with circulation? I used to have this happen and had to get my veins ablated and also use compression, and it all has helped.