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I recently purchased a second GSX-R. Unlike my 750, this one is a 600 and is exclusively for the track. Along with the new bike I purchased a set of race leathers and new race boots.
After the first track day (a little over a month ago), I noticed that my left leg was numb below the knee - particularly on the outer calf, right down to the foot. By the end of the day, I was no longer able to upshift: the muscles used to pull the foot up were completely useless.
Anyway, the doctor mentioned "compartmentalization syndrome": a condition where the small spaces between the muscles and nerves fill with fluid (swelling, from overusing the muscles) and the nearby nerves are therefore pinched off. His suggestion was to continue riding, and if it got worse, let him know. He mentioned that over time (8-12 weeks) the feeling should start returning to the lower left leg.
A month later it was time for another track day. The feeling hadn't returned to the lower left leg, but since I had just bought the new track bike, I actually wanted to make use of it! Although by the end of this second track day, I had an obvious case of foot drop / foot slap, rendering my left foot completely useless. Needless to say, I haven't walked normally since. Fortunately, the condition is improving over time. Now when I walk, it's harder for people to notice that the foot doesn't function properly. On a good note, the Doctors say I'm fortunate because many people with foot drop are actually paralyzed for life.
So my question for the forum is this: has anyone ever experienced this riding-induced foot drop? And if so, what [if anything] have you done about it?
Since I've owned a GSX-R750 for a couple of years now, and have never experienced this condition, I'm assuming that there's either something different with the riding geometry (foot peg positioning) on the new track bike, OR the race leathers and/or boots are causing a pinch somewhere...?
If anyone else has had experience with this, or has any suggestions, please offer your input - I don't want to sell my bikes because I can't upshift anymore!
Thanks!
After the first track day (a little over a month ago), I noticed that my left leg was numb below the knee - particularly on the outer calf, right down to the foot. By the end of the day, I was no longer able to upshift: the muscles used to pull the foot up were completely useless.
Anyway, the doctor mentioned "compartmentalization syndrome": a condition where the small spaces between the muscles and nerves fill with fluid (swelling, from overusing the muscles) and the nearby nerves are therefore pinched off. His suggestion was to continue riding, and if it got worse, let him know. He mentioned that over time (8-12 weeks) the feeling should start returning to the lower left leg.
A month later it was time for another track day. The feeling hadn't returned to the lower left leg, but since I had just bought the new track bike, I actually wanted to make use of it! Although by the end of this second track day, I had an obvious case of foot drop / foot slap, rendering my left foot completely useless. Needless to say, I haven't walked normally since. Fortunately, the condition is improving over time. Now when I walk, it's harder for people to notice that the foot doesn't function properly. On a good note, the Doctors say I'm fortunate because many people with foot drop are actually paralyzed for life.
So my question for the forum is this: has anyone ever experienced this riding-induced foot drop? And if so, what [if anything] have you done about it?
Since I've owned a GSX-R750 for a couple of years now, and have never experienced this condition, I'm assuming that there's either something different with the riding geometry (foot peg positioning) on the new track bike, OR the race leathers and/or boots are causing a pinch somewhere...?
If anyone else has had experience with this, or has any suggestions, please offer your input - I don't want to sell my bikes because I can't upshift anymore!
Thanks!