pabb - thanks for reminding me about magnesium. While I could not find any (exact) direct links from my toe problem and magnesium - I did find “close enough logic”.

I use to take the magnesium / calcium / zinc supplement - I had been out of it for months. I went and got some.

Since nothing (none of the many many supplements) I was taking seemed to make any difference - I had slacked off many (most) of them over the last few years. I had mostly just stayed with 1 aspirin a day, one multi vit and my very small amount of beta blocker. About a year ago I got serious again with fish oil. Over the last few weeks I am back on several that are suppose to help circulation.

dahlek - I had read about the marble exercises but had yet to include that into my toe exercises. I could not find any marbles around the house but did find some board games. I now have a pouch of 24 items including some dice. I mostly try to use the right toes (the messed up ones) and it is tuff as the 4th toe and little to are so scrunched up - if I pick up one in that area - it is hard to release into the bowl. If I try it around my big/2nd toe area there is so much space - they are hard to pick up but ........ I keep going until I get them all. I pick up a few with my left toes also but put most of the effort in with my affected foot. I have now included that in twice a day.

With the alterations (took out a pad - cut three slices above the toe box) in my boots and the gel toe crown pad - gel sleeve over my big toe - I was able to get out on my motorcycle Saturday. I was out for a couple of hours and included some walking around at WalMart - no pain - no raw spot on my toe(s) from rubbing the (now altered) boots.

Not that it matters but - no one will even notice the boot alterations. I am partial to those boots (Dr Martens) I bought about 15 years ago (still made in England at that time). I was sad to think I might have to replace them and had started looking for boots with a bigger toe box.

Since I am about 80% engineer anyway .... I started getting creative ideas. I wanted to try to save my old buddies (the boots) and ..... I did.