Hi, thanks. The hammertoe on my right foot (first toe past the big toe) often feels numb when I first wake up, but then after I move around, it seems normal, so I think that is from when I have been sleeping on my back. Odd that the docs wouldn't order further tests when they didn't know the cause. I didn't have any success with podiatrists giving shoe advice, either. They only wanted to sell me custom orthotics. They did remake them several times trying to make them more comfortable, but my feet never accepted them. Sigh.
Higher arch feet often have high metatarsal arches, too, so perhaps your closed shoes cramp on those more forward arches? Or don't give metatarsal support?
Try an ortho or a spine md?
Good luck.