WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 30

Thread: Bruised feet?

  1. #1
    Registered User evansprater's Avatar
    Join Date
    10-01-2012
    Location
    Asheville, North Carolina
    Age
    34
    Posts
    156

    Default Bruised feet?

    So I did my first 21 miler on Monday into Fontana... My feet were messed up so I took a zero there, which was nice. Wednesday I headed into the smokies and did 13.2, 14.7, and 13 miles the last three days. On the 14.7 day I noticed my feet getting pretty freaking sore around hour 6, and today going into newfound gap, they got really sore around hour 3, to where the last few miles were almost unbearable. I did notice last night as I was standing in the shelter that the soles of my feet felt almost like they were bruised... Tender and a bit sore when standing and the like. I have some Keen waterproofs (anticipating snow) with blue superfeets. My thought is the superfeets are too thin - they're barely 1/8" (if that) thick. Do I just need some more cushion in there? I don't think I'm pushing myself too hard, anyways. Either way the weather will probably keep me in Gburg til Monday to give the feet a good rest. Any ideas or thoughts are greatly appreciated!

  2. #2

    Join Date
    07-18-2010
    Location
    island park,ny
    Age
    66
    Posts
    11,909
    Images
    218

    Default

    i dont think its the shoes, ive got a couple of pair of keens and the midsole is strong enough for rough trail. probably just the increased miles day after day, try massaging your feet for 15-20 minutes at the end of the day, it helps for me.

  3. #3

    Default

    dunk them in a stream or cold pond for 5-10mins too. that will help reduce any swelling going on. just do it downstream from where folks get water.

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    04-17-2007
    Location
    Colorado
    Age
    47
    Posts
    299
    Journal Entries
    12

    Default

    it could be a lot of different issues. are you in boots or shoes? how well did you test your footwear before you hit the trail? did you get the right size that also all0wed for spreading? your feet may not be used to the miles. might not be used to the shoes. you just might be a tender foot. you may need more cushion on the balls of your feet. you may need batter arch support. try skipping the second lace eyeholes up from the toes to allow for some spreading. are your shoes on the right feet? are you wearing the shoes while doing those big miles? have you hiked much in the past? are you walking backwards when you hike? there are so many different issues it could be. too many people rush onto the trail with out testing their gear and finding out what they really need. are you wearing socks? what kind? are your socks on the right feet? start trouble shooting and see what fixes it. until then, keep the miles low slow and easy or you might be risking a serious injury.

  5. #5
    Registered User evansprater's Avatar
    Join Date
    10-01-2012
    Location
    Asheville, North Carolina
    Age
    34
    Posts
    156

    Default

    Lol. No, got these at Neels Gap to replace the horribly fitted boots REI gave me. Yes, they're on the right feet. I've only been able to wear my liner socks because I I wear my smart wools (thick or medium) they sweat so much they get pruny and hurt even worse. I will try the skipping the second lace hole idea, didn't think of that! They are pretty big though (size 13, I normally wear 12) so my heel doesn't grind and toes don't smash in the front. I have not hiked much in the past but am an avid long distance runner and had done at least one 10+ mile run a week for the last three years so I'd think they'd be used to the pounding. Sending home my yet tomorrow so that'll reduce some weight as well...

  6. #6
    Registered User evansprater's Avatar
    Join Date
    10-01-2012
    Location
    Asheville, North Carolina
    Age
    34
    Posts
    156

    Default

    Sending home my tent* stupid iPhone

  7. #7

    Join Date
    07-18-2010
    Location
    island park,ny
    Age
    66
    Posts
    11,909
    Images
    218

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by evansprater View Post
    Sending home my tent* stupid iPhone
    i was wondering what you were doing carrying a yet. theyre completely worthless.

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    01-29-2012
    Location
    Milton, Ontario
    Age
    54
    Posts
    55

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by evansprater View Post
    So I did my first 21 miler on Monday into Fontana... My feet were messed up so I took a zero there, which was nice. Wednesday I headed into the smokies and did 13.2, 14.7, and 13 miles the last three days. On the 14.7 day I noticed my feet getting pretty freaking sore around hour 6, and today going into newfound gap, they got really sore around hour 3, to where the last few miles were almost unbearable. I did notice last night as I was standing in the shelter that the soles of my feet felt almost like they were bruised... Tender and a bit sore when standing and the like. I have some Keen waterproofs (anticipating snow) with blue superfeets. My thought is the superfeets are too thin - they're barely 1/8" (if that) thick. Do I just need some more cushion in there? I don't think I'm pushing myself too hard, anyways. Either way the weather will probably keep me in Gburg til Monday to give the feet a good rest. Any ideas or thoughts are greatly appreciated!
    I had to stop wearing my blue Superfeet insoles because my feet felt like they were bruised also. I recently bought some Keen boots because I found them cheap. I bought a thin blue gel insole, which I found at Walmart, and I put them under the insole that came with the boot. They are extremely comfortable with the extra gel cushion. The blue Superfeet just didn't have enough cushion, was too rigid, and now my feet feel better.

  9. #9

    Join Date
    05-05-2011
    Location
    state of confusion
    Posts
    9,866
    Journal Entries
    1

    Default

    Your second day was over the rocky up-down section which is a little hard on feet between thunderhead and derricks knob.

    After that the trail is much better.

  10. #10
    Registered User kayak karl's Avatar
    Join Date
    08-21-2007
    Location
    Swedesboro, NJ
    Age
    68
    Posts
    5,339
    Images
    25

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by SCGamecock View Post
    I had to stop wearing my blue Superfeet insoles because my feet felt like they were bruised also. I recently bought some Keen boots because I found them cheap. I bought a thin blue gel insole, which I found at Walmart, and I put them under the insole that came with the boot. They are extremely comfortable with the extra gel cushion. The blue Superfeet just didn't have enough cushion, was too rigid, and now my feet feel better.
    same here. wore Superfeet and the bottom of my feet felt like i was standing on marbles or a rocky stream bed. switched to Dr Scholl knock-offs and i was fine.
    I'm so confused, I'm not sure if I lost my horse or found a rope.

  11. #11
    Registered User
    Join Date
    02-05-2009
    Location
    Delray Beach, Florids
    Age
    73
    Posts
    1,359

    Default

    How much does your pack weigh? This could be part of the problem. Your foot is a complicated little machine, too flat or too high an arch and it can effect how big a load it will take on a long distance hike. The same thing that happened to you happened to me and I ended up with a 20 pound pack. Now I can do 3 or 4, 20 mile days in a row with only minor foot pain. Playing musical shoes did nothing for me.

  12. #12
    GA-ME 2011
    Join Date
    03-17-2007
    Location
    Baltimore, MD
    Age
    66
    Posts
    3,069
    Images
    9

    Default

    Do your feet hurt worse when you first get up in the morning?
    Typical symptom of Plantar Faschiitis.
    "Chainsaw" GA-ME 2011

  13. #13
    Registered User Theosus's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-22-2011
    Location
    Florence, South Carolina, United States
    Age
    51
    Posts
    711
    Images
    1

    Default

    Almost sounded like gout at first. Heat some marbles until they are around 140 degrees... then stand on them. Sort of what gout feels like, except the marbles are in your foot. Not fun at all.
    Please don't read my blog at theosus1.Wordpress.com
    "I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. Thank God for Search and Rescue" - Robert Frost (first edit).

  14. #14
    Registered User
    Join Date
    09-12-2012
    Location
    Scotts Hill
    Age
    43
    Posts
    7

    Default

    Ahh! I stand corrected then, Thanks for clearing that up.


  15. #15

    Default

    Hikerboy may be right about your foot pain being caused the by increasing mileage each day. Gatlinburg will give you a much needed rest. Go get yourself a couple of Motrin before you read the rest of my post

    I use to have the same problem every time I'd go hiking. My boots fit correctly, and I was carrying a reasonable pack weight (not UL, but not overloaded, either) so I knew it wasn't a gear issue. While hiking, my feet would start getting sore earlier and earliereach day, to the point walking was not enjoyable at all. It got bad enough that I finally saw a podiatrist. He told me that (1) I didn't have very much padding (tissue & muscle) on the balls of my feet, which made the bones ache with all the pounding they took on the trail, and (2) my high arches were contributing to the problem because they threw my weight onto the balls of my feet also . A bad combination that caused the exact symptoms you described. The good news - I got prescription orthotics and haven't had any real problems with sore feet since.

    You might try taking Motrin throughout the day, at least for a couple of days, when you return to the trail.

  16. #16
    Registered User evansprater's Avatar
    Join Date
    10-01-2012
    Location
    Asheville, North Carolina
    Age
    34
    Posts
    156

    Default

    Great, thanks for all the help guys. Nobthey do not hurt worse in the morning, and if it was plantar fa*****is, from what ive heard, i wouldn't be able to walk. i will put some cheapo gels under my superfeets (or perhaps just replace them). There happens to be a custom orthotic place on the main drag here in gatlinburg so ill stop in and see what they have to say as well! You guys rock!

  17. #17
    Registered User shadow11's Avatar
    Join Date
    10-01-2012
    Location
    Huntington W.va
    Age
    60
    Posts
    8

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by evansprater View Post
    Great, thanks for all the help guys. Nobthey do not hurt worse in the morning, and if it was plantar fa*****is, from what ive heard, i wouldn't be able to walk. i will put some cheapo gels under my superfeets (or perhaps just replace them). There happens to be a custom orthotic place on the main drag here in gatlinburg so ill stop in and see what they have to say as well! You guys rock!
    Ditch the keens.and get yourself some trail runners with a vibram bottom and add a gel insert.don't worry about waterproof. trail runners with netting will dry pretty good over night.I hiked with other hikers who were wearing keens.they all had one thing in common,lost toenails. At your age its most likely your shoes,and not your feet.

  18. #18
    GA-ME 2011
    Join Date
    03-17-2007
    Location
    Baltimore, MD
    Age
    66
    Posts
    3,069
    Images
    9

    Default

    I used Superfeet insoles on my thru last year but i think I'll try some gel inserts. Any recommendation on brand/type?
    "Chainsaw" GA-ME 2011

  19. #19
    Registered User evansprater's Avatar
    Join Date
    10-01-2012
    Location
    Asheville, North Carolina
    Age
    34
    Posts
    156

    Default

    The only thing shadow11 is I'm noBo in October... In expecting snow. I feel like the warmth and waterproof of the boots is a necessity in snow, am I right? Any other time of year and I'd have trail runners forr sho.

    Don H - I bought some ten dollar dr scholls gels at Walmart and out them under my superfeets today. Still taking a few days off to let the feet really heal, but I can already tell a huge difference. You get the awesome support of the superfeets with the gelly comfort of the dr scholls underneath!

  20. #20
    GA-ME 2011
    Join Date
    03-17-2007
    Location
    Baltimore, MD
    Age
    66
    Posts
    3,069
    Images
    9

    Default

    I would think the ridges on the underside of the heel on the Superfeet would shred the gel insoles.
    Let me know if it works out.
    "Chainsaw" GA-ME 2011

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •