View Full Version : Sore Feet - I have seen the light!!!
In 1999 I tried a thru hike and was driven off the trail by a bad foot after 610 miles. I've had bad feet my whole life and I figured, c'est la vie.
Then somebody on here mentioned something about Phil Oren's fit system. I went to Frank's Shoe Fitting in Middletown, NY last weekend and, lo and behold, thanks to a new custom Superfeet insert I am experiencing pain-free feet for the first time since I was just a wee lad. I really didn't know what to expect but what I experienced was immediate relief from years of problem feet and a more recently developing knee problem.
I don't know who mentioned the Oren system but all I can say is thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou to infinity!!! And thank you Frank at Frank's Shoe Fitting in Middletown for the several hours you spent with me helping me understand and correct my foot situation. If anybody wants info about my visit to Frank please feel free to send me a message. :banana :clap :bse :jump :)
gravityman
03-31-2004, 14:50
Custom superfeet did not help my wife. She has very high arches, and normal super feet just didn't touch them. So she went with the customs for like $70. She ended up with neuromas (a nerve that runs between the toes that gets pitched with each step, becomes inflamed and scars). After 1000 miles the pain was unbearible, and we had to leave the trail.
The ultimate solution was two fold - real custom orthotics fitted by a sports medicine specialist with metatarsal support. It's very important that the fitter knows what they are doing with regards to getting the foot into a neutral position for the mold. Cost was about $300 but well worth it. The problem has disappeared since she has been wearing these. The second part of the solution was CUSHIONED trail runners. Hard to come by, and the best we found was Asics Eagle Gel Trail III. Although we might just go with standard running shoes (which have a whole lot more cushioning) if the problem starts to rear it's ugly head in 05 when we try again from the beginning!
Quite honestly, I don't trust the custom superfeet thing. It pays no attention to if your feet are in the "neutral" position. I think for the cost, it's better to get fitted by a true professional who deals with problem feet all the time.
Now if I could only find a solution to the "hamburger" feet... nothing seems to help how my feet feel after talking all day.
Gravity Man
Gravity Man
Saluki Dave
03-31-2004, 22:52
Dude, I thought my feet nagged me after a long day, but you must really have it bad.
Seriously, I persisted in using the factory insoles in my Merrell boots for quite a while. Towards the end of the day I had pain that felt like I was being stabbed in both arches with a hot poker. I was skeptical of Superfeet but had to try something. The improvement was amazing, The pain essentially disappeared. I will say though, that with my feet riding slightly higher in the boots I did have a problem with blistering down low on my achilles. How much of that was the insert vs soaked feet is hard to say.
My opinion: Whether Superfeet or custom, good inserts can sure save you a lot of suffering
Gravityman, I am happy that your wife was able to find relief for her aching dogs! It sure makes a difference to have happy feet. It's too bad that I couldn't get some of that high arch from her because I don't have any arches whatsoever!
Ironically, it was my physician who told me to give off-the-rack footbeds a try first, before spending beaucoup bucks on prescription orthotics. I sort of stumbled onto the Superfeet solution after having my memory triggered about the Oren system here on Whiteblaze. As a sort of next step up from plain old insoles, it worked for me, hallelujah. I lucked out in that custom Superfeet worked for me for the relatively reasonable price of $90, vs. $440 for prescription orthotics.
gravityman
04-01-2004, 11:43
My wife's orthotics cost us $220. The appointment was extra. But it was covered by insurance because they were "medically necissary."
Yes, superfeet do work for some people. I in fact have just started wearing my old ones again while running. I have terrible IT band pain (on the outside of the knee) and it has greatly reduced on the last two runs with superfeet. It's interesting - my right leg, no problem and my arch doesn't really touch the superfeet. My left leg is the one with the problem, and my arch is all chewed up from the superfeet (my fault for running 9 miles yesterday with them in for only the 2nd time).
Saluki Dave, the knives in the arches was most likely Plantar Facitis. You are very luck that it didn't get worse! It can be a real headache! Great that superfeet worked for you
It's the custom superfeet that i just don't like. For $90 you are getting pretty close to the cost of a real orthotic. I really think giving regular superfeet a try is absolutely worth it. However, if they don't work to solve the problem, it doesn't make sense to go to custom superfeet IMHO. My advice would be to go straight to custom orthotics. However, in the end, all that matters is that the problem goes away. For something as enjoyable as hiking, it is worth spending the money to try different things out to fix a problem! That is absolutely something that I have learned.
Gravity Man