Help with foot problems.

[Cedar1974]

I'm having trouble with my feet lately. I haven't been hiking, but my feet seem to have a splitting pain right down the middle between the second and third knuckle on both feet. It seems to only hurt when I am not wearing my shoes, and am at rest. Any ideas why this might be happening?

I do have orthotic insoles in my shoes, but they are getting old and probably need to be replaced.

[Old Hiker]

Hey Cedar !

I had pretty much the same pains in my left foot start about 2 years ago. I put it off until about 6 months ago and started to get scared about my upcoming AT attempt. My left foot also hurt pretty bad when I was driving. I couldn't get comfortable at all just sitting.

I have been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. It seems every time I go to the podiatrist, something else was wrong. I'm thinking about going to a good farrier and just get horseshoes nailed on.

He has prescribed the insoles: Pure Stride. $50 a pop, but he wears them and says he has had the same pair for over 3 years. They seem to help a lot better than my Super Feet green - a LOT more support.

He put a lift under my left heel, since my left leg is allegedly shorter than the right.

I have additional padding on the arches to try and support them - they are both falling.

I have/had a boot to wear at night to stretch the tendons and ligaments in my left leg and foot. I can only wear it for about an hour before my foot goes numb. He says that's fine and my stretching has gotten a TON better.

Now: all that being said: all the above has helped A LOT !!! My feet don't hurt as much when I'm barefoot and they don't hurt AT ALL when I have my boots on with my insoles.

You should probably get to a good foot doctor and start the process to see what the problem(s) is/are. I wish I had done so MUCH earlier. I'm pretty sure I'm going to made 29 Feb 16 now. Don't put it off - a minor/moderate problem will just continue to get worse - so says my doc. He was worried about stress fractures.

Good luck.

[Wooobie]

compression. ace wrap, ankle sleeve. should help.

[Wooobie]

if its the bottom of your foot, like old hiker said you need high arched insoles. if its top of your foot you need compression.

[johnnybgood]

Sounds like it possibly could be plantar fasciitis which occurs in a great deal in people with high arches. There are absolutely a myriad of possible symptoms and treatments which might identify your condition .
I suffered for a year with PF after attempting to begin a regimen of running for mileage after many years of not doing it. I learned a lesson the hard way for sure.

What I did that helped was go to a local Wal-Mart and had a computerized foot analysis by the Dr. Scholls foot mapping machine . After pressing start a message spits out the proper custom fit orthotic insert you need to buy , finally ~ Voila' !!

Not only did this cure my plantar fasciitis but also the ball of my foot pain which only affected me on my left foot. Go the least expensive route first and if that doesn't help you're other choice is to find a Podiatrist that can identify your symptoms. Although, I must retract here and say that stretching exercises using isometric principles also worked for me to a degree and could be the ticket to painless walking.

It might be a good idea to google exercises that stretch the ligaments, particularly the plantar fasciilia that runs from the heel to the front foot. Also look at buying new shoes for more arch support with flexibility in the soles.

[Cedar1974]

Sounds like it possibly could be plantar fasciitis which occurs in a great deal in people with high arches. There are absolutely a myriad of possible symptoms and treatments which might identify your condition .
I suffered for a year with PF after attempting to begin a regimen of running for mileage after many years of not doing it. I learned a lesson the hard way for sure.

What I did that helped was go to a local Wal-Mart and had a computerized foot analysis by the Dr. Scholls foot mapping machine . After pressing start a message spits out the proper custom fit orthotic insert you need to buy , finally ~ Voila' !!

Not only did this cure my plantar fasciitis but also the ball of my foot pain which only affected me on my left foot. Go the least expensive route first and if that doesn't help you're other choice is to find a Podiatrist that can identify your symptoms. Although, I must retract here and say that stretching exercises using isometric principles also worked for me to a degree and could be the ticket to painless walking.

It might be a good idea to google exercises that stretch the ligaments, particularly the plantar fasciilia that runs from the heel to the front foot. Also look at buying new shoes for more arch support with flexibility in the soles.

I plan to do this soon and get myself a few sets for not just my shoes, but to put in my boots. I've always had high arches sadly, so that may be my problem.

[scrabbler]

If you have health insurance, go see a podiatrist. The internet is terrible place to diagnose medical problems.

[dervari]

I'd suggest an orthopedic surgeon instead of a podiatrist.

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[Another Kevin]

I'd suggest an orthopedic surgeon instead of a podiatrist.

Surgeons are a very good idea when you need surgery. "When you have a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail."

[Cedar1974]

Problem is, I am unemployed, and have no insurance. So asking here, people with experience with these kind of problems is my best bet. At least I am asking people who may have experienced this problems rather than some other forum.

[Pedaling Fool]

I'm having trouble with my feet lately. I haven't been hiking, but my feet seem to have a splitting pain right down the middle between the second and third knuckle on both feet. It seems to only hurt when I am not wearing my shoes, and am at rest. Any ideas why this might be happening?

I do have orthotic insoles in my shoes, but they are getting old and probably need to be replaced.

How active are you? How often do you get out for a hike (and generally how far)? What do you do when not on a hike?

I'm actually going thru some foot pains myself, have been having issues for about a month now... I've changed up my routine to work out the pain. In my case it is a connective tissue problem and sounds very possible that you are also experiencing an issue with connective tissue(s). There are two really bad things people do when they have injuries: 1) Work thru the pain -- big mistake. 2) Don't work the injured part -- a very big mistake.

I don't know what you're doing, but off the cuff, I would recommend doing calf raises and other exercises in that area, but not to the point where you are causing pain and advance from there....If you don't have access to weights, try doing calf raises with single leg and skipping rope is good for strengthening that area of the foot.

P.S. Stretching is good, but not good to do hand-in-hand with strength training or running/skipping rope.

[theoilman]

I was diagnosed with PF about 6 months ago. Went to podiatrist. He prescribed inserts that were about $40.00 - have helped greatly, down to minor soreness on some mornings only.

However, along with the PF, the shape and size of my feet has changed - longer and wider now. Plus the inserts take up more in the shoes than original inserts or green super-feet. I have been forced into new shoes - for regular daily wear as well as hiking.

[TexasBob]

..............my feet seem to have a splitting pain right down the middle between the second and third knuckle on both feet. It seems to only hurt when I am not wearing my shoes, and am at rest. ...........Problem is, I am unemployed, and have no insurance. .........

Do you mean that your feet hurt when you are in bed, sitting in a chair etc. or do they hurt when you are standing barefoot? It seems odd to me that they would hurt when there is no pressure on your feet. I have very flat feet, wear orthotics and also have plantar facsiitis and my feet hurt when I have pressure on them but usually not when I have my shoes off and no pressure on them.

[dervari]

Surgeons are a very good idea when you need surgery. "When you have a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail."

I went to a podiatrist for a sore ankle and it was a waste. Ortho diagnosed and fixed me right up.

Ymmv

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[Praha4]

ditto what dervari said. I wasted too much time going to podiatrists for achilles tendonitis problems. Finally went to a fellowship-trained Foot & Ankle orthopedic doctor, had surgery for torn achilles tendon on Aug 11th this year. Now 14 weeks post-op, going thru physical therapy, but walking in New Balance trail runners with Ortho-Heel insoles. Walked 2 miles last night with just a little discomfort. I'm not 100% yet, but on the road to recovery.

[Riocielo]

You might benefit from taping your feet. This helped me tremendously with my PF. Also, try to change your stride.

I say this because I noticed my feet didn't hurt while hiking and a sports medicine specialist said it was because hiking causes one to vary their strides.

[Pedaling Fool]

Do you mean that your feet hurt when you are in bed, sitting in a chair etc. or do they hurt when you are standing barefoot? It seems odd to me that they would hurt when there is no pressure on your feet. I have very flat feet, wear orthotics and also have plantar facsiitis and my feet hurt when I have pressure on them but usually not when I have my shoes off and no pressure on them.

I had that problem in 2006 when I started hiking the AT, but I also started out cold -- hadn't backpacked since 1999 and I had 70lbs on my back. My feet would hurt in the morning, but after a mile or so the pain would go away, but at night my feet would have terrible pains, so bad that they would wake me at night when I bumped my feet. My feet didn't get back to normal until Virginia.

[4eyedbuzzard]

I'm having trouble with my feet lately. I haven't been hiking, but my feet seem to have a splitting pain right down the middle between the second and third knuckle on both feet. It seems to only hurt when I am not wearing my shoes, and am at rest. Any ideas why this might be happening?

I do have orthotic insoles in my shoes, but they are getting old and probably need to be replaced.

Also possibly Morton's Neuroma, although this typically is symptomatic when bearing weight. Typical treatment is anti-inflammatories, rest, and compression pads/orthotics. Lots of painful feet conditions out there.

[misterfloyd]

I will reiterate what has been said "seeing a podiatrist was a waste of time" A ortho surgeon will want to operate.

It could be your insoles. Were they from a podiatrist, or are they over the counter? How old are they?

I'm learning the hard way that feet change as years go by through injury.

I understand unemployment and the cost of seeing a medical professional. Then choosing the right one and not wasting your money on the wrong one! even with insurance, it is damn expensive!

Having said the above see a medical professional.

Floyd

[Pedaling Fool]

How active are you? How often do you get out for a hike (and generally how far)? What do you do when not on a hike?

I'm actually going thru some foot pains myself, have been having issues for about a month now... I've changed up my routine to work out the pain. In my case it is a connective tissue problem and sounds very possible that you are also experiencing an issue with connective tissue(s). There are two really bad things people do when they have injuries: 1) Work thru the pain -- big mistake. 2) Don't work the injured part -- a very big mistake.

I don't know what you're doing, but off the cuff, I would recommend doing calf raises and other exercises in that area, but not to the point where you are causing pain and advance from there....If you don't have access to weights, try doing calf raises with single leg and skipping rope is good for strengthening that area of the foot.

P.S. Stretching is good, but not good to do hand-in-hand with strength training or running/skipping rope.

I should probably clarify that last sentence. I do not find stretching to be helpful as a warm-up to activities that work the muscles/connective tissues of the body; however, I'm not one of those people that think stretching is harmful -- I see it as extremely important, especially as we age. I normally stretch during the day and at night as I'm sitting around, because if I don't I start becoming stiff. I also include a lot of exercises that incorporate full range of motion, such as when I do calf raises I always try and get the most range on motion, not just simple lift the weight.


BTW, when doing calf raises, besides doing full range of motion, try doing one foot at a time; it's a completely different exercise and the amount of weight you can lift (in the beginning) is so much less than what you can do with both feet. You can really feel the connective tissues being worked and even some flexing in the bones (maybe that's just my faulty impression, but there is definitely a lot more stress on your feet).