Foot Pain Question for Accomplished Thru Hikers

[corso k-9]

I did several hundred miles of the AT back in the fall of 2001 (600 or so)... I feel like my feet have always been somewhat compromised and I have Plantars Fasciitis (sp??)... in my left foot...
In spite of this, I would like to attempt a thruhike in 2009... so my question is this... will my feet ever make it, and am I setting myself up for a lifetime of foot problems after 2200 miles? Thanks in advance for any input on this topic.

[SGT Rock]

My reccomendation as one who has dealt with this too. Get a pair of running shoes fitted for your foot type. I will venture a guess and say you have high arches and need a cushion sole.

Sometimes boots are the worst thing you can do.

[corso k-9]

Iknow some people have even hiked barefoot, but isn't that kinda risky to try a thru hike without boots... for fear of twisted ankle or whatnot? I have considered lighter, better fitting shoes, but didn't know if they would be feasable...thanks
btw, first time poster... great forum!

[Appalachian Tater]

Many if not most people no longer wear heavy boots. You are less likely to twist your ankle if you have full motion of your joint and can better control where your foot goes. As long as they are don't fall apart, lighter and better fitting are where it's at. If you feel like high topped footwear supports your ankles, consider some lighter-weight boots at least.

[corso k-9]

what about cronic foot pain? does it ever go away after a thru hike? is there lasting damage?

[shoe]

I am dealing with plantar Fasciitis at the moment and worried about my hike as well. My podiatrist says I should be good to go but time will tell. More than likely I will have to wear custom orthotics.

I would suggest seeing a doc.

(I have low arches)

[Appalachian Tater]

There can be permanent damage. Most of the time it's not. I had a lot of trouble with my knees afterwards, could barely step up on a curb for a while. I don't know why that happened afterwards and not during, maybe from not snacking on vitamin I. No problems now other than excessive weight gain. If you have chronic pain of any kind see the appropriate type of medical provider, in a case of foot pain an orthopaedic foot specialist or maybe a podiatrist. If they can't help you with the cause they can help you with the pain. A lot of problems can be helped by physical therapy and sometimes a serious problem that can be corrected with surgery produces a disproportionately small amount of pain.

[EWS]

Try this: Fixing Your Feet

[Lyle]

My recommendation:

Light Pack, Light runners (well fitting, good support, good cusioning), keep daily mileage down!

From what I have seen, people tend to give in to the temptation to increase mileage as their pack weight and foot comfort increase. They do this to the point that their feet begin to numb, and get torn up just as bad as in the old style heavy pack, heavy boot days.

Go light weight, and reasonably increase your daily mileage, and you will be happy. Overdo the mileage and your feet will still be miserable.

[rumbler]

Maker's Mark and daily foot rubs.

[chicote]

Lighten you load for sure. Find a nice pair of shoes that work for you comfort wise. See a podiatrist. If you get custom soles made instead of using superfeet or spencos make sure that they have some sort of fabric top so your foot doesn't slide on them with socks on. Your feet are gonna hurt no matter what. You just have to push through the pain. My feet are still sore but not quite as tender as they were when I finished in Sept.

HTH

GG

[Mother's Finest]

You mention a chronic problem. Bottom line for you is a proper set of orthotics that will allow your foot to function in the best biomechanical way possible. Because of the problems you mentioned, it is clear that your foot is not supporting your body properly. Add in the stress of day after day hiking, and you need additional support. Actually, you should treat yourself the same way as any person that spend the majority of their day on their feet.....

find a practicioner in your area that will make you this product. www.solesupports.com it is made for your body weight, activity level (and for a backpacker, the amount of weight you will generally carry)

shoes or boots will not matter, it is what you like and are happy with

peace
mf

[Bolo]

Superfeet, daily rubbing, stretching, but taping my feet worked best for me.
Many different ways to tape with athlete's tape...I simply made a big "X" from metatarsal to heel, then one strip down the middle. Had to do this daily for several weeks but the pain did go away.
Good luck! Nothing worse than foot pain.

-Bolo

[Sly]

About the third day out I asked Mala how long it would take for the foot pain to go away. His answer was "However long it takes you to get to Maine." I winced, but he was right.

Of course, lightning your load and orthos will help but, many times you'll need to grin and bare it. It's a big part of the 90% mental.

[max patch]

I suffered through a bout of PF a few years ago. No way I could have done a thru if I had had the PF at the time.

The good news, at least in my case, is that the PF went away as suddenly as it appeared after about 6 to 9 months. There are plenty of stretching/icing regimens on the web.

I bet you'll be fine when 2009 rolls around.

[Lilred]

I had plantar facsitis in my left foot. It was extrememly painful just to walk. I did go hiking with it after getting custom orthotics. Get the kind that they heat up first, then mold to your foot. After a mile of hiking the pain would actually go away. I was fine while hiking, the pain came back after I would stop hiking. Also, get a pair of Crocs. I know it sounds strange, but I would be in extreme pain and limping, I'd put on a pair of crocs and instantly the pain and the limp would go away. I wore crocs nonstop for a couple of months and my plantar problem is gone now. I still use my orthotics for any kind of hiking, but only when I hike. Get some Crocs. My doc told me they work because of the hard rubber sole, makes great support for the arches.

[corso k-9]

what are crocs?

[Rift Zone]

but isn't that kinda risky to try a thru hike without boots... I have considered lighter, better fitting shoes, but didn't know if they would be feasable...

Footwear needs change on an individual basis. I personally only wear my La Sportiva Makalu's when I'm doing serious mountaineering or snowshoeing. Otherwise, I go for as light as possible. I summited Mt. Shasta (14,162) in a pair of gore-tex North Face trail runners. Then again, there are others that shouldn't be walking across a lawn without some serious support. In general, the more experience you have with rugged terrain, the more you can lighten up on the foot wear. If you are concerned with twisting your ankle and such then perhaps you have cause to worry. I would recommend going with the lightest/most comfortable high-tops you can find.

[jlb2012]

what are crocs?

see http://shop.crocs.com/pc-15-4-beach....ction=products for an example

[HIPOCKETS]

All great comments about foot wear. I look for great fit and light weight in trail runners. I have custom insoles because of numb toes. They work great. Wish I had tried superfeet first they are about $120 less than the custom insoles I have problems with plantar facsitis if I walk miles on pavement around home but not on rough uneven terrain. I found the rotary calf extensions at the gym is the quickest way for me get relief from plantar facsitis