Foot pain

[Bullshot]

I’m having some persistent foot pain and stiffness in both feet this year, right much worse than left. I have fairly flat arches, size 12, wide front, narrow heel. I’m 6’1 about 210 - should really be 190. I know that would help.

Started with heel pain and tenderness, achilles pain, then whole foot just feels off kilter and “broken down” after a long day. Plantar fasciatis? I really trashed them when I went skiing this year for the first time in years, and had excruciating charley horses the 1st 1/2 hour or so of each outing. Feet are stiff in AM out of bed, and right foot always feel internally weak and like I am rolling it to the outside. Just generally annoying, uncomfortable, and worrisome it won’t get better on its own. Anybody with similar issues? Anybody know effective excercises or therapies to get back… on my feet? I have not gone to a podiatrist yet, when it comes to doctors I always….err….drag my feet.

 

[poster1]

Dang, sorry! Had similar issues playing college sports post knee surgeries... lots of progressive stretching (hamstrings & calves), as well as certain body weight exercises / drills to help strengthen the smaller muscles around knee and ankle joints really worked for me. It was / is still a frustrating process that requires a lot of proactive attention and maintenance. Early on in the process my doc recommended Aleve and ice baths (they suck but I swear by them still). I would love to help anyway I can having endured multiple rounds of physical therapy, but my best recommendation would be to stretch more and/or see a specialist.

 

[thomas89]

I'd imagine your feet/ankles just need some breaking in of their own. I've always had the thought that my feet need to toughen up before hunting season just like everything else. I think a lot of boots/shoes/orthotics really weaken the way the foot moves and basically handicaps it more.

I'm a big fan of minimal style footwear for strengthening the foot/ankle/lower leg, but most people are in some sort of footwear from the time they wake up to the time they go to bed. From what I've read, it leads to underutilized muscles and ligaments/tendons making them more prone to getting injured.

Anyways, your results may vary. Never hurts to go to the doctor to get them checked out for anything major. A good book I read years ago was "Born to Run" by Chris MacDougal (IIRC), touched on lots of the different issues from modern foot wear and I kind of went down a rabbit hole researching from there.

Good luck, hope your feet feel better with whatever you find out!

 

[poster1]

I'd imagine your feet/ankles just need some breaking in of their own. I've always had the thought that my feet need to toughen up before hunting season just like everything else. I think a lot of boots/shoes/orthotics really weaken the way the foot moves and basically handicaps it more.

I'm a big fan of minimal style footwear for strengthening the foot/ankle/lower leg, but most people are in some sort of footwear from the time they wake up to the time they go to bed. From what I've read, it leads to underutilized muscles and ligaments/tendons making them more prone to getting injured.

Anyways, your results may vary. Never hurts to go to the doctor to get them checked out for anything major. A good book I read years ago was "Born to Run" by Chris MacDougal (IIRC), touched on lots of the different issues from modern foot wear and I kind of went down a rabbit hole researching from there.

Good luck, hope your feet feel better with whatever you find out!

That could very well be true but going that route can also just exacerbate existing underlying issues, causing more severe injuries... but in general I agree, we probably cause our own problems with modern footwear.

 

[Mousecard]

I’m having some persistent foot pain and stiffness in both feet this year, right much worse than left. I have fairly flat arches, size 12, wide front, narrow heel. I’m 6’1 about 210 - should really be 190. I know that would help.

Started with heel pain and tenderness, achilles pain, then whole foot just feels off kilter and “broken down” after a long day. Plantar fasciatis? I really trashed them when I went skiing this year for the first time in years, and had excruciating charley horses the 1st 1/2 hour or so of each outing. Feet are stiff in AM out of bed, and right foot always feel internally weak and like I am rolling it to the outside. Just generally annoying, uncomfortable, and worrisome it won’t get better on its own. Anybody with similar issues? Anybody know effective excercises or therapies to get back… on my feet? I have not gone to a podiatrist yet, when it comes to doctors I always….err….drag my feet.

I started having sharp pain in my feet at work. Then stumbled (ha!) across Gravity Defyer shoes (GDEFY.com) .
They felt strange at first but they actually helped.

 

[Bullshot]

Working and hiking mountainous miles in these isn’t helping my situation.

 

[CycleFishHunt]

This resonates with me. I’m 6’6” 215 lbs with a pretty narrow foot, and they seem to take a beating.

A few years ago I was having pretty bad nerve pain, but have it mostly under control. I still get that broken down feeling you describe.

Like right now, my right foot is aching a bit. But I also skated tonight for the first time in a couple of months and played a little hockey with my son, so that’s to be expected.

My house has wood floors and any bare foot walking (even just socks) is a no-go. I got hefty diabetic slippers, even though I am not diabetic, and wear them around the house with double thick Dr Scholls.

The only socks I buy these days have extra cushioning. I like Feetures with max cushion.

I also wear Superfeet insoles in all my shoes.

All these things made a big difference for me.

I still get pain sometimes but it’s not nearly as bad as it was. The nerve pain used to be pretty bad like an electrical current running through my foot, but that’s almost all gone, and if I do get nerve pain it’s much more mild and short lived.

The beat up feeling comes and goes and is also not as bad as it used to be.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

I also just remembered, my
grandmother who lived to 95, told me when I was in my 20s that is important to take care of your feet and your teeth. The advice stuck in my head, and now that I’m in my 40s I realize what smart advice that was.

 

[TheJason]

I think I’d start with a podiatrist. It sounds like plantar fasciitis, coupled with some muscular imbalances/weaknesses.

The only way you rid yourself of PF is to find the root cause and address that, then treat the inflammation and tightness. Otherwise you’re just chasing symptoms.

You may have a collapsed arch. That’s why I’d start with the doc.

 

[Pucky Freak]

I had a collapsing arch after forgoing shoes for several months. Eventually ended in an internal infection in one foot from inflammation, and I needed antibiotics to remedy. Foot doc said shoes with strong arch support all time until my feet were back on track.

Important to match insole arch with your foot shape. Too much arch paired with mostly-flat feet will cause pain and discomfort.

I’d recommend podiatrist first. In the longer-run, buy your shoes in-person at REI and/or a running shoe store. Typically the day hours weekday staff are pretty good foot experts and can help match footwear to your foot shape well. Lastly, to fine-tune, replace foam insoles regularly. That is the 1st part of your shoe or boot to degrade, often lasting about 300 miles, long before other parts of the shoe or boot wear out.

 

[1oldcoyote]

I’m having some persistent foot pain and stiffness in both feet this year, right much worse than left. I have fairly flat arches, size 12, wide front, narrow heel. I’m 6’1 about 210 - should really be 190. I know that would help.

Started with heel pain and tenderness, achilles pain, then whole foot just feels off kilter and “broken down” after a long day. Plantar fasciatis? I really trashed them when I went skiing this year for the first time in years, and had excruciating charley horses the 1st 1/2 hour or so of each outing. Feet are stiff in AM out of bed, and right foot always feel internally weak and like I am rolling it to the outside. Just generally annoying, uncomfortable, and worrisome it won’t get better on its own. Anybody with similar issues? Anybody know effective excercises or therapies to get back… on my feet? I have not gone to a podiatrist yet, when it comes to doctors I always….err….drag my feet.

I would see a Podiatrist(sp). I developed arthritis in both great toe joints many yrs ago. Eventually getting both toe joints fused. Ended up being my treatment.

 

[jtm307]

In my experience, podiatrists are a waste of time. I was misdiagnosed by one last year. He said I had plantar fascitis and i was good to keep walking on it. I did. I missed all of September grouse hunting because it got much worse. Physical therapist said I had posterior tibial tendonitis caused by an extremely inflexible midfoot, something the poditrist and an orthopedic surgeon completely missed. He got me up and running in time for October deer season.

 

[DouglasR]

My left foot’s been killing me for like 8 weeks but I’m just gonna work through it.

 

[3855WIN]

Not classic gout symptoms, but that could be it.
Do you drink? Eat red meat?

 

[Nick87]

Plantar fasciitis is a real bitch. Got a brace to wear at night a few years back. Seemed to take care if it hasn't been back for some time. I went to an orthopededist for that. Ymmv

 

[DouglasR]

Got a brace to wear at night a few years back.

 

[DouglasR]

What does it mean if my arch is super tight and uncomfortable to walk on when I wake up, but gets better as the day goes on?

 

[tarheel]

Podiatrist sold me inserts to counter my plantar fasciitis but all they did was relieve 29 bucks from my bank account. My primary's nurse introduced me to Hoka shoes (the One One Bondi 6) and NO more PF or foot problems. Get at least a half size larger than you normally wear or get a pair of Superfeet Green inserts to go with a full size larger and I think you'll be pleased.

 

[bignest]

I’d strongly recommend you try the knees over toes program. It’s all connected in there and I think it would help. It’s not cheap, but there’s a trial. https://www.atgonlinecoaching.com/

Also, get a hard ball (baseball, pool ball) and roll it around the bottom of your foot to break those muscles fascia up. It will HURT during, but helps over time.

Best of luck. I had similar issue and went with the combo of what I mentioned above and a good minimalist shoe for training. Helped my feet, ankles, and knees.

 

[Bullshot]

Not classic gout symptoms, but that could be it.
Do you drink? Eat red meat?

Both, but I don’t think this is related to my particular issues. Definitely heading to dr in next couple weeks. Only 3 months til I need to be in Wyoming!

 

[Wallydeuce]

I went through plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis off and on for almost 3 years before I retired. Spent a bundle on copays for PT, sleeping boot, etc. Absolutely miserable time. Then I remembered the podiatrist that rebuilt my now X wife's foot after her horse fell on it. Crushed the hell out of it. I called him up and he told me to throw away the boot and other crap and gave me lidocaine and cortisone injections in the Planter and Achilles. I've had one flair up since (2019) and an injection cured it. It feels like a railroad spike is being driven through your foot when they're doing it though.

@Bullshot and you too @DouglasR, go get an injection. You'll want to murder me when its happening but will thank me the next day. Promise, scout's honor.