I hope you have some advice for my aching feet

[Stina]

Hi Raw Friends,


I work on my feet as a caregiver in an assisted living facility with senior citizens. Love my job but after pounding around on my feet for eight hours, three times a day, my feet seriously hurt.

I splurged and got a $99 pair of Asic a-factory made running shoes just yesterday. The salesman talked me into getting the arch supports and assured me after fifteen minutes I wouldn't even feel them because they'd adjust to my feet. Unfortunately, that made for eight hours of arch hell!!

Like most people, my feet are slightly different sizes. Usually the left shoe is so comfortable and I could hike for hours with that one foot but the right one is wonky. Maybe it's the foot itself or how it's coming out of my hip. Maybe the Bikram yoga will help.

So, I'll take the arch support inserts out and try the flat form, but God I get zinging pain! I can't be the only person with this problem. The foot doctor only said to get a shoe that fits the bigger foot- not helpful. The expert marathon runner at the shoe store sold me the arch support; unfortunately, that didn't work.

I know this is a lot of info about my tootsies but you all have been such a wealth of resources. I'm 37 and want to work towards going into nursing; my feet are important!


Thanks and Love!

Stina

[Colorawdo girl]

OOOOOO feet are so important. I got arch supports made ay my chiropracters. They were made from a mold of my feet so designed just for me. Cool huh? Maybe try that.???

Oh and woweee good for you for the work you do. That is a challenging job.

[Stina]

OOOOOO feet are so important. I got arch supports made ay my chiropracters. They were made from a mold of my feet so designed just for me. Cool huh? Maybe try that.???

May I ask how much that costs? Whatever the price, surely worth it. Are you walking on clouds now? thanks for the reply.

[DharmaGirl]

Hey Stina!!!

Check out these toe stretchers..... they are amazing!!! I wear mine for about 1/2 hour a day and my feet feel soooo much better..... you'll actually start to crave your foot treatment.... I have the Happy Feet Socks, but will probably get some toe stretchers now that summer is coming :D Good Luck!!!


http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=happy+feet+socks&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=3451194929&ref=pd_sl_183ltf9ep1_e

http://www.yogapro.com/ts/toestretcher.html

[Colorawdo girl]

No idea...been a long time...Clouds uh huh. Happy feet to you...

Colorado clouds for sure!

[spicyfull]

I know its a demanding job. Maybe you are just on them TOO many hours a day. You need to take time for a SIT down break. Come home and Soak them or give them a Massage. Get a Manicure once in a while. I like a paraffin foot bath. Show the "Footsie" some LOVE.....Hope all gets Healed.

[sport]

Hey Stina!!!

Check out these toe stretchers..... they are amazing!!! I wear mine for about 1/2 hour a day and my feet feel soooo much better..... you'll actually start to crave your foot treatment.... I have the Happy Feet Socks, but will probably get some toe stretchers now that summer is coming :D Good Luck!!!


http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=happy+feet+socks&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=3451194929&ref=pd_sl_183ltf9ep1_e

http://www.yogapro.com/ts/toestretcher.html

I have never seen these before. Does anyone know if they do any good. I can not imagine that you can wear them with shoes.

[RawKnitster]

I don't think athletic shoes would be comfortable to wear all day, especially running shoes. I have lots of "comfortable shoes" including Rockports, Mephistos, and more, but only one brand (2 pairs) that I can wear ALL day without suffering ANY discomfort....Birkenstocks. They take some getting used to, but for my money are well worth it.

Costco has a new service. Custom made pads. Think they cost about $80.

Good Luck. I hope you find something that works for you.

[DharmaGirl]

I have never seen these before. Does anyone know if they do any good. I can not imagine that you can wear them with shoes.

NOOO, you can not wear them w/shoes!! You just wear them for 20-30 minutes per day, either in bed or sitting in your recliner ;) My feet have become less achy since wearing them..... if u want a trial run, try doing it with those toe separators you use for an in home pedicure...that's how i started, then I invested in these..... LOVE them!!

[Stina]

thanks for the thoughtful feedback! Love my raw friends!! :)

[Johnny B]

I enjoy my Birkenstocks. I've heard from many women who work on their feet all day and they love Ryka's, my mother included.

[VeggieMel]

I have serious foot aching that my doctors have never been able to diagnose. After about 30 minutes, they start the ache really badly. It's been very limiting for me. I find that Merrell shoes are the most comfortable for me. They are cushiony. I can't handle much arch support; it makes the pain much worse like you described. Good luck.

[Stina]

Just thought that I'd update this and say it's been surprizingly mostly resolved. I occasionally get a new pair of running shoes that correct my pronation but gotta pass on the arch support. So, my feet invert, meaning they roll in. The good, expensive shoes help but in massage therapy school I've also learned to use my feet as a three-pointed platform involving the big and little toes and the heel. Also, when I was doing Bikram yoga I was getting awful, awful foot cramps that were slowly getting better as those little, unused foot muscles were getting activated. And on top of that I got different levels of massage designed to relieve problems while in massage therapy school. Isn't it great to actually see progress despite ageing?

I just discovered a brand of shoes that works remarkably well for my individual foot issues and that's Echo. I'm so happy! I thought I was doomed to nothing but ugly running shoes for the rest of my life.

I think those yoga-toe spreaders will be an excellent invesment someday! Thanks for all the feedback you guys. This community is so great for advice and feedback.

[monkapotapus]

My left foot has been achy this week. I find that rolling it around on a tennis ball really helps to loosen it up.......it's kind of a "pleasure/pain" thing when I'm doing it.....lol ;)

[Revvell]

I'd suggest going barefoot. Shoes with all kinds of support weaken the feet because they don't need to use the muscles. There's a book out called "Barefoot Running" which explains all this. I'm usually barefoot and when I wear shoes, I wear minimalist type.

~ Revvell ~

[k8sl8]

I don't know if it applies, but losing weight will help. The less stress on your feet the better. That being said, I used to come home from work, lay down on the floor with me feet up on the couch and CRY. Some people just don't have good feet! But you can make it better.

You will probably have to buy several pr. of shoes to find ones that fit YOU. DON'T skimp here. You do get what you pay for in shoes! They are out there; I know as I've bought pr after pr I thought were good... just to find that I couldn't wear them more than an hour or two. When you find a good one: buy at least 2 more. They change styles every year and you will NEVER find the same fit again!!

As a couple other posters say: Echo and Merrell seem to work for me as well, but even there not all shoes in the brand so try, try, try. I personally cannot wear Birks... I've tried several times so not everyone is the same, of course.

I also have a new pr of athletic shoes - I think Reebock that have the round lumpy things on the sole that sort of work somewhat like a way watered down version of the rocker type shoes. They're the best I've found for walking/exercise.

Do you have a DSW or something similar where they have all the shoes/sizes out to try. Plan to spend a LOT of time. Wear shoes in the store and walk around in them. I've spent several hours sometimes. I'm sure it's a PITA for them, but the only way to have a clue if something will be comfortable.

Good luck and GO SHOPPING.