Beat Feet *throb... ouch... throb*

[Saavy?]

I was asked a question by "Judy from Boise" and decided to start a new post.

Here is her question:
"completly off-topic....but why do your feet hurt ? What shoes do you wear ? Have you tried Birkenstocks ? Danskos? Crocs? Do you have socks with lycra woven into the arch areas ? I worked a lot of 12 s in the ED, and usually changed my shoes and or socks mid shift........" (Judy from Boise)

I am sure I am not the only one out there who suffers from aching feet after a day of walking all over the parks. :scared:

Judy... my problem is that a horse stepped on my foot when I was barefoot back when I was a teenager (I know... more info than you care to know). Ever since, the small toe on my right foot kinda "sticks out" in its own direction. My problem consists of all shoes rubbing on this whacked out toe, causing blisters, corns, major pain.

Believe me, I have tried all sorts of shoe brands & foot remedies.
Birkenstocks hurt, Dansko's are excruciatingly painful, Crocs are OK for about 3 hours, Keen's are good for about 2 hours, Reebok's are good for about 2 hours also, socks: support/thin/thick don't work, changing shoes during a shift doesn't work, buying extra wides helps a bit. :sad1:
With every step I get sharp pain to that region, feel every rub, and pressure of any sort after a few hours is fatal.

The ONLY shoe that I have found that does not hurt my dog-gone trauma toe is Merrell Primo Chill clogs with the fleece lining. I think this is because that little toe can just sink into the fleece.

The only remedy I have come up with (and I am prepared to get FLAMED big time for this one) :laughing: is... well... Vicodin.
I get an RX for my trip... one pill for each day that I am there, taken before bed, so I can sleep instead of lay there and focus on my foot pain. :faint:
Then I get up and basically go cripple myself for another round.

I am open to your suggestions and ideas. :idea:
Any and all.
I know there has to be something out there.

:thanks:

[JenDisneylandlver]

My feet always kill after walking around DL too! I did switch to crocs during my last trip, and they are very comfortable. I believe they helped me greatly to get through the rest of my trip!

My problem is flat feet, which causes my feet to get tired faster and finding shoes that work well for me is difficult. I always end up with several blisters, usually only after one day in the parks.

So I know how you feel!

[stacielee]

What about the Crocs flip-flops? They're called Athens and then your toe wouldn't have to rub against anything.

[sterlingbird11]

By far, the most comfortable "shoes" that I own are Reef flip flops. I like Rainbow Sandals too, but the leather soles are not the most comfy for me. The regular footbed on the flip flops is made of a material that allows your foot to imprint into the sole and makes it a personalized fit.

I bought Crocs and wish that I hadn't b/c they are nowhere near to being as comfy as my Reefs. My faves are the type called Ginger. That's all I will wear to Disneyland now!

[princesskim]

I live in my Rainbows, they kinda hurt when you are breaking them in, but once they are broken in, they are amazingly comfortable:love: Also, i just started using Mole Skin (i work retail and standing/walking for 8 hours in "pretty" shoes does a good number on my feet) But I have started cutting little pieces of Mole Skin and putting it on the areas i know will give me issues. So possibly for the OP on ur pinky toe to help with the blisters. Just my .02:goodvibes

[Leggyb]

What about just regular flip flops? Then your toes can live free in peace. I LIVE in flip flops in the summer. They even have extremely comfortable, special padded ones if you look around. (In all my years going to disneyland, my feet have never once hurt- and I always wore flipflops.. and let my tell you, I have really small but WIDE feet :))

[JenDisneylandlver]

Just regular old flip flops would KILL me walking around DL. Even my DH tried wearing them one of the days on our trip and was in a lot of pain. They don't have much support.

[JadeDarkstar]

crocks have the special arch suport ones.. im gona get them if i get any..becouse i have problems with my feet to..just walking to video store hurts

I will probley get cloi(sp) too but i think the arch suport will work better for me

[moko]

Yikes! I'd go with flip flops if that toe is the big issue! The Reefs seem like a good option.... with a side of Vicodin. :laughing: The things we will do to have fun at Disneyland.

I actually wore Crocs the first few days of the trip and stupidly wore them sans socks. I got two hotspots on the tops of my feet from where the band rubbed (wearing them like clogs) and i ended up with a blister on the bottom (again due to the no socks thing). I switched to some cheapy flip flops the last few days and that allowed my sores to heal.

[JadeDarkstar]

well when you wear crocs are you supose to wear socks
I keep wanting the specialize arch ones but on crocs.com they seem to not be taking orders.

I want at least the sandels like now..the ones i have are hurting my feet and hay i need new shoes..i just dont know where to go for crocs..and if i get them can i return if they dont fit or soemthing?

[Leofoenget]

What about the Crocs flip-flops? They're called Athens and then your toe wouldn't have to rub against anything.

Ok I have Croc flip flops and while Crocs are fine for grocery shopping, taking kids to the park, I would NOT under any circumstances recomoend them for a LONG DAY at DL. I have them and I can't even walk around the block in them. I swear by KEENS with socks. ( yah I know socks) but I have worn them on many trips to DL and I swear even at the end of the day my feet still feel great. As do my legs.

I have shoe/arch issues from wearing BAD CHEAP shoes all summer once at our local park here in santa clara so I know what I am talking about. I had tendenitis so bad I could hardly walk. Once I changed my shoes and invested in some good supportive shoes it went away. Crocs just dont do it over the long haul.

The thing with KEENS is, sometimes you have to NOT tighten them up, and as you wear them, they will loosen up then you can tighten the straps. If they are too tight then yes your feet will hurt. You need to break them in first.

Socks with a KEEN, (a low ankle sock so you dont look like grandma) will really help. Going sockless can give you blisters and make your feet hurt also.

just my 2c

[Misskitty3]

I don't do Vicodin but I take Advil around 3pm or 4pm while at DL and that helps a TON!!!

[Alex2kMommy]

I'm with Judy, change shoes mid-day (if you can.)

We took our first trip to DL last fall, and I read horror stories of aching, blistered feet. So I travelled armed with moleskin and foot sprays and bandaids and 4 pair of shoes: Tennies, flip-flops, Nike sandals and Crocs.

I think the first day I wore the sandals, but they gave me a couple blisters in a hurry because they rubbed in a couple spots. So I ditched the sandals for the remainder of the trip. [Note: Do not break in new shoes at DL!] :headache:

I found a good rhythm by wearing the tennies (with socks) in the mornings, then if we returned to the hotel mid-day, I switched to either the Crocs or flip-flops. Felt real good to have the extra cushion of socks and tennies in the a.m., and equally as good to peel them off my hot feet and let them breathe the rest of the day. :thumbsup2

Occasionally we did not return to the hotel mid-day, so I would just make sure if I wore one pair all day, I wore a different pair the next. The only foot problem I had was a minor recurrence of plantar fasciitis, I presume from lack of arch support in the Crocs and flip-flops. All in all, for being on my feet the better part of 8 days, this was a great outcome!

[kuusimo]

well when you wear crocs are you supose to wear socks

It depends if your feet sweat or not. I can wear the normal beach one without socks and do everyday. For other styles though I do wear socks with them. At Disneyland, I will wear socks at night with my crocs because it gets chilly.

I know that everyone's feet are different and that you need to find shoes that work for your own feet. Crocs just seem to work great for mine.

[VWCat]

Birkenstocks worked for me,after the first day I had a couple hot spots so I wore bandaids on the tops of my feet and it helped,no blisters! My feet also sweat and I seemed to be fine,they were somewhat new so maybe just absorbed it,plus all the walking around aired my feet out.:cool1: I was quite pleased with my birks:thumbsup2 Good luck!

[lulubelle]

Definately no flames from me - I believe in doing whatever works for you to enjoy your vacation.

Most comfy shoes for me are:
Teva flip flops in the summer (love them!)
A good walking Nike tennis shoe in the winter.

I can only go about 8 hours a day, no matter what shoes I am wearing, my feet just plain wear out after walking for that long!

[Judy from Boise]

well, as you can tell by my post at work I live in Danskos, at home i live in Birks, but in the parks I live in Chacos!
Actually as a big believer in switching shoes I usually wear chacos during the day, Birk sandels to the pool,and Birk Boston clogs with socks at night.

It sounds like you might have arthritis in that toe.....do you take NSAIDS? I know the speciality shops like Footsmart has great looking silicone caps for all of the different toes, plus lots of other cool stuff made for assorted foot problems.They have a nice web site too. A radical idea is to consult with an orthopod....I wonder if they could re-break it and guide it to heal into better alignment? Maybe you have spurs that a lithotrypsy type procedure could help?

[moko]

well when you wear crocs are you supose to wear socks
I keep wanting the specialize arch ones but on crocs.com they seem to not be taking orders.

I did say I "stupidly" wore them without socks, LOL! ;) I actually don't wear socks with them any other time while not at DL and I do just fine... it's just the rub from the major walking at disneyland that did me in. I did bandaids on the hotspots afterward like someone else mentioned.

I want at least the sandels like now..the ones i have are hurting my feet and hay i need new shoes..i just dont know where to go for crocs..and if i get them can i return if they dont fit or soemthing?

There are quite a few places online that sell Crocs. I went directly through crocs.com to get mine, returned them all (4 pairs for the family and wasn't sure about the fit) and reordered. Then, they ran out of 2 styles so I went around town and found some at the animal feed store of all places. :confused3 LOL - they were the Disney ones and they obviously weren't selling well there because they were $10 off a pair. I should've looked there first!

[CalGal]

I also depend upon moleskin and switching off shoes. I wouldn't dream of going to DL for more than a day or so without moleskin. My favorite shoes are an old pair of Easy Spirit sandals. They're nice and cushy and though they are starting to fall apart, they're still so comfy. They were the only pair of shoes that I could wear when I broke my little toe earlier this year. I trade them off with a nice pair of Privos, sometimes with 2 pairs of socks, and at least one other pair of shoes. I've tried lots of different types of shoes - Tevas, SAS, Crocs, Merrills, Nikes. Crocs didn't do it for me at DL; for one, I just can't see "walking purposefully" (Is that the correct expression HydroGuy?) at opening or rope drop in Crocs.

[JenDisneylandlver]

I wore socks with my crocs in DL. But have been wearing them without since being home. Feels okay to me. LOL

Honestly I think the crocs work so well for me because they are just WIDE! LOL My poor little pinky toe actually got some room to breath. Nothing says pain like "smashed" feet from shoes!

I don't know, also the soles just felt supportive. and "soft and gooshy". Just felt better then those supposedly Nike walking shoes I was wearing to begin with!

[clcb13]

I have to wear socks too....my feet slide around too much in birks or crocs. I have found that some crocs were more comfortable than others even between the same style. The first beach pair I tried on were hard yet another pair same color, same style were extremely comfortable. I didn't have sore feet at all for 11 days in DW & IOA last fall. My hubby though can only find relief from wearing his birks....I say go with what works no matter how dorky you may look!:cool1:

[Judy from Boise]

I should specify that all of my Birks are narrows....and I especially like the "Papillo" line which has the highest arch. The best source for Birks is the "footshopping.com" page, then select USA. It is a german site.

[CalGal]

I agree, JenDisneylandlver. Wide toe room is key!

I might have to try socks with my Crocs sometime.

[VWCat]

I got the wide birks:thumbsup2

[SnackyStacky]

Ok I have Croc flip flops and while Crocs are fine for grocery shopping, taking kids to the park, I would NOT under any circumstances recomoend them for a LONG DAY at DL. I have them and I can't even walk around the block in them.

I actually have a pair of them myself, and I was thinking these would be great. I don't have any foot issues though.

I'm taking another pair of shoes with me just in case, but I've lived in my Athens since I bought them.

[Zoemakes5]

To OP, I agree with pp, see if an ortho can do anything for you now. Trust me, it will only get worse with age!

As for the "short fix", I'd recommend getting some furry/fluffy/poofy fabric and making yourself an insert of some sort for that foot. If the lined shoes bring you some relief (or prevent the hardship to begin with, then maybe using that idea and making it "mobile" will help? You might need to get a larger shoe, though, which may make things a bit more challenging, but it might work. Or maybe just a wide?
Also, something that has worked wonders for me when I've had blisters (not the same thing, but the "rubbing" on something that hurt is similar), I've gotten and used band-aid brand blister block bandages. They have extra cushions on them, and are good at not sliding.
Also, don't know if this would work, but are you able to "pull" the toe in at all by taping it to the other toes? Not all the way in or straight, but in enough so that you could get some relief and not have it constantly rub?
Best of luck.

[JadeDarkstar]

ok what would you all say about the off name crocs ive found them at walmart.

[jenpace]

Another vote for Chaco's here. I forgot to bring my "real" walking/running shoes to DL on our 4 day trip last summer and all I had was my Chaco leather flip-flops. No foot pain whatsoever for the whole trip. I tend to get plantar fascitis (sp?) type symptoms on the soles of my feet if I'm not wearing supportive shoes and the Chaco's were fine.

When I remember to bring the right shoes ;) for a long day of walking it's always running shoes with Superfeet insoles (the green *athletic* ones).

HTH!

[Parkhopper]

For those of you who suggested moleskin, where exactly do you find it?

Suzi

[moko]

For those of you who suggested moleskin, where exactly do you find it?

Suzi

I may be wrong but I think I've seen this stuff in the Dr. Scholl's/foot area at pretty much any store/drugstore.

[Albort]

im usually on my feet 8 hours a day and i learned to stand only on one leg and switching every time one of my foot gets tired. If that doesnt work, i usually just start dancing. :D

[Leggyb]

im usually on my feet 8 hours a day and i learned to stand only on one leg and switching every time one of my foot gets tired. If that doesnt work, i usually just start dancing. :D

LQTM :) This made me giggle.... and I totally agree. (I would love to see everyone trying to be foot pain by dancing around main street. It would make it that much more Disney!)

[Alex2kMommy]

For those of you who suggested moleskin, where exactly do you find it?
I couldn't find it in the local grocery store or drug store, so I bought it through drugstore.com.

I should note, however, that we never needed it, so not sure it's a MUST have... :confused3

[kuusimo]

ok what would you all say about the off name crocs ive found them at walmart.

No good. They are hard, make my feet hurt and are not worth it. I would spend the money. I have heard a few that like the airwalks at Payless, but that is the only other brand I hear people endorse.

Go to the Budget Boards here and they are always posting where they find Crocs for a good deal. I got my Mickey Mouse ones for $13.50 (normally $35)

[kuusimo]

For those of you who suggested moleskin, where exactly do you find it?

Suzi

Look by the bandaids. I have found moleskin there. Target, Walmart have always had it there for me.

[princesskim]

I got my moleskin at Walgreens, but i think they also had it at Safeway. HTH:thumbsup2

[mickey+minnie91]

Anyone try Birkenstocks Kiaro? I just ordered a pair. I have never owned a pair of birkenstocks but lately my feet have been really bothering me.

[Dukland]

Go to the Budget Boards here and they are always posting where they find Crocs for a good deal. I got my Mickey Mouse ones for $13.50 (normally $35)

Where on earth did you find them for that price? I would buy some for the whole family, if I found such a good deal!

[eatmypixiedust]

I suffered from sore feet many times after spending the day at DL and DCA. :faint: I've tried Vans, Airwalks, Adidas, KSwiss, Skechers, Pumas, and all of these brands hurt my feet at the end of the day. I think the most painful would be the Adidas and KSwiss. I guess these shoes are just meant for style and short walking distances, but not when you're on your feet all day. :confused3

I bought a pair of Crocs from Nordstrom. I put my Crocs through the Disney Footsies Pain Test and they passed! :rotfl2: :thumbsup2 My feet didn't hurt at all and these shoes are comfortable! Every time I go to the park I make sure I wear my Crocs. :cutie: :yay:

Maybe one of these days DL will have a "Sit Down & Soak Your Feet Land" ;)

[Terri.M]

I bought these Reefs for our trip to WDW last September. We walked steady for 7 days and my feet didn't hurt once! I talked my IL's into buying a pair for our trip to Hawaii in May and our upcoming trip to DLR in October and, let's just say they love me more than ever!!

I swear by these shoes and wouldn't even think of wearing anything else to Disney!

Oops my post count too low to put a link but they are the Leather Slap style.

[Master Mason]

to the OP,

I would recommend a trip to a good podietrist myself. If your toe sticks out at a funny angle, they should be able to fix that.

[Toobusy]

Well, my feet hurt for many reasons. One is that I carry some extra pounds. Another, I thought my comfy New Balance tennis shoes would be a great walking shoe at the parks but turns out....they weren't. While they felt great, I had no idea the damage they were doing to my big toes. From the creases that come when you walk (you know the ones toward the front of the shoe when you bend your foot while walking) it was brusing my big toes. I couldn't figure out why my toes hurt so bad. A 9 year old accidently stepped on my foot and I was in horrible pain after that which was a tip off that something wasn't right. It shouldn't have hurt that bad. It was a few days later when we got home and I took off my nail polish that I saw it...BLACK toes nails! The pain is gone but the nails are still black after a month and half.

I wore my tennis shoes in the am with socks. I Put on crocs mid day till evening then back into tennis shoes every day. We were there for 3 days. By the last day my feet were in misery and had swollen up! Not enough water I guess.

[Adam&Alex's Mom]

I have a pair of Birks that I now love... but they hurt like all get out when I first purchased them... it took a good two weeks to break them in!

I just purchased some crocs a couple of weeks ago and that is all I wear if I am not at work now! LOVE THEM!! I also purchased some Mickey Crocs for the boys... great for swim classes!

[foleyfun]

Foot pain is my worst enemy! I was so worried about my feet when we were planning our trip to DL. I have Planter Facitis (sp?). That is where it feels like somebody is stabbing me in the arch of my feet and in my heels. It's horrible. I really didn't want our trip slowed down by my foot pain. So I bought a pair of crocs and tested them out at Sea Worl a couple weeks before our trip to DL. They were ok, but they didn't have enough support for me, my feet hurt after a couple of hours. Then I bought a pair of New Balance Tennis shoes and a set of Dr. Scholl's 3-point inserts and that is what I wore the 3 days we were there. I have a 2 year old so we went back to the hotel mid-day for a nap so I would ice my feet and take some advil even if my feet were not hurting and it worked great! At the end of the 3 days my feet didn't hurt at all.

[Toobusy]

My daughter just got a Journey's shoe catalog in the mail and they have new crocs. They are not on the crocs site yet though. They are called Mammoth. They are the beach crocs with a faux fleece lining and the bottom edge holes are not open. Just holes on top. Sounds cushy!