Anyone Else's Feet and Legs Absolutely KILL Them?

[PolyAddict]

I think getting your body used to walking prior will help alot. When i started Weight Watchers and took up walking last September, my shins hurt constantly. That is until they got used to it...i would have to say it took at least a month.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I have a question about moleskin for those of you who have used it. Do you put it on to prevent blisters? The stuff is so sticky it seems it would pull your skin off. Do you leave it on when you shower and just wait for it to fall off? Please tell me how you use this stuff!

On the subject of blisters, if anyone has a blister come up and is unprepared First Aid at each park will give good sturdy band aids. I had my first WDW blister ever while there this past January. I never have carried moleskin or bandaids with me, but First Aid hooked me right up. My blister did not become a problem for me.

 

[JenSop]

My experiences:

On our 2006 trip, I was walking on a newly injured ankle. (I was stubborn and did not take the air cast that the doctor recommended.) That caused an enormous amount of trouble for me AND emphasized that I needed REALLY GOOD SHOES. (Seriously, the ankle didn't heal right and bothered me for over a year....)

We didn't go in 2007, but before our 2008 trip, I was convinced that I would NOT deal with excrutiating (sp?) pain again! It worked, and I've stuck with it ever since....

I take a combo of really good walking sandals. (I am NOT a fan of walking alot in closed shoes.) My brands are:

Ecco's
Keens
Reef Flip Flops
Other comfy sandals by Eastland

I switch back and forth on alternating days between the Eccos and the Keens. Then in the evenings, I either wear my Reef flips flops or the Eastland sandals. Works great!

I also will say that losing weight makes a HUGE difference when it comes to pain. I used to get back pain alot when walking. I thought it was just something I'd have to deal with as I "got older." Well, I dropped 25 pounds over the course of a year and a half and have kept it off for almost a year. Knock on wood, I don't get back pain any more. And my feet and knees don't bother me as much either. It was such a welcome change. Was it a challenge? Yes. But so worth it.

 

[Sara*s_Mommie]

Am I just getting older?

YES.....but you're not alone

 

[kisobel]

we get a grocery stop so i pick up epsom salts. everynight i soak in a hot bath with the epsom and then rub peppermint lotion in. motrin every day also helps. however for this coming trip in dec- my goal is to lose weight and be walking 4miles a day.

kate

 

[n2mm]

Well I'm odd. Because we are mid 50s/late 50s and we've never had leg or feet problems or problems walking while in WDW. We take 5-6 trips a year to WDW and each trip is 1 to 2 weeks long. We walk everywhere, even from BWV or BCV to the studios (and of course EPCOT). It sounds like us "old" folks are in much better shape that alot of folks much younger ones here. In our normal like, I walk 3 miles a day at lunch time, every day for the past 20 years. My DH walks every evening for 3 miles almost every night. I also use my treadmill 4 nights a week for 20-30 minutes. I guess I'm doing something right. I guess some of you youngins can learn something from us oldies. I do suggest to folks that are planning a trip to WDW to get our and start moving to get their bodies use to it if they don't excercise on a regular basis. The only time I took it easy was while visiting WDW post-op 5 weeks after back surgery (4 years ago) and I still walked everywhere, but did take a few bench breaks around WS.

 

[DisneyMama409]

The bottoms of my feet KILLED me . Everyday when we go back to the hotel room I would collapse on the floor and drag myself to the bathtub. The only thing that helped my feet feel better was staying off of them and taking a warm shower. The water did something that made it more bearable but yeah the bottoms of my feet hurt so bad. I think the standing in lines made it more worse than the walking. I couldnt even stand still for Illuminations . We got the Epcot at a little after 9:00 am and stayed until Illuminations. SO MUCH WALKING at Epcot. By the time Illuminations came I could not stand still. I was walking backwards to the entrance watching the fireworks. At some point i just gave up and made that dreaded walk to the buses.That was the worst feeling ever.

 

[jillybeans]

I have a question about moleskin for those of you who have used it. Do you put it on to prevent blisters? The stuff is so sticky it seems it would pull your skin off. Do you leave it on when you shower and just wait for it to fall off? Please tell me how you use this stuff!

I usually bring along some gauze pad - put that over the blister and then the moleskin over that. Makes like a thick bandaid that won't fall off.

 

[hookedonears]

Absolutely yes. Extremely sore after the first day and it doesn't get any better after that. That's just apart of it. That's why it's incredibly important that you where comfortable walking shoes. Even with comfortable walking shoes, you just have to grin and bare the pain and do your best to put it out of your mind.

 

[SnowWtch]

DH and I are in our mid to late 30's. DH has psoriatic arthritis and has to soak each evening b/c his feet and joints hurt. I have the problem that the bottoms of my feet burn and when I take my shoes off I can't put weight on my feet for at least an hour b/c they burn and hurt so bad. We have found that if we go back to the room to swim (or in my case just wander around in the pool) and then swim again after we come back the pain isn't quite as bad.

 

[Bouncin-Tigger]

There is alot of walking but I would recommend maybe walking a little more at home. My dw and I both workout 5 days a week but focus a little more on cardio especially walking and watch what we eat the month before each visit which helps make some room for the dining plan full of food and helps ease the extra tension on the feet. Alot of people are asking there legs and feet to go from very little walking to miles and miles overnight which isnt a good idea.

 

[dizcrazee]

We have found that if we go back to the room to swim (or in my case just wander around in the pool) and then swim again after we come back the pain isn't quite as bad.

I've noticed this too. This is one reason why we try to get in the pool every evening while at WDW (other than we just really enjoy it).

 

[shyjade]

Oh gosh yes, I have the same problem. My lower legs & feet just scream when we're at Disney! I never get blisters, but all that walking gets to me. Each time I say I'm going to walk like crazy before we go but it's never enough.

I did wear a pedometer on our last trip and we put on nearly 12 miles our first full day (at AK). I guess that's why my legs & feet hurt - I never come close to walking that much in a non-Disney day!

 

[mauigal]

I have fibromyalgia so I thought I was alone in the aching department......so it's nice to hear that other 'normal' people ache too. Not that I wish aching on people, but you know....

 

[normmo]

Another vote for Crocs - my feet and legs use to kill me until I discovered crocs. Now I never wear anything else at the parks. The other trick is to take Zinc since it helps your muscles, sit whenever you can and hot baths with epsom salts.
Mo

 

[Luvchefmic]

I didn't read the whole thread sorry but a few years ago I went to a horse show & found this product...apparently it was used for the horses legs, now you can find it anywhere (think WalMart, Walgreens, etc) I use it on the back of my calves & lower back after hours working outside or after touring WDW its called FREEZE IT (advanced therapy gel) I don't know how I survived without it

 

[Pixiedust34]

I don't handle the heat well. I get pain, swelling ankles, and the dreaded blotched rash on my legs. You're not alone! Every night I ice my ankles and lower legs and use Gold Bond Powder overnight for the rash. I take Advil, too.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

Same issue here UNTIL I started wearing crocs. My DH fought me so hard when I bought him a pair too but they are the ONLY shoes I can wear and NOT wake up in the morning barely able to stand on my feet. I know they are ugly and I've heard they are not really good for your feet, but they work. I used to buy expensive tennis shoes and wear nice thick socks with them, but every night and the next morning, the bottoms of my feet hurt so bad. Now DH and I both have several pairs just for WDW and any long walking days (theme parks, zoos, etc).

I agree - I have several different styles of Crocs, but for WDW I only wear the Beach style, usually with the strap on the back of my heels (I think that is key as well), and use Body Glide. Even my mary jane crocs, cute as they are and so similar, don't provide the same benefits for me. I also normally take some sort of pain reliever as well. My first trip doing this, I had ZERO leg pain. It was amazing!

Our next trip I'm going to take my fitflops which I dearly love, but you better believe I'll have my crocs, too.

 

[jj1403]

I always had problem while wandering around the world. And then I discovered FitFlops...

They offer a lot of back and leg support. I won't wear any other footwear while in disney.

 

[travelmom6416]

We all have foot pain after a WDW trip. But my DH has the worst I have ever seen. He starts we blisters on his toes while we are there. Always have band aids and neosporin packed. His feet get so sore he starts walking slower and slower and the week goes on. He is physically fit. Just Disney kills his feet. Over the years, tried all different types of shoes from Birkis, Asics Gel, etc. No difference. He feels "safest" at a monorail resort. The bus lines kill him. So he likes the eliminate the odds of waiting for the bus. If it still gets us to Disney, I'm good with that. He is a trooper for still going. I know he dreads it because of his feet.