Metarsalgia, help!

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

I have been struggling with my 2nd and 3rd metatarsal for a few months now. Apparantly my fat pad has shifted and I am putting almost all my weight on those bones when I walk. I went to a pedorthist over the weekend and he fitted me with an insert ( Birkenstock) and a padding to put in my shoes plus I bought some new balance tennies. The inserts hurt like crazy. I am supposed to break them in and I am in the process of doing so.
My trip is in 38 days! What should I be doing? Any suggestions? Sometimes walking is sooo painful. I have been trying to stretch my calves out multiple times a day and try to do some stationary biking to build up some muscles.

I have never had problems like this. Any shoe suggestions? These new balance feel so heavy compared to all my other shoes.

Please help me if you have experience with this. (mods please move this if not in right forum).

 

[momhmmx2]

No real shoe suggestion here, as it seems you are already doing the right thing. I would however recommend that you think about renting an ECV. (those motorized scooters). Disney, as you know, is HUGE! and the amount of walking you do in a day is measured in miles. I went to Disney in January and rented an ECV from an outside company (Walkers). I had ankle surgery in December and was able to walk by the time I got to Disney, but was not able to walk the miles required of me without significant pain and swelling.

Check out the disAbilities board for other companies that rent ECV's..it came to about $25/day as opposed to Disney renting them for $50/day

Totally worth the $$ to not have to worry about being in significant pain/discomfort and having the freedom to get around by myself (as opposed to having someone push me in a wheelchair)

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

Thanks, still holding out hope for my feet but I will have the info for ecv on hand if I can't make it through.

Anyone with this foot condition?

 

[momhmmx2]

Check out www.healthboards.com

then look under foot problems.

You can pose your question there. I found out lots of info about my particular ankle injury from people on those boards.

Hope this helps

Good Luck!

 

[shellbelle]

A week before my last trip I starting having foot problems. I think it was the same thing you are describing.

I went to my foot doctor. She made me an insert and gave me a shot in my foot. It was better the next day. It was a miracle! Call your doctor and see if a shot may work for you.

Good luck!

 

[toyotaae86lg]

The ECV idea doesn't sound all that bad for your problem. Sounds like you have some major inflammation in the foot and if thats the case as much walking as you will be doing thats just going to aggravate it even more. There are some stretching and strengthening exercises you can do like toe scrunches with a towel or ankles that can help but I don't think it will be in enough time. Continue to stretch out that calf mm and a aggressive massage would help to break up that tissue and inflammation. You can do the exercises up until the trip and then get an anti-inflammatory shot like someone previously said and that will help drive out the pain and inflammation. It may help but i'm afraid that it would just come right back with all the weight bearing on it. Just my two cents.

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

I think I will try to get in to see a podiatrist next week. I'll take in my shoes and see what he recommends. These hard insoles are very hard to break in. I have been doing the calf muscle stretching but should start an advil regimine as recommended online. Really hoping for a solution!

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the disABILITIES! board.

 

[Psychodisney]

You could try Dansko shoes. They are heavy but nice they put your foot in a nice position and might take some stress off the metatarsals. Do you have high arches?

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

No, I have a normal side arch, the arch on the ball of my foot is flat as a pancake! The pedorthist said that my foot is really flexible (18+ years of dancing is a blessing and a curse ) so he thought that retraining my foot wouldn't be that bad. I ordered some Keens last night and I will also take my new balance, teva mush, and easy spirit traveltimes the latter two I lived in at Disney before this condition appeared.

 

[DVC96]

Have you seen a podiatrist? I had metatarsialgia about 3 years ago (after struggling with plantar fascitis for years). Went to the podiatrist and he took an xray and gave me a cortisone shot. The pain left and never came back! I hope you find some relief. (PS - I have several sets of custom inserts that I absolutely have not been able to get used to, so I use a store bought insert in addition to regular insole in my athletic shoes. The inserts can be really tough to get used to.) Good Luck!

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

I made an appointment with a podiatrist for Monday. I thought as a dancer I could muscle through it but it doesn't seem to respond. Thanks for all your help, I will update soon.

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

I made an appointment with a podiatrist for Monday. I thought as a dancer I could muscle through it but it doesn't seem to respond. Thanks for all your help, I will update soon.