Need advice - foot pain

[Dobie]

Good luck at the podiatrist! Mine saved my sanity.

 

[ckdsnynt]

Amen. Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but a podiatrist is a foot's best friend!

 

[RN4Babies]

I also have plantar fascitis. I do exercises, ice, anti inflammatories, Crocs (New Balance shoes, both with and without the roll bar KILLED my feet!); in additioin, my podiatrist had me get walking boots for when I'm up and about and the pain is intense, as well as splints to wear at nighttime. The boots help tremendously, and the splints help to stretch the ligament while you're sleeping. Good luck; it can be miserable to deal with until you're able to find some relief.

 

[csmom]

I also have plantar fasciitis. My foot dr (who is also a marathon runner) recommends either Asics or Brooks running shoes and combined with the custom orthotics he made for my feet (and lots of stretching of the calves) I have almost no pain any more.

 

[FidlMom]

I can just hear your laughter.....

Try DUCT TAPE!

I had tried all the usual things ... new sneakers, inserts from the drug store, ibuprofin, ice. They all helped a little, but nothing really worked. So I searched the 'net and found the following link. It was cheap, Lord knows we have lots of duct tape around, and it has really helped.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/96375/duct_tape_cured_my_plantar_fasciitis_pg2.html?cat=70

The picture at the top of the first page shows where to put it. You'll have to experiment on how tight to do it - I don't put it on too tightly or it hurts my foot. You'll feel some relief the first day, and the pain will ease each day you use it. I don't have to use it every day now, but several times a week.

I was at WDW for 10 days in February and had minimal trouble with my feet. You'll want to start your 'duct tape therapy' well before you go to WDW so your feet have a chance to heal.

If you're concerned about fashion, Home Depot sells duct tape in several different colors than just the steel gray.

 

[hapandpam]

I believe that a doctor is the best person to consult, but here is what worked for me.

I had a terrible problem with my feet. I couldn't walk when I got out of bed. My brother was having similar problems and went to the doctor, thinking he needed orthodics. The doctor first recommended stretching exercises (stand a couple of feet away from the wall, lean into it, several times a day, or stand on a step, letting your heals hang off) and getting a good pair of support sneakers. (I believe they were the brands others mentioned. All had a wide sole area under the heal rather than being tapered in.) The doctor said if this didn't work, db would need orthodics but they were very expensive and might not be necessary.

I had been wearing Reebok Princesses, which I loved. SIL who was wearing a pair when she was at the doctor with db, was told that these were not good because of their shape and support. I switched to New Balance, did the exercises, and my pain disappeared. I have worn many brands since then, making sure they have good support.

 

[dansamy]

I also have plantar fascitis. I do exercises, ice, anti inflammatories, Crocs (New Balance shoes, both with and without the roll bar KILLED my feet!); in additioin, my podiatrist had me get walking boots for when I'm up and about and the pain is intense, as well as splints to wear at nighttime. The boots help tremendously, and the splints help to stretch the ligament while you're sleeping. Good luck; it can be miserable to deal with until you're able to find some relief.

I noticed your userid! I'm a pediatrics nurse. Doesn't it seem like a lot of nurses have foot problems?

 

[RN4Babies]

I noticed your userid! I'm a pediatrics nurse. Doesn't it seem like a lot of nurses have foot problems?

Hi Yes, we certainly seem to have more foot issues than other occupations. I'm sure it has nothing to do with 12 to 16 hour shifts without even a bathroom break.

 

[drakes]

I developed pf after our disney trip Jan 2007 !!! I got a night splint and exercises as well as crocs and this helped. Jan 2009 trip I felt pain, I had Dr. Schol's sneakers, Halo Heel (special insert for the relief of heel paid due to PF) as well as crocs and ortho sandals. I switched them up, did exercises in line. Walking I was fine, as soon as I stood in line or rested the pain set in.
it is unreal pain and you do feel 100 years old. I was " cured" from the pf after much exercise and the splint, but it did come back. Mine is in both feet.
Iced water bottle or a cool can of pop worked wonders. I also brought foot soak and baby powder for my feet at night.
Good luck!

 

[flyfire]

I too have delt with plantar fasciitis for the past 7 years or so. On my trip last year I brought my New Balance, croc's flip flops, and reg croc's- it really helped to wear different shoes each day or even more than one pair of shoes per day.

 

[puffinp51]

Ditto what many people said about seeing the podiatrist, crocs, inserts, stretches, etc. The other thing that helped my husband was wearing birkenstock sandals (sandals with arch support would work, too) inside the house all the time instead of going barefoot. This was a house only pair (didn't wear them outside). He did this in addition to the other inserts (and stretches - very important) for several months and it helped. No more inserts for him now Good luck to you! It's a major bummer when the feet hurt.

M.K.

 

[CarolA]

If your feet still hurt wearing a pair of crocs, Im afraid there might not be a cure for you.

Well... my feet only hurt IF I wear Crocs. Personally these are NOT good shoes for a lot of us in spite of what you hear on the DIS

To the OP.

1. Get to a doctor NOW, you really have pushed this late if you go in May.

2. If he says there is nothing physically wrong go to a GOOD running shoe store. (Not footlocker, not Dick's, not Target etc..) And get them to fit you with well fitting shoes that fit your gait.

3. Get out there and walk NOW. A couple of miles a day.

 

[OKWDVCMagic]

Definitely sounds like plantar fasciitis. I started having problems in 2006 and it really flared up when I visited WDW. It felt like I was walking with sharp stones in my shoes. I finally couldn't take it any more and saw a podiatrist. I was diagnosed with PF and went through the course of physical therapy, shots and custom orthotics. I was one of the few (usually less than 5%) that had to have surgery. My pf has definitely improved with continued use of orthotics, wearing new balance and Rockport shoes and never walking bare foot for extended periods of time. If you wake up with extreme foot pain, you may need those boots that keep your foot in a fixed position when you are sleeping

IMHO, stay away from the orthotics ordered online. You need to invest in the custom orthotics that only an podiatrist can order.

Good luck!

 

[fla4fun]

I agree with the no barefoot suggestions. I find that if I leave my shoes on for an hour or so after returning to the hotel, not removing or loosening them in any way, and then having some sort of supportive shoe or slipper to wear in the room, it goes a long way toward keeping my feet pain free.

Make sure you have some of your favorite pain killer with you as well. I usually carry Tylenol and Advil on Disney trips, and take the Tylenol during the day and Advil just before bed, if my feet are acting up. It's important to take whatever medicine works best for you - I know some of the over the counter pain medicine doesn't work for me at all.

Also, when you are just standing in line, try doing some foot and calf stretches instead of just standing still. I find that helps keep the pain down as well.

 

[disneyfan1992]

ditto all the above.

I actually brought 6 fairly new pairs of crocs (6 different styles) to DW last year and switched shoes at least 2x and sometimes 3x in one day. We carried the extra 1-2 pairs in the backpack and I would switch at least 1/2 way through the day. Luckily crocs are so lightweight that its not a problem to carry them around. I rotated which shoes I started with each morning and which ones I switched to during the day. It really helped to have different styles so my feet wouldn't "get stuck" in just 1 position. Varying the style forced my muscles to "stretch" and "bend" differently and that change alone would really help ease the pain.

I also took tylenol and advil throughout the day and iced my feet and soaked them in Johnson foot powder each night.

I also wanted to say that I replace my regular shoes (non-DW ones) approximately every 6 months. Yes, it gets expensive to continually replace shoes, but I am heavier and find that I wear through shoes pretty quickly. When my feet start aching at home, I know my shoes are getting worn and the cushioning is going.

 

[We Love Tinkerbell]

I can understand your pain. I had the same problem at WDW about 2 years ago. The pain was awful but it was the worst first thing in the morning. If you have a lot of pain first thing in the morning and difficulty walking, it is likely Plantar Fasciitis. I did a lot of research on orthodics and shoes and found sandals and shoes by a company call Chaco (www.chacousa.com). They are not cheap; however, when I put them on, there was a huge difference over any other shoe I wore. I spoke with the sales person (I purchased them at a speciality store for runners and hikers) and he said they should help with the pain. They have an excellent arch support which is what is needed for Plantar Fasciitis. Additionally, he told me to roll a golf ball along the bottom of my foot in the arch area to reduce the scare tissue. A frozen bottle of water works well too.

That said, I bought a pair of the sandals for my next WDW trip and it solved the problem. Now I have a pair of their leather shoes and a pair of their new sandal/shoes. I will NOT go to WDW without these shoes. They are wonderful. In fact, they bascially eliminated the pain.

Good Luck