The amount of walking doesen't bother me.......but i always get shin splints because of the hard surfaces I am walking on, as I am used to walking inside or on dirt paths. I second a hot bath and lots of stretching each night, I also take ibuprofen twice a day, even if i am not hurting, just to pro-actively help with the inflammation that leads to shin splints etc.
You are one smart cookie!!! Thanks! I agree, I will try that (advil, etc.) the next time - I got shin splints on our last trip,(which was great when it had settled down for the last 2 days, sigh, wish it could have happened sooner but I didn't even think to take advil - DUH!
) and currently have plantar fasciitis so an really concerned!! My Dr. Scholl's heel insert for pain seems to help, though, so I will bring those along on next trip, as well as gel heel pads for heel pain.
One time in DL, I got blisters on the bottom of both of my feet. Ouch! (My shoes were too big, and my feet slid too much as I walked.) I had broken in my shoes, but, this long walking, all day, was just too much, in so many ways.
The next visit, I got shin splints first, and then a really, really bad pain in my feet that would hit moments after sitting. I remember being almost in tears during the POTC ride, as after about 5 min., the pain would start up... Getting off of the ride was hideous by the time my feet stopped throbbing, it was time to walk again, off of the ride.
The last vist to DL, my feet swelled up during the day, I think, or else my shoes were a tad small, and I ended up brusing both of my toenails, and a few months later they waved good-bye to me.
Actually, I had listened to advice as to what kind of socks to wear as to not get blisters, and it appears the socks took up too much shoe room, as they were thick socks??
My strategy for the next trip will be:
1.) No cotton only socks - special wool type blend, natural fibres. BUT large enough shoes to accommodate that!
2.) BLISTER preventative pads - look like bandaids, but stay on feet for up to
5 days, and can prevent or help to heal painful blisters (luckily we have a
5 day park hopper pass
) AND Avon blister friction creme.
3.)
ICE the feet at night, no matter what!! (The hotel has ice machines for all!
)
4.) Take the iboprofren twice daily - excellent, excellent suggestion!!! Thanks!!
5.) Bring along 2 different pairs of shoes - when one pair starts doing serious damage, switch to another pair the next day! Better yet, alternate days.
6.) Heat rub (A535) and cooling gel rub for the feet, not to use both at the same time, of course, but use one or the other at the end of the day...
I am pooh sized - wear around size 16 for clothes - and really found the walks around the park all day long to be very painful. My husband and kids did not find it difficult at all. I am not in shape, as in, don't work out daily, but have been walking the kids to and from school daily to get my body used to more activity before our trip. I
do think that pooh sized people will have more painful feet, etc. So hopefully some of these suggestions will be helpful to you guys, and if you have any more suggestions for anyone who suffers painful feet, etc., keep them coming, please! Thanks!!
Edited to add: Would not your toes bump into the front of the crocs?? Are they really that comfy? Can dollar store type substitutute crocs work o.k.? Do you get lots of static shocks for wearing them? My daughter and I were shocked a lot one day in store, and didn't know why - my husband told us it's because the soles of our shoes were NOT made of rubber - he was right!!
Also -where can one buy compression socks?? Are they healthy enough to use?
Sandals - OUCH!!! I've had too many people step on my toes (Literally, not figuratively, LOL!) while in a que - I think that would be dangerous for an almost ingrown toenail? Or even for a reg. toenail?)
Sciatic nerve pain can be soooo bad!!! DH has it from time to time and it takes a long time for it to settle down.
Good luck with yours!
or Keens when it's nice or comfortable tennis shoes if it's cooler.
