The bottom of my feet hurt and my ankles swell whenever I stand in one place for long. I’m going to make an appointment with a Podiatrist but Id like to know what to expect. Will I be buying $200 insoles that don’t really help? Funny thing walking doesn’t bother me.
Thanks!
I’ve been to a couple. Both have pushed superfeet brand insoles before anything custom. They’re like $50 and available all over. I’ve been using them for years. Beyond this recommendation from them, I’m had bad luck. One guy told me I had a leg shorter than the other and the. Another said I had some kinda really screwed up metatarsal problem.
Turns out I ad massive gout and some minor planters fasciitis.
I can't help with the podiatrist but try this.
Go try on shoes at the end of the day when your feet hurt the worst. Try on lots of different brands, including shoes you wouldn't normally buy.
You are looking for the brand of shoe that feel wonderful when you put them on. You'll know it when you stand up in them.
Every shoe is built around a "last." There is a manufacturer that uses a "last" that is very similar to the shape of your foot. Find the company that uses that "last". Then shop their shoes for one that you like, that fits. Those shoes will stop your feet from hurting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last
For me, it's some of Merrel's shoes and most of Keen's. Not all of them are perfect and manufacturers are known for changing. When I find a shoe that fits particularly well, I buy 2-3 pair of them and stick them in the closet for future use.
In reply to rustybugkiller :
While a good pair of great-fitting shoes is very important, don't rule out general health issues as a possible cause. Age, weight, fitness level, and diet can play a role. Has this always been the case, or something you have just recently started noticing?
I had some custom insoles made about 25 years ago because my arches collapse when I'm standing. Normal athletic shoes (I'd call 'em "sneakers") didn't have much support and my feet hurt like bastids. On recommendation by my GP I ended up with Brooks Beast shoes because they're designed for over-pronation and I've been happy with them ever since. Haven't used the insoles except for when I'm NOT wearing the Brooks (which is not very often) but the insoles DO work. They're about done due to age and I'm thinking I need to come up with some way of replacing the foam cushion.
No help but this morning my wife told me that her feet were hurting really bad and said the she might need to go to a proctologist. I laughed for like a half hour. She couldn't figure out what was so funny. I never did tell her, I'm hoping she'll relay the story to someone else and they can tell her.
I have not been to a podiatrist, but I have been wearing insoles since middle school--I have over pronation problems. I also wear the "Brooks Beast" shoe, or at least I did when I was walking 10 miles a day with 60 lbs on my back. I'm now at the point where I have insoles in just about every one of my shoes. I like the Birkenstock, Superfeet, and "Sole" brand insoles. My pediatrician said that any of them should be good enough for 90% of folks assuming you get the right fit, and if that doesn't work, then head to the podiatrist.
However, I would recommend going to your PCP (Primary Care Physician) with this concern. Swelling ankles can be an indicator of Heart Disease as well as Congestive Heart Failure (and a whole host of other stuff, but those are the big ones that are common). While insoles would likely help the pain in the bottom of your feet, I doubt they'd do anything for the swelling ankles and that is the real concern here.
I'm with mtn on this one - if there is a chance that the problem isn't just foot related, I'd start with an opinion from a PCP. I'd still go see a podiatrist as well, but having someone with a more holistic view of your body check you over is going to be important (IMHO).
As to what they'll prescribe - well, that depends on what they find. I've been to the podiatrist way too often in the last few years and between the three I visited, the prescriptions tended to be pretty reasonable.
I love this forum, my feet are killing me and i was gonna look up some help for it but went on this forum first.....and it has releveant data on a problem not connected to cars at all.
I should probably stop killing my feet and back, and switch to something other than Vans slip-ons.
poopshovel again said:I should probably stop killing my feet and back, and switch to something other than Vans slip-ons.
I would be cripple if I wore Vans. I dealt with the plantar faciitis for a little over a year because of unsupportive shoes. Never again. Every morning walking to the bathroom was agony.
Nick Comstock said:No help but this morning my wife told me that her feet were hurting really bad and said the she might need to go to a proctologist. I laughed for like a half hour. She couldn't figure out what was so funny. I never did tell her, I'm hoping she'll relay the story to someone else and they can tell her.
You know your going to pay for that one!
Thanks for the concern/ information. I have an appointment with my PCP but in case he suggests a podiatrist I’d like to know what to expect.
Im not overweight but do have other issues that have me on Xeljanz ( not RA) but my gastro dr. has ruled out typical causes of swelled ankles. This all started 4 months Ago when I took a job that has me standing for 10 to 12 hours a day and I never had to do this type of work in my past. I have noticed the swelling not as bad in the last week so I don’t know if my body was not used to the physical stress and is slowly adjusting but my feet ache and by the end of the week I get really irritated because I’m so uncomfortable.
I’ll see what the pcp suggest first.
I've got crazy high arches, if you were to flatten my feet out to look like normal folks' feet, they'd probably be 3-4 sizes bigger.
I was dealing with plantar fasciitis brought on by an ill fated shoe change. I've worn Merrells or Asolos predominantly for the past 20+ years. I switched to a pair of Keens, I knew they didn't have the support of my Merrells, but I thought they looked good, and figured I'd get used to them. Only took about 3 weeks of everyday wear for them to cripple me.
It was bad enough that I went to my GP, he confirmed plantar fasciitis. Sent me to a running store to get fitted for some better shoes. I wound up in a pair of Brooks, they were more comfortable but didn't fix my problem.
I eventually wound up at a Foot Solutions franchise, and got fitted for some expensive custom insoles. They also got me into a shoe size that actually fit my feet, I'd been wearing D width all my life, and should have been in EE.
The insoles had alleviated most my pain after wearing them for about a week. It was about 6 months before I could walk bare foot, or wear shoes without the insoles again. I don't ever want planar fasciitis again, so I transfer my insoles to every pair of shoes I wear, and have gotten rid of any shoes that don't have removable insoles, or that don't fit with my custom insoles.
If you have plantar fasciitis, don't waste your time with or lose sleep from a night splint. Also don't expect miracles from massage or the little rolling spiked balls, they'll offer some short term relief, for inflammation but aren't a cure. Get some insoles that fit your feet, and provide the support you need, so your foot can heal.
Along the lines of going to an MD, an orthopedist is also an option. Podiatrists are feet doctors and that's it. Sometimes you need a bit more.
Kinda related: Anybody got an opinion on "The Good Feet Store?"
1988RedT2 said:Kinda related: Anybody got an opinion on "The Good Feet Store?"
Don't ever go there. They will sell you $40 worth of stuff for $500, whether it is the right thing for you or not. Oh, and if it does not work, no refunds, store exchange only, which pegs the sketchyometer for me.
I am a podiatrist. To the OP, you probably need to be wearing support stockings. A lot of things cause swelling, you want to figure out why you have a problem, as it helps to fit the treatment to the disease, so to speak. Sort of tough to see where they are hurting from here, but I suspect your Achilles tendons are also tight. What other medical problems do you have?
Orthopedists do feet too, that is true. If you had an RX-7, would you take it to the guy who primarily works on rotary engines, or to the guy who works on everything?
I could have used this thread years ago. When I went from part time to full time at work, the hiking boots I always wore at work went from tolerable to painful in a matter of a month. 40 hours a week walking on carpeted concrete or marble just wasn't cutting it. I went out and bought a better pair and left the originals in the trashcan outside the store.. my feet hurt that much.
The second pair of boots were better, but the damage was done and eventually they started to hurt too. The ones I have now finally cured the crippling pain, but it took years to undo the damage a month of walking in bad boots did
Being in sales it was required I wear the 80’s kiltie tassel loafers. After years my feet hurt and I had issues walking to accounting to collect my commission checks.
I made a change to Clark shoes and the pain went away. I bought a pair of Bass loafers only to bring back pain. Lesson learned.
What are the design characteristics of the shoes that eliminated your foot pain? I don’t remember seeing those brands in the store. Are these mail order?
My podiatrist was great, did surgery on both of my feet. Friendly, funny, helpful, had me walking the day after surgery with no pain. Sadly, he retired, so I am hoping that I don't need anything else feet-related. My issue was calcification of the joint on the big-toe, probably not your issue. But seeing a foot doctor for foot pain is a good idea.
I have the same cars in my garage as rusty bug killer, ha. I wonder how much 914 to Miata correlation there is, in the mentally ill driving public.
Actually, most people should wear support stockings at work.
Don't wear cheap shoes, it is worse than running crappy tires.
In reply to rustybugkiller :
Me? DSW store? More rubber soles - less flat leather.
My feet and ankles have been hurting for years ,
Tried a few styles of shoes etc which did not work,
Then last week when I was getting a Heart stress test checkup and was already at the hospital so when down to the foot doctor ,
Ummmm he checks me and says I have flat feet , which I remember that I had as a kid and had special shoes ,
Anyway , says buy the store bought arch support inserts and see if that works , if not get custom ok next made,
With no support you are turning your ankles inward and that where the pain comes,
I hope he is right , I have been chasing this for years.....
In reply to Toebra :
I have ulcerative colitis, HBP and thyroid issues. I also have flat feet but I’ve tried those insoles that dr. Scholls sells and they hurt me feed.
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