Bunions and exercise... Running Shoe advice in Seattle area?

Starlage · February 2013

Hello all.

I feel like an old woman at 29 years old! I have bunions forming on both feet and have for a couple of years, but since I upped my exercise to 6 days a week my left big toe joint's been bugging the crap out of me. I emailed my doctor and she suggested finding somewhere to assess my gait and recommend proper shoes for the workouts I do (high impact). I'm not even sure where to start as far as that goes, I've never gone to a proper running shoe store before- just purchased cookie cutter shoes from department stores. Does anyone live in the Seattle area and know of a good place to go?

Does anyone else have this problem and have any advice? I was thinking that along with better athletic shoes there may be stretches I could do or pads I could buy..... My profession requires tons and tons of walking. I don't typically have pain when walking though, but then again all that walking in my clogs may be irritating the joint? Who knows. My doctor doesn't think I need to see a specialist or anything, just that I need to treat the joint with more TLC than I have been.

Argh.

Starlage · February 2013

Well, after googling and yelping.... I think I'll hit up the Shoes-N-Feet store this weekend for a gait assessment and be prepared to pay an arm and leg for athletic shoes. If it helps the pain it'll be worth it. Good thing I just got my tax refund recently or I wouldn't be able to afford special shoes! LOL.

Allysonac · February 2013

Best athletic shoe store in Seattle from my perspective is Super Jock and Jill at Greenlake (Eastside of the lake close to Baskin Robbins store)

There is one salesperson there that has worked there for 24 years - they must treat their staff right!
After 24 years you have to pick up some knowledge.

They are like Nordstrom's if you wear the shoes outside and they don't work for you you can bring them back.
Of course not months and months later and not worn out - but they will take them back which is pretty amazing.

Good luck with your shoes and your bunions (very painful, I know a good friend had them).

ValerieMomof2 · February 2013

Good luck. I am in the same boat with the issue and have to do the same, but I am no where near Seattle to help with that. Hope it helps your pain

Starlage · February 2013

hey, replies! Thanks! haha

I did end up going to the Shoes-N-Feet store in Bellevue and I felt like the sales person knew what he was talking about. Had me walk around awhile barefoot so that he could assess my gait and whether I pronate/supinate. He spent like 20 minutes with me helping me choose a shoe and listening to me talking about my physical problems and physical activities. He had me try on a few different shoes and I chose one that felt more foot hugging (probably "bulkier" to some people) and worked out with it on Saturday afternoon and was able to get through the workout without much pain! That's huge. Friday I couldn't get through my workout beacuse of the pain. The shoe's a tad on the too tight side, when I took it off there was a little red mark over that joint on my left foot where the shoe was pressing, so tomorrow's workout I'll loosen the shoes and see if that still happens or not. They also had the exchnge policy of exchange within 30 days if the shoes aren't taken outside. Hoping that loosening the laces will be okay and still supportive enough, we shall see! If not I'll just take the shoes back this weekend and try a different pair. I was quite pleased though with the whole experience. He says that my left foot walks normally (ironic since that's the foot that hurts) and the right foot supinates a little. I went with Asics Gel Cumulus 14. So far so good! I also got some expensive ($11 one pair, yeesh) athletic socks that are super cushy on the bottom for extra padding.