I think my running shoes are hurting my feet!

keepitcroosh
keepitcroosh Posts: 301 Member
edited December 27 in Health and Weight Loss
Any suggestions on running shoes? I would be using them for cardio & weight training. I have no arch and am slightly getting a painful bunion on my left foot (ew i know :( ) . I feel that my running shoes have only made it worse. I just came back from the gym and did only 30 minutes of fast paced walking and running, and it was killing me the whole time. I also noticed that sometimes when i walk for like an hour, both my feet will go numb (only when im wearing my running shoes)! What is wrong with them..

Replies

  • jennadiane_
    jennadiane_ Posts: 36 Member
    Try getting inserts. I use Dr Scholl's women's athletic inserts... they're like $15 at walgreen's. Have made a world of difference. I didn't really want to go out and buy new sneakers so I tried these first. Good luck.
  • marycmeadows
    marycmeadows Posts: 1,691 Member
    i have flat feet & extra ankle bones in each ankle (yep I'm a freak of nature) but I swear by asics. I started running this year, I use them for all my gym activities as well.... LOVE THEM!!
  • keepitcroosh
    keepitcroosh Posts: 301 Member
    Im willing to pay the money! I have thought of inserts (thanks for letting me know there are athletic ones though, didnt know that!) but the thing is, my running shoes are insanely padded! Which to be honest i thought would of helped greatly.
  • h2oophelia
    h2oophelia Posts: 48
    I love my Brooks! I went to an actually running store where they measured pressure points and stride in the store and recommended Brooks based on how I walk and the shape of my feet. It made such a difference.
  • keepitcroosh
    keepitcroosh Posts: 301 Member
    i have flat feet & extra ankle bones in each ankle (yep I'm a freak of nature) but I swear by asics. I started running this year, I use them for all my gym activities as well.... LOVE THEM!!

    You know what though my ankles are really swollen and i didnt know until i tried on heels not too long ago. Im really considering going to see my far away doc. But in the mean time!!!! Im gonna google asics right now! Thanks for letting me know. Did it get rid of some of the swelling or anything?
  • Vonwarr
    Vonwarr Posts: 390 Member
    I've been reading a lot that the more padded the shoes are, the more it affects our gait. Your body unconsciously adjusts and you heel strike harder the more padded your shoes are. I've recently picked up a set of New Balance "Minimus", and I love them! I use them for lifting, the elliptical, and light cardio (basically walking). I've been cautioned that it takes a couple months to adjust to them correctly for jogging but that it's really worth it.

    Check this article out for more detailed info: http://nymag.com/health/features/46213/
  • n_unocero
    n_unocero Posts: 445 Member
    i have flat feet and uneven hips....so my knees used to kill me when i picked up running at the beginning of this summer. but i got a pair of new balance 890's and they are magical!
  • lauleipop
    lauleipop Posts: 260 Member
    Im willing to pay the money! I have thought of inserts (thanks for letting me know there are athletic ones though, didnt know that!) but the thing is, my running shoes are insanely padded! Which to be honest i thought would of helped greatly.

    Not necessarily true. The extra padding could be screwing up your stride, but that's a different conversation. It's possible the shoe is too tight across the top - look at alternative ways for lacing.

    Before I switched to minimalist, I used SuperFeet Berry. They helped; several of my friends swear by them. Switching to minimalist resolved all foot, knee, and back issues for me, but that's not a decision to be entered in to lightly. Please get fitted before you take that step.
  • sefrank
    sefrank Posts: 26 Member
    I'm not sure where you live but if there is a fleet feet in that area I would go there. They will measure your feet, look at your arches, evaluate your stride, and talk to you about your needs and then make recommendations on shoes and if you need inserts of any kind. I didn't find them to be much more if anymore expensive than the place I used to get my running shoes. I was very impressed with their knowledge and their customer service (I have been to 3 different ones in 3 different cities and have always had a great experience and never felt pressured to buy anything)
  • dela1000
    dela1000 Posts: 62
    you might want to go check with a podiatrist as it may be Plantar fasciitis. Here's some info on it: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004438/

    It's more common that one would think and a good pair of custom made insoles will be able to alleviate a lot of the pain.

    Good luck!
  • ptak1sm
    ptak1sm Posts: 172
    I'm gonna echo a few others on here and say go to a store that specializes in running/walking. Bring your current pair of running shoes with you, they like to know what you're working with at the moment. They will watch your gait and sit with you, bringing you pair after pair, until you find one that suits you. It may be a bit time-consuming, but it's worth it. Avoid chain stores and buying online...you should wear the shoes in store for at least a few minutes. Some stores even have treadmills for you to jog on to help you decide if they're right for you. I currently use a pair of Brooks and I love them, but you need to find what works for you.
  • MostlyWater
    MostlyWater Posts: 4,294 Member
    Running shoes are great for running. If you do cardio in the gym, which is both the front to back motion ANd the side to side motion, you need cross trainers.

    For sure get sofmething that can accomodate an orthotic.
  • camrunner
    camrunner Posts: 363
    Definitely get fitted by a professional!

    Also, this is somewhat counter-intuitive, but a lot of people wear their running shoes too tight. Both in terms of the size of the shoe and the lacing. Obviously I don't know how your shoes fit you or how tight they are, but it's something you could experiment with.
  • KaleidoscopeEyes1056
    KaleidoscopeEyes1056 Posts: 2,996 Member
    I had a similar problem, I have bunions on both sides of both feet (I guess the smaller ones are called "bunionettes") but I also have very narrow feet. I had a pair of Dr. Scholl's shoes that had a lot of sole, and they KILLED my feet! I actually found out that I could run in my Converse better than in these shoes, which I thought was pretty pathetic because Converse are not made for comfort at all. I finally got a pair of Sketchers flex for $45 at JC Penney, and they work wonderfully. Although these shoes work for me, however, before you invest in another pair of shoes, I would suggest you go to a running store and get fitted for a pair of shoes. It may be more expensive, but worth it in the end.
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    It all depends on what you are using the shoes for. I have a pair of shoes for running that correct my underpronation (Brooks Adrenaline) and a pair of shoes I use for other types of cardio, like boot camp, Insanity DVDs, etc (Reebok ZigWilds - I need the traction!). I got fitted for both pairs shoes and they were recommend for my foot type & the activity I am doing while wearing them.

    You may want to consider getting a professional fitting. Just because a shoe is a name brand doesn't mean it's the right shoe for you. And padding/cushion is not necessarily a good thing.
  • Rurouni_Kou
    Rurouni_Kou Posts: 180 Member
    Im willing to pay the money! I have thought of inserts (thanks for letting me know there are athletic ones though, didnt know that!) but the thing is, my running shoes are insanely padded! Which to be honest i thought would of helped greatly.

    Not necessarily true. The extra padding could be screwing up your stride, but that's a different conversation. It's possible the shoe is too tight across the top - look at alternative ways for lacing.

    Before I switched to minimalist, I used SuperFeet Berry. They helped; several of my friends swear by them. Switching to minimalist resolved all foot, knee, and back issues for me, but that's not a decision to be entered in to lightly. Please get fitted before you take that step.

    I second this. I switched to minimalist running because A) running in regular running shoes hurts and b) it's not very fun and doesn't feel good. I prefer walking barefoot and having little feeling through thick running shoes just killed the enjoyment for me. I liked feeling the ground and having my full range of motion so I went with a pair of Vibram Five Fingers. I -love- them and I love running a lot more now- it doesn't hurt/no more injury issues (shin splints, bad/hurting joints, etc.), it feels lighter and more tactile feedback. If you decide to go the minimalist route do your research first and definitely go into it slow to avoid injury!
  • saragato
    saragato Posts: 1,154
    Go to a shoe store that will measure your feet and work with you to find the perfect shoe for your foot. Just plucking whatever sounds good off the shelf doesn't always help, especially when you're putting the shoe through hell by working out in them. I had shoes that were giving me callouses, hurting my ankles because I tended to roll my ankles without proper support, and basically bruised the bottoms of my feet to where it hurt to even walk on carpet. I went to a New Balance store and got fitted with the right shoe and after that even went to a podiatrist just in case and he said the shoes I got were the ones he would have told me to get. And I have plantar fasciitis and even tendonitis in my feet, so these shoes work even without the custom inserts (which, by the way, are upwards of $360...) and my feet are doing better.

    You don't have to go to the brand I mentioned, any good running shoe store or shoe store that's not a Payless or a Footlocker will help you and make sure that you've got the proper shoes on.
  • coreymo
    coreymo Posts: 25 Member
    Read the book "Born to Run" or grab the audio book version like I did from my local library. Changed my whole perspective on running shoes!! It's by Christopher McDougall.
  • Colbyandsage
    Colbyandsage Posts: 751 Member
    Go to a running store. I spent a lot of time, pain, and money on different shoes last year. Once I got fitted, the pain went away over time.
  • keepitcroosh
    keepitcroosh Posts: 301 Member
    Thank you all for your advice! They are all of great value to me! I'll definitely be checking out the shoes recommended, and ill for sure book an apt with my doc, annnnd i think the only running place we have here in Ottawa is The Running Room .. Which to be honest, have never stepped foot in! . I never knew you could go somewhere to get your feet looked at like that! Very intriguing! Ill definitely look into everything. Ahhh thank you alll so much once again!
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