Pain at the bottom of my foot.

kris118212
kris118212 Posts: 2
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello everyone,

I'm new here but was hoping someone may be able to provide me with some insight on this problem I have.

For a while now (6months or so) i've been getting pain at the bottom of my foot where the arch is while walking to work (at a fast pace) when it occurs i have to slow down a lot. This pain is not in the heel so i'm reluctant to think it's PF, its in the center of the bottom of my foot.

Now i've started running (with fitted cushioned running shoes) i can jog for 5-6 minutes before the pain kicks in, I then literally have to limp back home or just stand still for a couple of minutes for the pain to pass. After I get home the pain isn't bad but its noticeable and legs feel generally weak like they are going to give way when i put my weight on them (75kg)

I'm not in bad shape at all, but this is getting ridiculous. Any suggestions as to best type of specialist to see I.E oesteotherapist, physiotherapist, podiatrist and what you think it could be would be really helpful.

Replies

  • maddymama
    maddymama Posts: 1,183 Member
    I have PF, and my pain was not in my heel, but under the arch in the center of my foot. I saw a pod., who prescribed custom orthotics. They are amazing. I do not have any pain in my heel anymore!
  • CatBird128
    CatBird128 Posts: 14 Member
    Is it the ball of your foot? I get a pain in the ball of my foot on one side. So I started to pay attention and asked someone to look at my foot while I did the stairclimber. That's when we noticed that I tend to turn one foot inward.

    So now I make an effort to place both feet straight in one line and it totally erased the pain in that foot. However for a while the other foot felt uncomfortable and a chiropractor suggested that for years I probably was putting my weight unevenly on my feet. With time they adjusted and I'm fine now.

    So I'd suggest two things - firstly check out the bottom of your running shoes - are you wearing them unevenly? Especially if the pain is one foot only, is there something different about the wear and tear on that foot? Secondly if you have anyone you can ask to check out your gait. How you place your feet. Running in sand or mud for a few feet will also allow you to go back and check out your foot prints. Are you placing your feet evenly?

    If you can find a way to true up your weight balance between your two feet, and ensure both are placed with foot facing forward evenly, you might find the problem takes care of itself.

    One last note - I found that for a few weeks I was having to look down at my feet and focus on placement to make sure the foot was placed correctly, and it slowed me down for a bit. But I was impressed how quickly I adjusted and now I believe I'm straightened out and back on track.

    - Cat
  • globetrotter42
    globetrotter42 Posts: 29
    Sounds like PF to me. My PF healed after many years. I wore ugly comfortable shoes, heel cups, saw a podiatrist, stopped running altogether and I put on a night sock which was awful. I could not longer exercise as I once did. I healed after many years. I never thought I would heal. It is another world for me now. You will have to go through the path of recovery most likely. I hope it is short for you. I bicycle now and make stretching an important part of my routine. Good luck.
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 7,972 Member
    Sounds like PF to me, even if it is not severe enough to cause heel spurs. i saw a podiatrist who gave me insoles and prescribed exercises for stretching calves which took care of the problem. Keeping the calves stretched helped a lot.
  • Mochila09
    Mochila09 Posts: 51 Member
    I agree with acpgee - stretching does wonders. I developed PF a few years ago when running. It took almost a full year to go away (walking is how I commute to work). I eventually stopped running due to repeated injuries. I now do kickboxing and lift. If I don't stretch several times a week, the PF starts to come right back.
  • kris118212
    kris118212 Posts: 2
    Thanks all for the replies.

    It's not the ball of my foot, its the center of the bottom of my foot, just behind the ball. My weight seems to be balanced when I run, I even try to put more pressure on the other foot purposely but it still happens.

    I have this problem daily now just on my commute to work, my legs just feel weak all the time it's really not nice, when I walk down the stairs I worry my legs will give way.

    I'm 21 years old, from the responses you've given me I need to see a podiatrist. I just hope it doesn't take too long to get resolved!

    Are we sure it can be PF even though at the time of it happening I can fully put all my weight on my heels with no pain at all (in the heels) just this point at the bottom of my foot.
  • globetrotter42
    globetrotter42 Posts: 29
    Kris, it could be anything. This is just what is sounds like to us. We are not doctors. Whatever you have, there is a cure I am sure.
  • AmberleyAngel
    AmberleyAngel Posts: 160 Member
    I had plantar fasciatis and it was in the arch. I was walking along a narow concrete beam and slipped off. I went to physiotherapy sessions for a few months and was on crutches at the same time. I would definitely go get it checked out if I was you.
  • appleface250
    appleface250 Posts: 2 Member
    My father has the same issue. He takes a two liter bottle, fills it with water and then freezes it. When it is frozen, he puts it on the floor and rolls the bottom of his foot over top of it (where the arch is)....it does wonders for his pain! Hope this helps :)
  • frogeeteacher
    frogeeteacher Posts: 2
    Try this: stand on a step (with shoes on) with just your toes/balls of your feet on the step. Lower your heels as far as you can and hold for a 10 count. Then raise up on your toes. Repeat this for 3 sets of 10-15 reps. Do this 2-3 times a day.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEgx0qJp3HM
  • sondrawolfe
    sondrawolfe Posts: 30 Member
    That's where I had PF, right in the arch. Orthotics, stretching, and rolling on a frozen water bottle did it for me. Haven't had pain for a long time.
  • brenn24179
    brenn24179 Posts: 2,144 Member
    plantar fasciatis, husband and I both have it, it comes and goes. Got arch supports from that Walmart machine you stand on and it tells you what you need, about $50 but well worth it. I remember getting out of bed and couldnt stand up.
  • dvisser1
    dvisser1 Posts: 788 Member
    I'm 21 years old, from the responses you've given me I need to see a podiatrist. I just hope it doesn't take too long to get resolved!

    Are we sure it can be PF even though at the time of it happening I can fully put all my weight on my heels with no pain at all (in the heels) just this point at the bottom of my foot.

    Yes, go see a podiatrist. Everyone on here is just guessing.

    Yes, it could be a form of PF. The plantar fascia tendon mass runs from your heel to the base of your toes under the arch of your foot. You can have PF or tendonitis type problems anywhere along the tendon mass. Rest and stretching (calf muscles, Achilles tendon and directly flexing your toes) are universally good ideas.
  • susanjean62
    susanjean62 Posts: 200
    Please check out SocDoc website. He is a chiropractor that has a different approach to feet problems. I also suffered from plantar fasciatis and went out and bought new shoes and orthotics ,specifically made to help plantar fasciatis and was also doing stretching exercises. It wasn't getting better but worse,and I stumbled on his site. He said 1. Get rid of the orthotics. They make it worse! 2. Don't wear gym shoes with a heel higher than 1/2 inch 3. Don't do stretches. Only injures,already injured ligaments. 4. Go barefoot and do feet strengthening exercises. Totally opposite from what I had learned. IT WORKED. I no longer have feet pain and am now,even jogging.Hope you listen to his advice,and at least,try what he says. Good luck.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,996 Member
    PF happens in the arch too.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

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