Foot pain - don't know what it is OR what to do?

For sandals, Birkenstocks are great for PF. I wore them constantly, indoors and out, and that was the only thing I did and it went away in a couple of months. They are pricey and there is a 2-week break in period, but once they mold to your feet, they are wonderful. I love Brooks running shoes. I used to buy cheap shoes but I just can't mess around with that anymore. Gel arch supports are a great addition as your shoes age to get you between shoe replacements. Unfortunately, your barefoot days are likely over. My PF flares up if I've been running around barefoot for too long. I miss barefooting!

The pain is usually worse for me in the morning, but it is also bad after sitting for long periods of time. I usually only get it in my left foot but I suppose you could get it in both. I do think the cheap shoes from Walmart may be a lot of your problem. I started out with those and when I got some new more expensive, better running shoes my feet felt so much better. I was really surprised at the difference it made. Honestly if I were you I would probably see a podiatrist and see if there is something else going on. It kind of sounds like PF, but not exactly.

For what its worth, my experience with PF was horrible - it was so bad I even had a couple of cortisone shots injected into my heel to ease the pain, but the benefit did not last long. Good shoes (I wear Merrells too) and inserts help and unbelievably, it will go away, but may take some time. For me, it was here one day and literally gone the next. But boy oh boy did I suffer in the meantime. My grandfather was an immigrant shoemaker when he arrived, and always told us to wear good shoes - you only get one set of feet, you better take care of them!

Normally I would say go get some SuperFeet (or similar insoles) and put them in EVERY SHOE YOU OWN. Not just the shoes you walk in, but the ones you work in too.

Um, foot pain that gets worse later sounds like something to do with blood pooling in your feet. Can you get your blood sugar tested? Rule out something diabetes related? It's probably not but...you know, to be safe...

i agree with plantar fasciitis. you need to rest your feet, get better shoes, stretch... or it can get really bad. i had a job where i had to stand for 4-5 hours, cement floor, hardly moving... by the time i got home and took my shoes off, i couldnt stand back up. i was literally holding onto chairs and walls to make it thru the house.

i went to a dr about it, and i got cortisone shots which hurt so badly... then i got anti-inflamitory drugs hoping to lessen the inflamation of the ligaments or whatever it is. one foot was so inflamed it was more than twice the thickness it was supposed to be. i was also given a boot to wear 3 hours a night (1.5hr per foot) that bent my toes up and back to stretch the foot. eventually i got orthopedic insoles. i had to stop stressing my feet - so i had to quit that job, stop zumba, and stop jogging for a few months. it got better. now that i've put on a little more weight this year and have taken up jogging and zumba i can tell its flaring up again. so i have to start watching it or i'll be back where i was before!!

so for a home remedy, you can roll your feet on a ball; you can find them on amazon. you can also stand on a step with your heels hanging off and lower yourself up and down. its a good stretch. invest in better shoes. you need better arch support. ice is good too for after workouts. PF can cause heel spurs too (lucky us right?!) so that might be something to watch out for btw. you dont want to have orthopedic inserts if you can avoid them - $500 for mine. cortisone shots werent cheap either but they did help for about a week each time... i wish i had quit the job before i got those shots because THAT SUCKS - they burn and standing on that.. ouch. they might have worked longer too had i given everything else up right away.

wanted to add i NEVER had morning pain. only during periods of inactivity during the day and evening.