Weird foot pain

Sounds like plantar fascitis. Google stretches for plantar fascitis. Stretching does not make sense, but it really, really helps. You may have to buy some insoles with a stiff arch (not the flimsy ones). I got some cortisone injections (they did absolutely nothing to cure me). I use two insoles in each shoe. One for arch support and one for super cushion in my heel (I get to look a bit taller).

Duct tape your toes to your knees Lol, I actually mean it. They sell "boots" or straps you can wear at night, but really duct tape will work in a pinch. The goal is simply to keep your foot at a 90 angle overnight. The problem is that people relax at night especially if laying on your back with heavy covers - your foot tends to point down. This shortens the tendon that stretches across the bottom of your foot from your heel to the ball of your foot. Then after hours of this it stiffens. When you get up and suddenly stand on it, it has to stretch rapidly and can tear - this is plantar fascitis and sucks big time.

Anything you can do to keep your foot flexed at night will help keep it from shortening or stretching. For awhile I did the duct tape thing - put some tape around your ball of foot and your calf and connect them so you cant point your toes.

Other options (less likely to lose hair), are to lay on your stomach to sleep with your feet hanging off the end of the bed, preferably against a footboard.

Also, no matter what, stretch your feet gently before you get out of bed. Flex it up several times and go in circles etc. That way it wont be so rude when you put weight on it.

I don't think PF goes up anything. It's usually local to the foot / heel. That's been my exp anyway.

I never heard of the duct tape hack, that is simply brilliant! I'm one of the high arch PF sufferers, and it manifests as either feeling like I'm walking on painful rocks first thing in the morning for 10 minutes or so ( and putting on shoes with good arch support usually helps OR a cramp like pain randomly occurring throughout the day skewering my arch like a knife and driving the pain upwards. My second one sounds somewhat like OP describes.

I don't have this specific problem, but as someone with peculiar feet, you really need to make sure you have the right shoes and insoles before doing a lot of walking.

I thought I had flat feet for years, but they're technically 'pronated' - the front part of each foot is rotated outwards, which causes the arch to collapse inwards as I walk. This is apparently a really common condition. It causes all sorts of problems with my feet themselves, plus knock on issues with my knees and hips.

I have a set of bespoke insoles that I always wear and they make a huge difference. Without them I get pains everywhere if I walk any distance. With them, I can walk all day.

It might be worth trying to get a referral to a podiatrist or biomechanic specialist to see if you can get something similar done, and to find out what the issue with your feet really is.

STEVE142142 wrote: »

The doctor is going to give you the proper diagnosis. Please don't ask anybody on this website for what their opinion is. They have no idea what they're talking about

While I agree with you that people should always consult a doctor as the authority, i have found in the past few years that some doctors do not know what they are talking about, do not have experience with your condition, do not have the time to dig into your life and lifestyle to see if it is related i.e she could easily have a hip or back issue that is causing foot pain... a foot doctor is going to treat her foot as a cause when it could be a symptom. Doctors are still people, not infallible.

Seek out a doctors help always, but being your own best advocate and doing some research on your own and asking around may spark something you had not thought of that at the very least you could mention to your doctor. Several times in the past year or two I had to suggest to a doctor what to check for after several tries of them saying nothing they could see was wrong. They were not bad doctors, but they never thought something about my diet could be causing seemingly unrelated symptoms, or that I sit a certain way at work that was causing an issue in my calf, etc. But each time I only mentioned it because I did some research ahead of time . It helps me to make sure i mention to the doctor ALL symptoms that could be related, even if I would never have thought they were related or I might not have realized they were "symptoms" instead of just thinking I was "getting old".

ashbabe25 wrote: »

Proper fitting shoes and arch support. I had to have custom orthotics casted a few years ago because I have very high arches and Zumba was making my feet hurt so bad I had to stop.

That's what I have as well - orthotic insoles. None of the ones you buy are the equal of getting them made to measure, and if you buy the wrong ones you could make it worse.

I have had PF for a few months. Aching in the heel when walking and sometimes pain up my leg. I went to a podiatrist and he said good shoes. I was in a lot of pain, so I phoned a Physio place who recommended a chiropractor. I have been seeing my Chiro for a month and it has helped so much. I received Shockwave Therapy a few times and now I go in for the Graston Technique. I found doing all the home remedies wasn't that effective for me on its own. But, here is what my Chiro tells me to do everyday, especially after exercise or being on my feet all day (I am a teacher.)

1. Soak feet for 10 minutes with Epsom salt. This truly has helped.
2. After the soak, roll a golf ball under foot.
3. Massage bottom of foot.
4. Do stretches for my lower leg. This connects the fascia so it's common to be sore here. In fact, he is doing deep leg massage to stretch it all out.
5. Wear supportive shoes. This is a must!
6. Use orthotics. I told him the store bought ones I am using seem to help. He then recommended custom ones.
6. Get custom orthotics made.
7. Never walk barefoot! Even in the house.
8. When feeling sore, take it easy.

It's been a painful few months, but I can now finally do an hour dog walk without being in excruciating pain. If you suspect PF, start the healing now as it will worsen.