I'm beginning to think my shoes aren't the problem...

[Teysa]

it's my feet. Warning: lots of whining ahead.
I am so tired of my feet hurting all the time. The shoes don't even make a difference. I can be wearing the BEST SHOES EVER!!! and they'll still hurt. It doesn't help that I have flat feet, I'm sure. I guess I need to fork over the money and get some special shoes made or something. I'm not even sure I want to know how much that will cost. Then again, it might be worth it.

[PhiSigGirl1988]

Have you ever tried using arch supports or any other type of shoe insert?

[Teysa]

Yes, but they haven't helped much. Maybe I've been using the wrong kind.

[sms001]

I'm pretty anti 'run to the doctor' but this is certainly a case where I cannot recommend it enough. Your feet affect almost every action you take in your waking world. If by "the best shoes ever" you mean professional work shoes (ie., nurse shoes, etc.) and they didn't help, it's time for the podiatrist. An orthosis of some sort is usually pretty pricey, but they last a long time and will almost certainly help.

Good luck!

[hinakiba777]

The best thing to do is to make sure you buy shoes that already have arch support in them. Also, look at the way you stand. If you aren't standing the right way, or walking the right way, then it puts pressure on the wrong muscles and the wrong parts of your feet. Standing the wrong way can make the best shoes irate your feet.

I was having trouble with food pain, and it turns out that it was the way i was standing that was causing most of the damage. It was also hurting my calves. So really look into how you are standing.

[Shannarah]

I dont know if these are available where you are, but the best thing ever that I have bought (here in Australia) are these Self Moulding Diabetic Insoles
http://i01.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/118...ic_Insoles.jpg
They are comparatively cheap here compared to the supermarket orthopedics about $16AU compared to maybe $40AU, but heaps cheaper when compared to the generic thin sports innersoles that are about $8AU that only maybe last a month, because I have had these in my shoes for 9 months straight, and have only just replaced them.
They are a thickish foam with a more resilient underlayer that is designed to mould to the shape of your foot.
If your shoes fit well, it will initially make your shoes feel tighter for a few weeks until they wear in, but honestly it feels like I am walking on clouds, which says a lot because I am on my feet for about 9hours most days, and am plus sized

[PepperElf]

there's 2 things that come to mind.

a couple of cities over here (bout 30 miles away) there's an athletic shoe store that has a side room where they take video of your feet in motion - running or walking - in order to see just how your foot moves & what kind of support it needs.

the other thing is that, perhaps a doctor could help as well. they may be able to see if there's anything internally wrong that could be adding to the pain.


I hope you find relief soon though.

[AccountingDrone]

I know my custom orthotics from my podiatrist ran me $300 USD, but they are phenomenal.

[auntiem]

If you have insurance - check to see what is covered. It is cheaper in the long run to pay for really good supportive shoes than to deal with bills for back problems.
Take a pair of well worn shoes in when you get checked - many places can tell just by the wear pattern of the soles if part of the problem is how you walk / allignment problems.
If it turns out to be partially allignment problems I've had friends that have a series of deep tissue massages nearly fix the problem.

[csquared]

I know my custom orthotics from my podiatrist ran me $300 USD, but they are phenomenal.

Got mine from my Chiropractor. I have very high arches. Great investment.

[Andara Bledin]

I'm curious to know in what way your feet hurt. Different hurts are due to different problems. Some are environmental (shoes/ground), some are physiological (feet/ankles/legs), and some are behavioral (how you walk/stand).

^-.-^

[Sarlon]

I'm not a doctor, but from someone who lives with bad knees, and a bad hip coupled with a weight problem my feet take my abuse....

and something I found coupled with a comfrotable pair of shoes is a set of "custom" insoles that dr sholls puts out. you stand on a machine that looks at the way you stand and balance yourself (bars for those with the balance of a bat with an ear infection).

They cost about $50 for a pair but I SWEAR by them, and they go into any shoe.

(edited to add: found link to where you can find a machine near you)

[iPanda]

Do you have bunions? I have flat feet and was born with bunions but my feet hurt only if I walk for long periods of time without rest and/or walk around in 5' heels for hours.

My friend however, was born with bunions as well but it totally killed her feet with pain. She eventually had to get surgery because of it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunion

[Teysa]

Thanks everyone. Unfortunately I don't have insurance. It's usually the soles of my feet that hurt, mostly when I'm standing up. Although, sometimes they hurt all they way to the kneecaps or at least it seems that way. I tried that Dr. Scholl's Machine. I just got paid so depending on how much money is left after rent and bills and all that fun stuff I may get a pair. They can't hurt anyways.

Thanks again for the support all.

[Seshat]

I'm about to make your wallet scream, I'm sorry.

It might be your feet.

It might be your legs.

Or your ankles. Or knees. Or hips.

It might even be your spine.

The problem is, of course, that da foot bone's connected to da .. ankle bone. Da ankle bone's connected to da ... ... and so on.

Your feet may be taking up the slack for a tilted pelvis, or a scoliosis in your back, or different length legs, or ... well, just about anything.

A GOOD podiatrist will take all of this into account, and will help you figure it out. Cause heck, it might be your feet! But your feet are one of the places where problems in all the rest of it can show up; and if you've been trying to treat it as a food problem and it hasn't done any good, maybe it's not one.