[pct-l] nerve problems in feet/bigger size shoe needed

[Thomas Jamrog]

May not be bullshit.  There are vastly different reasons behind why some people's feet heal and other people's don't.  I have tried all the things you list including acupunture ( 12 sessions out of my pocket) . Plantar facistis is a differing condition than the neuromas that plague some of us. The body and especially the feet, with the multitiude of small bones and nerve pathways is astoundingly complex.  In my case it was a biomechanical gait problem along with unusually long metatarsal bones that contributed to my forefoot problem.  The podiatrist first thought I had a stress fracture in my left forefoot,and then after ruling that out with the x-rays, instantly pegged the problem as soon as I ambled across the room. In a separate 2nd opinion,  an excellent PT came up with the same reason without xrays by observing my gait in the hallway.  The best info that has moderated my discomfort is from Sherry Brourman, PT, " Walk Yourself Well" is essentially a bible on gait recorrection.  
Uncle Tom 

Uncle Tom 

Follow Uncle Tom on the PCT 2010.
2,656 miles from Mexico to Canada.
Tom is posting online reports on http://www.trailjournals.com/tjamrogPCT/

tjamrog at me.com

http://twitter.com
httpp://tjamrog.wordpress.com

On Apr 4, 2010, at 9:13 PM, Kathryn Zimmerman wrote:

> Diane,
> I can't believe a doctor told you that...that's bullshit!  I hiked the AT in
> '07 at age 58 and my feet hurt every day due to plantar fasciitis.  By late
> in the day I was hiking on the balls of my feet.  Poor insoles was probably
> the main reason.
> 
> When I got home I did deep tissue massage - lots of it!...then cold laser
> therapy.  Then I pretty much stayed off them for a year.
> 
> But they HEALED!  I only walked in Chacos in the summer and Dansko's in the
> winter because they have good arches.
> 
> Now, as I train for the PCT, I have no foot pain.  Zero, nada, I use
> Birkenstock insoles.  And this time my feet will get massaged every time
> before I stand up.
> 
> But I want to say, they should heal.  Don't just accept foot pain.  Try cold
> laser or acupuncture, better shoes with more arch support...but don't give
> up!
> 
> BagLady
> 
> 
>> I'm 45. My feet hurt a lot more now than before the trail. I've
>> always had a hard time finding shoes that fit and don't hurt and it
>> is worse now. My toes used to be scrunched together. Now they are
>> separated from each other. This means I have to buy bigger shoes than
>> before by about 1 or 2 sizes. No numbness or tingling. Just general
>> soreness after hiking that goes away the next day, plus tendonitis
>> and sesamoiditis.
>> 
>> Every time I bring stuff like this up to my doctor he just says it's
>> part of getting old (welcome to the ibuprofen club, he says) and part
>> of doing too much and that I should take it easy. But I like a life
>> of adventure, so I live with the pain.
>> 
>> Diane
>> 
>> 
>> Books I've written:
>> ~ Piper's Flight
>> ~ Adventure and Magic
>> ~ Santa Barbara Hikes
>> 
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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> - Kathryn
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