[pct-l] My feet are killing me.

[tom aterno]

A good book for foot care is "Fixing Your Feet."




________________________________
From: Melanie Clarke <melaniekclarke at gmail.com>
To: Barbara Karagosian <barbara at mkpe.com>
Cc: "pct-l at backcountry.net" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Sun, December 5, 2010 7:01:21 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] My feet are killing me.

Dear Barbara,

Seriously, learning how to stand and walk correctly will eliminate the need
for surgery, drugs and enable you to enjoy the activities you like to
pursue.  I don't have a lot of time this evening to elaborate like I did in
an earlier post.  One hiker asked me to recommend a book and that is not
such a bad idea as Americans are so sedentary now a days that we don't even
know how to physically perform any more.  We lack role models and when we do
try to do something physical we all get back, knee and foot problems.  The
body has to position itself properly for optimal performance.  Back before
1900's everyone had to walk long distances on a daily basis, and work hard
plowing fields without mechanized equipment yet they had far fewer problems
than we have today.  Egyptians built pyramids and had very few back, knee
foot problems.  They positioned their bodies correctly when they worked,
walked, lifted and carried heavy loads.  Their center of gravity was
centered over the larger bones and muscle groups in their bodies.  They did
not use their Metatarsals (bones near the balls of your feet) to dissipate
the impact forces of the weight of their bodies.

Sorry, I digress, the book, *8 Steps to a Pain Free Back* by Esther Gokhale
is a good tutorial on how to stand, walk, perform properly.  I have
absolutely no connection with this lady but it is a good book.  She has a
center up here in Palo Alto (near Stanford) but I have never been there.  I
am a Kinesiology Major so I don't need anyone holding my hand.  That being
said, because I grew up in America, influenced by a fashion industry that
sends messages that it is cool to slouch, I suffered problems from standing
incorrectly also.  I am also tall so I slouched to fit in.  There weren't
any Kines classes on standing correctly back when I was a university student
(Ergonomics was in its infancy in the early 80's) so I had to figure it out
by looking at my injuries and incorporating it with the knowledge I already
had.  Other people, whose expertise lies in other areas may benefit from the
visual tutorial of her clinic.

Melanie

On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 6:03 PM, Barbara Karagosian <barbara at mkpe.com> wrote:

> I had a Mortons neuroma in my left foot about 12 years ago. Did the wide
> shoes, inserts, but finally had surgery and wished I'd done it way sooner.
> About 3-4 weeks and then no pain at all. It was a miracle. Yes slight
> numbness in one toe; no impact on hiking or anything else.
> But they can recur.
> I have another one now, on the adjacent nerve. Due to an insurance change,
> and cost of surgery, I've tried the cortisone shots, which work great for
> 6-8 weeks, so I'd have one once a year before a big hike. Then I tried
>  alcohol shots (5) which are suppose to sclerose the nerve (kill it),
> therefore no pain. Painful shot, worked for a year or so. Now it's starting
> up again......
>
> Cheers, Barbara
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-L mailing list
> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
>
_______________________________________________
Pct-L mailing list
Pct-L at backcountry.net
To unsubcribe, or change options visit:
http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l

List Archives:
http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/