Foot Issues

[almhath]

Thank you all for your great help. I'm learning a lot. I'm not normally a hiker, but I'm in reasonable shape, and I believe I can do this, from SJPP to Santiago.

I have bought what seems to be a great pair of lightweight hiking boots from REI. I have high arches, but they're the best I've been able to find.

(1) On long hikes, I do sometimes get sore feet, inside from the heel to the ball of foot. I'm told arch supports are helpful. Great. My new boots—which are the best I've ever found—have a little arch support, but maybe more would be good. I have high arches. With that, I bought some gel arch supports, but they don't cover the ball of foot. And I bought some gel inserts that do cover the ball of foot, but they don't have much arch support in them. ???????? Words of wisdom from you experienced hikers? I'm guessing I will use the gel arch supports.........

Because,

(2) sometimes when I walk a loooong way, I may get a blister right on the ball of the foot. If I use the arch supports, they won't cover the ball of the foot. So I should seek some ball of foot pads? I found some, but I don't see how they'll stay in place under the ball of foot.

Thank you for any input.

Almha

 

[Lydia Gillen]

Hi Almha,
If you have high arches and are getting pains in your feet after long walks, you may have a tendency to get Plantar faciitis. Search that on the internet.
My advice is to go to physiotherapist who specialises in feet. Get him/her to take a plaster-cast of your feet and get orthotics custom made for you. They will be expensive but will be worth their weight in pure gold. Believe me, you do not want to get full blown plantar faciitis.
He/she will also show you the physiotherapy to do each day to prevent you getting it.
Buen camino.

 

[dutchpilgrim]

You might consider visiting a podiatrist, for orthotics, for your feet, not for everyones feet. (I hope Google Translate didn'd send me in the bush here, not being a native English speaker :roll: ).
Those orthotics did the job for me, and still do.

Ultreya,
Carli Di Bortolo

 

[Abbeydore]

The advice above is v. good, I would also go back to the boot people too, & show them/tell them what's going on, some boot people will help; Cotswold Outdoor will until you are happy!
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/index.cf ... boots.html
REI, seem to care, so go back until you are happy & then if you have to go to foot doctor then you are armed & knowledgeable, then back to REI so everyone is wiser for it!

Have just had Superfeet fitted to my boot/foot, the girl/boss choose a different one to the one that I would have, then cut, filed, checked & rechecked until she was happy, now all I have to worry about is lacing my boots up properly, checking & rechecking as I walk.

Keep asking, then you'll learn more about you feet, all 26 bones(x2) & muscles....good luck!

 

[SabsP]

If you have high arches or pes clavus as it is called in medical terms then I would strongly advice you to see a doctor / specialist who will more than likely prescribe you custom made insoles ( alsostronger material than the gel ones but still bendy enough ). No, they don't come cheap ( here in Belgium my health insurance company will cover half of the cost ) but the insoles will make all the difference! Ready bought general insoles will not work with patients who have serious pes clavus.
Pes clavus regularly comes with hammertoes and callous and I noticed that after I started using my insoles callous almost dissapeared.

 

[Abbeydore]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhJpeUcPpy8

Yes, I know nothing there is a lot out there.Sorry.
Take your boots to doctor too.

Seems you could be infor-a-re-in-juvination, hope so.
Good Luck

 

[jujuaway]

arn't feet just the most basic thing!
i thanked my podiatrist so many times in my head on the Way and then in person when i returned.
i walked in north face boots ( i wouldn't particularly recommend them) but my podiatrist sent me off armed with two pairs of inner sole/ orthotic thingies. One set were designed to use at night to rest and sort of stretch the feet and i found if my feet were really playing up i would put them on for the last hour or so of walking.... oh the relief, they were like slippers and really helped me walk the whole 800kms. Being able to mix and match between two different innersoles, meant i had options and could offer my poor, old, tied and sore feet some variety.
by the way, what boots did you buy from REI?? - i just purchased some Renegades and i'm hoping they are my dream boots for future walks.... has anyone had experience with the Lowa Renegades GTX mid boots for women? i'm buying them on -line, with +++ shipping costs as i am in Australia, but they say they are wide and that is the thing i need.
best wishes juju

 

[SabsP]

arn't feet just the most basic thing!
i thanked my podiatrist so many times in my head on the Way and then in person when i returned.
i walked in north face boots ( i wouldn't particularly recommend them) but my podiatrist sent me off armed with two pairs of inner sole/ orthotic thingies. One set were designed to use at night to rest and sort of stretch the feet and i found if my feet were really playing up i would put them on for the last hour or so of walking.... oh the relief, they were like slippers and really helped me walk the whole 800kms. Being able to mix and match between two different innersoles, meant i had options and could offer my poor, old, tied and sore feet some variety.
by the way, what boots did you buy from REI?? - i just purchased some Renegades and i'm hoping they are my dream boots for future walks.... has anyone had experience with the Lowa Renegades GTX mid boots for women? i'm buying them on -line, with +++ shipping costs as i am in Australia, but they say they are wide and that is the thing i need.
best wishes juju

Juju,
I have the Lowa Renegades GTX mid for women and my podiatrist made the innersoles customised for these boots. I can't recommend these Lowas enough! They work perfectly for me!!
In Belgium they will set you back for an average 170 € but again a very good investment IMHO.

 

[ksam]

Good advice in this thread!!

I too have (had?) very high arches, which with age are now going!! Support has been crucial! Dr. visits also helped immensely. For me I used Keens, low shoe, very flexible with orthotics...and did great this summer.

Only thing I would add, advice wise, is before you get out of bed...literally before you put a foot on the floor, roll your ankles. A few turns in each direction and a bit of foot flexing and pointing with each foot. I found for me this helps get that tendon, that gets so painful, warmed up a little and then no (or little) pain afterwards. When I forget this for any length of time it can start up the whole plantar fascitus thingy! Ouch!

Good luck and know that many a tender foot has trodden the path before you, and made it all the way to Santiago! Just that simple thought helped me on many a sore day!

Buen Camino!

 

[Abbeydore]

Good advice in this thread!!

Only thing I would add, advice wise, is before you get out of bed...literally before you put a foot on the floor, roll your ankles. A few turns in each direction and a bit of foot flexing and pointing with each foot. I found for me this helps get that tendon, that gets so painful, warmed up a little and then no (or little) pain afterwards. When I forget this for any length of time it can start up the whole plantar fascitus thingy! Ouch!

I guess we all should wiggle our ankles in the morn, sleeping bag or no sleeping bag :lol:

 

[jujuaway]

Thanks for the response SabineP about the Lowa Renegades - i am excitedly waiting for them to arrive and will definitely take them to my podiatrist for attention.
As i get older i find there are so many more support people i need on my team!!
bye for now juju