I knew I'd find somewhere on this site a place for help. I've just started walking to try and break a 5 month stall and it's sure doing the trick. Since Monday just walking 45 minutes, re-doing a clean induction and really increasing my water, I've lost 4.5 pounds. But the pain in the ball of my left foot might make me stop, and I'm really beginning to enjoy walking. My shoes are semi-new, not much wear, I slightly warm up and am walking on the street. The pain is just on the ball of my foot and it's a severe, burning pain. To avoid walking on the ball of my foot I notice I then walk on the outside of my foot and that's beginning to make my knee hurt. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

New or not, something's wrong with your shoes, as far as your feet are concerned, or your muscles are tight, or something. I had a bad bout of plantar faschiitis that darn near crippled me two years ago. It cleared with more attention to stretching--esp. downward-facing dog, the yoga pose.

Suggest going to a GOOD running shoe store (NOT a big-box sporting goods place) and asking one of the staff about what kind of insoles they'd recommend.

Next step is a podiatrist, but their orthotics are $400+ and I fixed my problem for about $20 at the running shoe store. YMMV.

Hi there!

I am certainly not a physician or a podiatrist - just another TDC person who does a lot of walking!

Be really careful because pain originating in the foot can cause all kinds of problems. Like cs, I have had plantar facstitis at different times in my life and it can be nearly crippling, the pain is so bad.

I would definitely recommend a trip to the podiatrist or chiropractor to learn some stretching exercises that can help. You can also buy those shoe inserts that are soft and can take some of the stress out of walking.

But most importantly, you probably will want to ice it regularly and take an anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen. You might want to switch to something like swimming until you get this under control.

You are so right, when we have foot pain we tend to walk differently to compensate which can cause problems in the knees, ankles, lower back, and hips. Resting your foot can be important rather than stressing it with more walking.

Good Luck!

Orchid

On what kind of surface are you walking? Asphalt? Concrete? In the middle or on the side of the street?

If it is only the ball of your left leg, it is possible that the natural cushoning on your left leg is too thin. Simply a soft shoe insert MIGHT help. (Had similar problem when I had to run on concrete. I felt fire at every stride. A $5 insert sloved the problem.)

I would second Orchid's recommendations: icing, ibuprofen, switching to something else. Don not walk with this pain - the different way of walking to ease the pain, walking on the outside of your feet is the #1 cause of many leg injuries.

If you consider to buy new shoes ask for WALKING shoes with cushoning. Running shoes are not really good for walking.

Take care:

Eva

I have had plantar faschiitis a few times and it sounds like that is what you have. My podiatrist gave me exercises and stretches to do. He advised taking ibuprofen. He told me not to walk around bare foot, to wear shoes with soft soles and a really good arch support or buy some arch support inserts for my shoes.
In the end I had to have cortisone shots in the bottoms of my feet on three seperate occasions. After going through the pain of those, I decided to shell out $300 for a pair of custom made shoe inserts. It's been 5 years and no more problems.
Of course, every case is different. My BF had it once and just started wearing the cheap kind of arch supporting inserts and his went away.
Good luck!

Without having a lot more info it sounds like plantar fasciitis. Unfortunately there is no real way to cure it except for rest. NSAIDS and ice will help and stretching MAY prevent recurrence. Just bad luck unfortunately.

are the biggest risk factors for P.F.

You are already doing something about the only one that can be changed.

When I looked into the anatomy of the condition, it's really clear how being overweight increases the stress on the body parts.

Good luck.

Hi, I second CS's thoughts that you already doing something that will help your feet in the long run. One major reason I started this way of life was because I couldn't stand on my feet without serious pain for about 5-10 minutes when I woke up in the morning and couldn't walk to my bus stop without limping (1/4 mile!) Exactly one month after I started Atkins I noticed relief and two months later the problem was gone.

I did see a podiatrist after the problem had gone (it takes months to get an appointment on the NHS in England) and he suggested insoles (which were free) along with some stretching exercises for my toes and feet, so by all means go and see a specialist but you don't have to pay the $400 for insoles!! Just try some store bought ones and see if it helps first.

I also second the change of shoes!! Good luck!!

It sounds to me like you simply get "fire arches." I get them when I walk, but not when I used to jog. My arches burn like they're literally on fire.

It was really common with the people I ran with every day. We just bought new (or changed types of) inserts for our running shoes and it went away.

You will cause pain on other parts of your feet (and your knees, too) if you're trying to avoid hitting an entire part of your foot.

If you actually do have fire arches, medicine won't help it at all. (And the pain stops immediately after you stop running.) Only changing the way your feet hit the ground will. Good shoes and inserts help.