What are my feet trying to tell me about arch support
February 9, 2011 8:58 AM Subscribe
I am trying to experiment with arch support to assist in alleviating a long term heel pain issue. I have been under a podiatrists care for a couple of years now and have tried almost all of the well known recommended therapies, including custom orthotics, which were way too rough on my feet. We are really at the stage of trying anything that might work, as the definite source of the pain is not spelled out in MRI results.
My specific question here regards over-the-counter arch support. While participating in physical therapy last year, one of the exercises was to stand on a hard foam roller for a while. When I did that, I felt a profound ache in the arch of my affected foot. Generally the heel pain injury didn't involve any symptoms in the arch.
It lead me to believe that there was some type of weakness or stiffness in the arch of my problem foot.
As I experiment with Dr. Scholls arch support, I find that they generally make my footwear more comfortable, but their effect on my long-term pain is difficult to assess. But one thing is curious, I definitely feel the arch support on the problem foot much more than the other foot. Not so much pain, but definitely some type of ache. It’s difficult to tell if it’s a good, you’re doing the right thing now ache, or if its telling me that I’m doing the wrong thing. I also notice a dull ache when I put an icepack on my arch, especially if I have it pressed tightly.
So here's the essential question for you Medi-filter: Does feeling your arch react to support generally a sign that you need more arch support, or less?
PS-This is not an acute injury and I am under a doctor’s care. I have talked to him about this and he is supportive of me trying different things like this out, I just need some more perspectives. Thanks!
It lead me to believe that there was some type of weakness or stiffness in the arch of my problem foot.
As I experiment with Dr. Scholls arch support, I find that they generally make my footwear more comfortable, but their effect on my long-term pain is difficult to assess. But one thing is curious, I definitely feel the arch support on the problem foot much more than the other foot. Not so much pain, but definitely some type of ache. It’s difficult to tell if it’s a good, you’re doing the right thing now ache, or if its telling me that I’m doing the wrong thing. I also notice a dull ache when I put an icepack on my arch, especially if I have it pressed tightly.
So here's the essential question for you Medi-filter: Does feeling your arch react to support generally a sign that you need more arch support, or less?
PS-This is not an acute injury and I am under a doctor’s care. I have talked to him about this and he is supportive of me trying different things like this out, I just need some more perspectives. Thanks!
This really sounds like the classic symptoms of plantar fasciitis to me as well! I am surprised your podiatrist/orthopedist hasn't discussed this with you. (If by "a doctor" you mean "a general practitioner/primary care doctor" I encourage you to see a podiatrist or orthopedist as well.)
Pain in the arch almost never means too much arch support. It could mean that the arch support is in the wrong place, though. Think about trying an arch brace instead of a shoe insert.
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:22 AM on February 9, 2011
Pain in the arch almost never means too much arch support. It could mean that the arch support is in the wrong place, though. Think about trying an arch brace instead of a shoe insert.
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:22 AM on February 9, 2011
This is only my personal experience, but when I first wore arch supports for plantar fasciitis (starting with Dr. Scholls), they felt...uncomfortable. I don't specifically recall if they felt *more* uncomfortable in the affected foot. I also recall that back when I used to run, I had ruled out New Balance shoes (which I believe are known for popular amongst runners with tendencies toward PF) because the arches were uncomfortable--they felt like they had a tootsie roll under the arch.
My feet have gotten used to living with arch supports, and after about a month with Dr. Scholls, I bumped it up to these Powerstep Pinnacle supports, with much more dramatic improvement.
posted by drlith at 10:28 AM on February 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
My feet have gotten used to living with arch supports, and after about a month with Dr. Scholls, I bumped it up to these Powerstep Pinnacle supports, with much more dramatic improvement.
posted by drlith at 10:28 AM on February 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
I completely agree with Plantar Fasciitis probably being the root cause here. What worked for me was a change in shoes to Ecco, and stretching my achilles tendon morning noon and night. I wore the shoes all the time for two months (no special orthopedics or other arch support) and the pain went away.
posted by SpecialK at 10:48 AM on February 9, 2011
posted by SpecialK at 10:48 AM on February 9, 2011
Response by poster: Hi, Thanks for the comments so far. I think the reason my doctor doesn't focus on Plantar Fascittis is that the primary pain isn't on the bottom of the heel, which is the common area of complaint for PF, but in the back of the heel (lighter in the achilles tendonitis zone, worse on the lower edge of the outer corner). The arches appear to be a secondary issue (the ache in the arches is not so bad), just seems indictitive of something that needs an overall correction. I'm using the Dr Scholls inserts on the medium setting, just not sure if the mild to moderate ache is telling me to go up, down, or off. Unfortunatly it seems to take like a month to know if I made the right decision so I want to take my best guess.
posted by shimmer at 11:19 AM on February 9, 2011
posted by shimmer at 11:19 AM on February 9, 2011
I think the reason my doctor doesn't focus on Plantar Fascittis is that the primary pain isn't on the bottom of the heel, which is the common area of complaint for PF, but in the back of the heel (lighter in the achilles tendonitis zone, worse on the lower edge of the outer corner).
That seems overly granular to me; I would seek a second opinion.
posted by Sidhedevil at 11:49 AM on February 9, 2011
That seems overly granular to me; I would seek a second opinion.
posted by Sidhedevil at 11:49 AM on February 9, 2011
Also, consider getting one of these to help you stretch your heels thoroughly. That thing made the biggest difference of anything for my husband.
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:15 PM on February 9, 2011
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:15 PM on February 9, 2011
You need a new podiatrist or at a minimum a second opinion. If you're in New York City or northern New Jersey, I'll send you to mine, who's a genius.
posted by KRS at 2:28 PM on February 9, 2011
posted by KRS at 2:28 PM on February 9, 2011
Also, consider getting one of these to help you stretch your heels thoroughly. That thing made the biggest difference of anything for my husband.
As someone who also has P.F. without "really" having P.F., i can tell you that in addition to stretching, really deep calf and tendon massage works wonders to loosen everything that is connected to your plantar fascia (leg bone connected to the hip bone, and all that jazz.....)
posted by oohisay at 3:52 PM on February 9, 2011
As someone who also has P.F. without "really" having P.F., i can tell you that in addition to stretching, really deep calf and tendon massage works wonders to loosen everything that is connected to your plantar fascia (leg bone connected to the hip bone, and all that jazz.....)
posted by oohisay at 3:52 PM on February 9, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Bring it up with your podiatrist, or perhaps find a new specialist.
My mother has PF and wasted thousands of dollars on botched custom orthotics made by outdated practices (molds of the foot taken while standing, as opposed to weightless molds). She was quite immobile for a large part of my childhood, and only within the past 7 years or so has she been able to return to work because she finally went to a podiatrist who specializes in PF and newer methods of producing custom orthotics.
posted by GEB's fun world at 9:52 AM on February 9, 2011 [1 favorite]