Anyone else suffering arthritis in their feet? OUCH!

Posted by Bluegrass Gal @cindychesler, Jul 15 8:12am

I suffer from arthritis in my feet along with Pes Cavus (really high arches considered a deformity). I have gotten BMAC stem cell therapy which only lasted a few weeks. Steroid shots. Physical therapy. And acupuncture and several rounds of an herb concoction that mixes with water. Additionally I apply ice packs and occasionally heat packs. All give temporary relief. I cannot take Celebrex, Advil or Aleve. I do not have rheumatoid arthritis. Any long term solutions?

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ferret911 | @ferret911 | 3 days ago

In reply to @gynosaur42 "I have significant arthritis in my feet and ankles (in additions to hands and hips). I..." + (show)

@gynosaur42

I have significant arthritis in my feet and ankles (in additions to hands and hips). I do work with a podiatrist for my feet because he came highly recommended and I needed surgery for a torn ankle tendon a year ago. He has been very helpful.

I do wear shoes in the house at his suggestion. They have orthotics in them that he made for me over ten years ago. What a difference they have made over the years! I also use a metatarsal pad beneath one foot due to neuropathy that occurred after the surgery (numbness & tingling of middle toes). That helps, too. The company that makes the pads is called HAPAD, in case anyone needs to find them.

I wear Hoka sneakers almost exclusively, but will switch to crocs in the house for something I can slip in and out of. The Hokas have incredibly thick and cushiony soles.

I do physical therapy for my ankles and receive (at different times) dry needling gor tendons that are still healing, cupping around the ankle, and ultrasound to help reduce inflammation in my tendons under the foot.

With all of that I was still having flare-ups and enough pain that I was using more and more Voltaren (a topical anti-inflammatory that gives temporary relief from pain). I was also doing Epsom salt soaks, which were helpful, but I was stuck sitting while doing that.

The thing that has helped me the most is something I do at home. It involves a 10-15 minute regimen of stepping onto and off of two different balls (one hollow and squishy, the other solid and harder), and then rolling them under various parts of my foot and heel, as well as rolling the softer one over the tops of each of the long bones in my foot. I went to a couple-hour class where this was taught almost 10 years ago now. I did it for a while, it felt great, and then convinced myself I didn’t have time for it and didn’t need it any longer, so let it go. Big mistake! Gradually, the pain under and around my great toe got worse and worse. After the ankle surgery my doc showed me the xray of my foot and told me that injections and surgery were next steps. He also explained how my holding my foot in such a way that had been avoiding more of that pain had probably contributed to the tears in the tendon that had required surgical repair. Well, one ankle surgery was enough for me to decide to take seriously the need to take care of my feet a little better. I now do the ball regimen every morning while I drink my tea and look out the window as the sun comes up. My toes do not give me much trouble at all any more. The brand name of the balls I use is MELT and is designed to hydrate the connective tissue in the feet and ankles, which helps …?… make space for the bones? I can’t tell you why it works so well, but it does for me. I also have a set of balls for my hands and will do that before saying yes to injections. If you are in enough pain that standing on your feet is agonizing, you will want to start very slowly, even doing the exercises in sitting at first so that you don’t put too much pressure on your feet and cause more pain. The exercises shouldn’t hurt. When I started, I couldn’t put much pressure on the bottoms of my feet or on top of my enlarged big toe joints, but I can now. There are videos online (on YouTube) that you can watch to learn about this if you are interested.

I sure hope each of you finds a combination of remedies that works for you. I’ve had some level of osteo arthritis since ~age 9. I can make it worse by eating potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplants (nightshade family vegetables), so eat them only occasionally.
Even so, I used to wonder (inside my head) what all the fuss was about arthritis. I had discomfort, but could still do most things. Then, after age 50 I stopped knitting and crocheting and in the last 2-3 years I began having difficulty reading my own handwriting. But I could still do what I needed to do. It’s been in the last 1-2 years that the pain (in my hands, mostly) that gets so intense that I can no longer do things I need to do, such as opening jars, even with tools, buttoning, zipping, etc. I am finally starting to do the MELT business with my hands (I was stubborn…convinced I didn’t have time for feet AND hands). I hope I can make a big shift here, too, and know I’ll need to be patient to see the long-term results.

Again, wishing each of you best of luck with reducing your foot pain and increasing what you can do in your lives.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to detail this (new to me)?problem! It sounds like my feet have non-surgical options that I never knew of. Off to the phone I go!

gynosaur42 | @gynosaur42 | 3 days ago

In reply to @ferret911 "Thanks so much for taking the time to detail this (new to me)?problem! It sounds like..." + (show)

Maybe you'll learn of options that the rest of us haven't heard of, as well. I hope you will share what you learn, what works, and what flops you've encountered along the way.

Best of luck to you, @ferret911!

delia74 | @delia74 | 2 days ago

In reply to @nancyeburford "I have also found that I was restricting my feet in certain shoes ( bunions on..." + (show)

Absolutely agree with WIDE width shoes, making sure that you can wiggle toes and spread them apart to give yourself a shot of relief. I went from a size 8.5 -9M to a 10Wide. I love Merrell (only certain styles, some are uncomfortable and make it look as if I had huge feet)) and Skechers. No leather since that won't allow toe comfort. Tips of toes may not touch front of shoe or can create crescendo of pain in my two neuromas and hammer toe, which then can shoot pain into rest of body (I have fibromyalgia). Our daughter gave us gift of Bombas socks and neither her dad nor I can tolerate how TIGHT they can feel, very restrictive. Sadly, we had to donate them. But I've found great socks at TJMax: the brands Timberland and Columbia come with mid calf, soft, and non-binding around leg. Great for sleeping with. I have had arthritic feet for about 10 years. I will raise legs onto an ottoman when sitting/watching TV. Gentle massage helps. My husband applies Vicks to his arthritic/neuropathic feet and he says it does help immensely. I pass on that b/c I can't stand the Vicks odor, nor that of similar ointments. A heating pad helps with both the arthritis and the cold pain from Raynaud's. I ALWAYS wear a designated "indoor pair" of a Skechers Go Walk super comfortable shoe because otherwise I experience every little bone under my foot as I walk on our wood and tiled floors. And it HURTS! So those padded Skechers are a MUST. Besides, wearing a shoe rather than a slipper gives me assurance that the shoe does stay on the feet (won't slip off) and great grip as well as protecting toes/feet from stubbing into furniture or having something landing on them if something slips out of my hands (yeah the old arthritic, neuropathic fingers -- also affected by Raynaud's -- don't grip as well as they once did). I've broken two toes on the right foot, about 5 yrs apart, when I happened to NOT have protection on my feet and I heard the bones crack against the sofa legs. I don't want to sacrifice any more tooties! For intense, won't-go-away pain, Aleve is all I can take (serious hallucinations, etc. from gabapentin, codeine, morphine and a slew of other medications). I do take R-Alpha Lipoic Acid, as prescribed by a wonderful rheumatologist to help with the neuropathy.

mydogsbestfriend | @mydogsbestfriend | 1 day ago

I seem to have inherited osteoarthritis in my feet not to mention spine. I never wore heels and always bought good shoes. My first ‘dress shoes’ were size 5N. Now I wear 7.5-8 wides! I like Merrill ( not all), SAS ( only oxfords, many I found the soles are very slippery), and some Skechers, esp the ones you slip on. Sizes vary though. About 5 years ago I had the joint on one big toe replaced as a bone spur had gotten so large I couldn’t find any shoe I could wear. That helped but now I have bunions on both feet; high insteps and tendinitis in one foot. I had a shot into my big toe joint ( painful!) but it helped for about a year. I try to walk at least 1 miles a day and I’m losing weight slowly. I am about 10 pounds more than I should be so it’s no big deal. It’s a big problem when your feet hurt, I know, so I hope you find relief. I have found no cream or pill to help with the pain. I do mostly wool socks, with flat toe seams. Woolrich, Bombas ( some styles are too tight on my calf). It’s hit or miss. Hope you get relief

nicolak | @nicolak | 23 hours ago

I'm 55 and since I started my pre menopause in my mid 40s I've got out of bed to stand up and my ankles and feet hurt. It's got worse with age. I'm having all sorts of tests now finally. Only a few years ago my bones joints and muscles were getting worse with chronic pain all over body. I know Arthritis runs in my family and my Grandad had Osteoporosis. I've since how out I have Hyperthyroidism, Removal of my Parathyroid glands are coming out next month. It ma6 easy the Arthritis but it's not a given. Is there anyone who can give me move advice and others whos had the operation and post care Ty

marye2 | @marye2 | 17 hours ago

In reply to @slkanowitz "Interesting that you use the lidocaine patches on the top of your foot. I put mine..." + (show)

Having "traveling joint disease" I have discovered that there's a sequence to follow for relief--images, steroid shot if it is a joint and then stretches. However, I now have one toe joint that is osteoarthritis. This week, I have it wrapped in KT tape to give it a rest. You can readily find directions on youtube. I buy beige brand name tape, and it can last days in place. I am getting new orthotics--based on computer scan. And I will do something new: get a Dr appointment to look at the orthotics about two weeks after getting them. I love walking, but this has been a true misery. If the pain is in the muscle (sympathetic to joint pain), then a lidocaine patch over the epicenter helps or...biofreeze, cold pack or heat can help relax it. The pain doctor says it is confusing the nerves. I do mine a bit differently, but here's an example video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtKP4_JbeB8

ferret911 | @ferret911 | 13 hours ago

In reply to @dishpain "Hi Ferrit. I’m sorry you are going through what you are going through. I think you..." + (show)

Thanks for the motivation to see a podiatrist. I’m looking at a couple near me, thanks to you and other caring folks who gave me the idea. People sorta laugh off “sore feet” but they have no idea, do they?! Again, my appreciation!

dishpain | @dishpain | 9 hours ago

In reply to @ferret911 "Thanks for the motivation to see a podiatrist. I’m looking at a couple near me, thanks..." + (show)

You are very welcome! We all need help of others!😊

loriesco | @loriesco | 6 hours ago

I have had degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis for 30 years. Seen a lot of arthritis doctors. None of them ever looked at Gouty Arthritis for the inflammatory reaction and PAIN. Turns out most of my PAIN of inflammation is from Gouty arthritis. Controlled that and the only pain left is from nerves and spine degeneration. I am currently using Zazzee tart cherry capsules I got on Amazon as recommended by someone in this group! good luck!

dishpain | @dishpain | 32 minutes ago

In reply to @nicolak "I'm 55 and since I started my pre menopause in my mid 40s I've got out..." + (show)

I have bad arthritis. Osteoarthritis and dish. I have had one parathyroid out. What was nice is that within a fairly short period of time I lost 25 pounds after having a single parathyroid taken out. But my feet do still hurt and my toes crack. Definitely have arthritis in my feet and I have bone spurs on the bottom of both heels and on the back of both heels.
I wish you luck with the parathyroid surgery. Hopefully you have a skilled surgeon as I did. And I still have my parathyroid levels along with other bloodwork every three months. But I feel so much better , little less tired, since the parathyroid came out I kept telling people for the longest time that something was really wrong and finally, I said to my doctor my calcium level is elevated. He said it’s not that high. I pushed the situation and that triggered him to do a parathyroid hormone level. It was elevated. So he sent me to the endocrinologist and I was already mild diabetic. So I see endocrinology for both. Make sure you let us know how you’re doing. 🙏

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