The Agony of My Feet!

Have I ever mentioned that nurses are the worst patients?

I don't remotely pretend to have all of the acquired knowledge of a physician - my nursing curriculum was 4 semesters while they attend for 4 years. I am however relatively savvy on researching health issues and common treatments. I don't generally head to a doctor unless I am completely ignorant of what is ailing me OR I know that I need prescription medication. Maybe that makes me a bad patient, but I prefer to think that it makes me an educated healthcare consumer.

Where is this going?

Well my feet hurt - a lot. I've had problems off an on since last October - yes, October 2009! It first manifested after a 10 mile walk/run while training for the Bass Pro half-marathon. I had recently been fitted for new shoes and after being considered a neutral runner prior to pregnancy, I had now developed some overpronation. I was put in some mild motion control shoes and even saw on a nifty video analysis of my running on a treadmill how the new shoes kept me from rolling inward.

I had managed to make most of my training prior to this and had even done a 7 mile and 8 mile long walk/run without any issues. This 10 miler hurt though and it hurt near the balls of both feet. It started first in the left and then the right, best described as a sharp pain that was worse when I was running but still hurt during the walk. I was sore a day or two and decided to be smart and only do a 10K as opposed to the planned half two weeks later.

Over the winter, I didn't do a lot of training for various reasons and as the Little Rock Half-Marathon approached in March, I started to do some training and began as couch to 5K program again. I was still having problems after going about a mile and a half and it was this sharp pain in the ball of my foot. I went back to the running store and was fitted with another pair of motion control shoes but with a little more cushion in the forefoot. I decided to go ahead and walk the half-marathon because I had already paid my registration. Besides, I've been in decent shape, why can't I walk 13 miles??

Well apparently my feet didn't agree. I was in pain by mile 3, it was pretty bad by mile 6 and by mile 10 I was walking faster simply to MAKE IT STOP! My feet were super sore for several days and I hobbled around thinking that I was a stupid stupid person. I took a break for a good month after that experience.

Another trip to another running store and I was given some over the counter orthotics by Sole. These had a much greater arch support and could allegedly cure the ills of many feet. I did a couple of short runs with them and had no problems and thought all was well. I also bought a second pair of insoles to put in my work shoes because I'm on my feet a lot during my 12 hour shifts and surely this would help. All in all, my feet felt better and soon summer came and the temps became RIDICULOUS (seriously, this is the hottest summer Arkansas has ever recorded - it has been MISERABLE!) which means that I am not keen on doing lots of running or walking.

Right around the time I decide that I need to get back at it, I wake up and have horrible HEEL pain. What? Heel pain? My heel has never hurt?? Each step is misery and after a while, it loosens up a bit and gets better. I racked my brain thinking "What the hell did I do???" and hubby reminds me of the walk we took the prior evening with me in only my flip flops. Hmmm guess that was a bad idea? It takes me no time at all to think heel pain = plantar fasciitis. Some quick medical researching and I realize that the plantar fascia extends from the heel to the base of the toes and ends right near the ball of the foot - you know, the area where I previously had stabbing pain. It finally dawned on me that I had probably been dealing with plantar fasciitis since last October, it just hadn't originally presented in the typical fashion.

I'm no expert, but I've known people who've struggled with this and I know it is NOT a good thing. It's not good if you're trying to get back into running and it's definitely not good when you have a job that requires you to be on your feet for extended periods.

Another trip to a specialty shoe store and I score some MBTs for work. They are ridiculously expensive and not very pretty, but I now have cured the everyday excruciating pain. I can't not walk at work and my new job has me on the feet a LOT more than before. Now, if I can just get my mileage back up without hurting. Today I did almost 4 miles and was just a little sore at the end. Let's see how it goes.