Feet

[fvrwld]

I have a ongoing problem with sore feet. I now own a pair of ASOLO 520(mens). My main sore points with these is the bottom, inner part of my big toes. I do have big callouses there. I recently bought a pair of Scarpas(womens)light hikers thinking I needed a pair of boots made for women's feet and a less stiff sole. Well, my feet hurt more and in the outer sides of my mid- feet. (Although there seemed to be less impact on the part of my toes that usually hurt.) I believe the womens boots are just too narrow for my feet.

This distresses terribly. On the other hand I wonder if I expect too much. Usually at about 5-8 miles is where I start hurting. Over 12 miles the pain starts to get into the excrutiating range. It will be tolerable as I hike but as soon as I stop my feet throb. For several hours after the hike I will have what feels like little electric shocks of pain starting in the bottom of my toes and moving through my feet.

I've been though several boots, many insoles and have tried the moleskin padding. I'm starting to think I just need to accept the pain(as I won't let it stop me from hiking long distances). I think about going to thge doctor about it but am afraid they will think I'm crazy when I report that I think there is something wrong that my feet hurt after hiking 10 miles.

I'm looking for others to share their experiences. At what distance do your feet start hurting? Do your feet never hurt? Has anything worked for anyone else?

[sacco]

that's why i usually wear pretty soft soled shoes like sneakers.

have you tried trail running shoes val?

plus, with low tops you get to recieve all kinds of strange looks and even the occasional advice from some expert telling you how you need to wear stiff, heavy trail boots.

[Neil]

Val, What are your arches like? High, low, normal? Do you have a bump on the medial aspect of your first metatarsal-pnalangeal joint? (Sorry for the techno-jargon folks but Val understands.)

[NukedRocket]

Christy is dealing with a similar issue. She gets into tremendous pain after walking some distance. Recently (Saturday) she really came under duress descending Street/Nye. She says it's "like walking on glass" and it slows her down tremendously I really feel for her, as it looks excruciating. She recently has gone to an orthopedic doctor, who diagnosed her with a bunyan. They are making orthotics for her shoes to correct the problem. She too has callouses on the outsides of her big toes, and her toes seem to point more towards her "pinky toe". She recently has had to buy wider shoes in order to remain comfortable, as she is on her feet at work as well. Though I am not doctor, I would definitely seek the advice of an orthopedist and see what they recommend. I hope your feet feel better

[Kevin]

Christy is dealing with a similar issue. She gets into tremendous pain after walking some distance. Recently (Saturday) she really came under duress descending Street/Nye. She says it's "like walking on glass" and it slows her down tremendously I really feel for her, as it looks excruciating. She recently has gone to an orthopedic doctor, who diagnosed her with a bunyan. They are making orthotics for her shoes to correct the problem. She too has callouses on the outsides of her big toes, and her toes seem to point more towards her "pinky toe". She recently has had to buy wider shoes in order to remain comfortable, as she is on her feet at work as well. Though I am not doctor, I would definitely seek the advice of an orthopedist and see what they recommend. I hope your feet feel better

Val probably has a bunyan as well.

Val - here's your answer - get the bunyan fixed!

[sacco]

all i can think of now is a little lumberjack with an axe whacking at her feet

[Rik]

Though I am not doctor, I would definitely seek the advice of an orthopedist and see what they recommend. I hope your feet feel better

I'm not a doctor either but I did see a Holiday Inn commercial last night.
If it bothers you a lot I think it is worth seeing a doctor. Don't stop gathering info elsewhere but for the amount of hiking you do 8 -10 miles shouldn't cause that much pain. My feet get achy after about 12 miles but no sharp pains and not much discomfort after the boots are off. Also, cold mountain streams are just like ice and might give you some relief at camp or during breaks.

[Rik]

all i can think of now is a little lumberjack with an axe whacking at her feet

And a little blue ox.

[Kevin]

How about the infamous Bald Headed Beaver? Could rip the bunyan with its teeth...

[erica]

I don't know if this will help your pain or not, but I've had success with keeping my shoes tied loosely. The idea is that although your foot may move around more, there is less friction (for blisters) and less compression and tightness (from strapping boots on too tightly - think corsets). My rule of thumb is my boot feels like it might come off if I stepped in some boot grabbing mud, or just my heel would come up.

I've had only 3 blisters over the past two years since doing this. I've also had less pain in general. I have bony feet without much padding, and if I tie my shoes too tight I won't last a mile!

[redhawk]

See a doctor Val. Your feet should not be hurting with the amount of hiking you do. I can do unlimited miles and experience no pain, only fatigue.

[fvrwld]

Thank you all for your replies!

I know I have a bunyon. The protrudence used to hurt me untill I bought my Asolo's. Untill Scott's response it never occured to me that it could be the misalignment of my great toe causing the bottom of the toe to hurt. Christy's problem sounds very similar to mine.

Guess I better go to the doctor

[Neil]

If you have a bunyon then that is the result of some sort of mis-alignement. Sounds like a nerve is getting compressed in there too. I'd risk a bet that you have high arches (and a bunch of other stuff) based on your description. You need orthotics for sure. Dominic, who has very high arches, had exquisite tenderness at his big toe's (MT-P) joint after a hike so I took him to a podiatrist who made him orthotics. No more post-hike tenderness. I wouldn't bother seeing an orthopedist, I'd go straight to a podiatrist. I'm sure one of your colleagues (ie. on their feet a lot) knows a good one.

[fvrwld]

Neil, I don't think I have high arches but I wouldn't doubt a nerve issue. I do have a good podiatrist but I don't think my insurance covers podiatrists anymore.

[Boreal Chickadee]

Val, I'd definitely go to a podiatrist just to make sure of anything else other than a bunion. I had a corn on the outside of my small toe about 10 or 12 years ago and it made hiking a living h*ll as soon as I put on my boot.

My current boots I happen to love. They're Crestas from LLBean, woman's cut (mens available) and mine are a wide. The best fitting boots I've owned, super comfortable and very supportive. I came across my 27 year old Danners while sorting this winter and they were like strapping on two by fours compared to my Crestas. Maybe I had kept them because I first climbed Katahdin in them. Some people collect knick knacks, I collect old hiking boots.