I take walks everyday and now that I have moved into town I am walking on concrete. At my other place I walked on black top with no problems for 8 years. Now my heels are sore and I can't hardly walk on them. I have soaked them and I also wear Dr. Scholl Shoes and they still are not helping my problems. I have had to vertually stop walking because of this.

Do you have any ideals on what might be going on and what I might be able to do about them?

Thanks,

Ada

Hey Ada,

How are you doing babe?

Well, I don't really understand what sort of pain you are having with your heels? Is it RSDy or other type of pain? If it is achey it might be that something like decent insoles, a new pair of trainers or something like the gel inserts you can get could help?

Some of my friends are really scarily athletic and I know that they find it hard adjusting to concrete from sand, mud, country lanes etc and it takes a while to get used to it (from what I remember walking on concrete puts far more pressure on joints) so it might be that you have to pace slowly up to the normal length walks you take?

Hope it's a vague help!!

Love ya

Froggsy xxxxxxxxxxxx

I was thinking maybe a liner or orthopedic/orthotic insert for the shoes?
pics of some types-
http://images.google.com/images?um=1...ot%20orthotics

Hi Ada,

How are you feeling, sweetie? I think out feet get more sensitive the older we get; Frogga's right about walking on harder/softer surfaces, it really makes a difference. When your feet are recovered, start with small walks and increase it a little with every walk; then you'll know the limit, and soft inserts sound sensible.

I met up with an old friend visiting HK the other day. She's older than me and was a textile designer, so very fashion-oriented, despite the fact that she's 60 - there she was in these drop-dead gorgeous turquoise shoes, all straps and what-all, and there was me in my black Good Old Reliables!

I do make an effort if I really must, but it's got to be something really special these days. I reckon that, since my legs/feet still work OK, I'd better look after them, lol...

Frogga, these "gel inserts" sound interesting, I shall investigate further!

all the best

Hi Ada:

I have that problem with my right heel. (the one I broke). Cement surfaces give me all sorts of trouble if I have to walk or stand on them too long. I haven't found anything that will completely take the problem away. I do however lessen some of the impact by wearing soft cotton socks and athletic shoes with the thicker soles. I know the shoes cost a lot more but some things you do have to pay for if you want the results.

Like Artist said, break your walks up. Maybe go 2 or 3 times a day for shorter distances. Or maybe if you could get something with a little bit of a heel to shift your weight/balance more to the balls of your feet and toes.

Good luck with it. I wouldn't want to give up my walks.

Hugs and Prayers

Thanks for the good advice. I will find some of those inserts. I'm going to Wal-Mart tomorrow, maybe they will have some good ones if not I'll get a prescription for some.

I don't know if it's the way I walk or not. I think I'm stepping on my heels first then come down on my toes. Don't know how it's suppose to be.

I'm having trouble finding tennis shoes I can wear. They all feel too heavy to me unless it's those cheap tennis shoes we use to wear back in the 60's. I have a couple pair of them but my feet sweat so much in those shoes in the summer months. I tend to wear sandels. I have several pair of Dr. Schols but they don't seem to do the job for me.

frogga, I just think it's soreness from walking on the concrete, not RSD pain. So far I have been able to keep that in check. I did just go back down on my Methadone so I will start seeing some RSD pain from that.

I go today to see the Immunologist. I'm anxious to see if he will do any test on me to see why my body shuts down so much.

As far as the depression, I have had some bad days again so the implant is not doing the job yet, and it may not do it for me. There are some it doesn't help. We still have to turn it up 2 more times. Sunday was Father's day and it wasn't to bad but the past 2 days have been bad for me with missing Bill.

Those gel inserts do sound good. I will check and see if Wal-Mart has them.

Thanks again for the help.

Ada

I do like the gel-type inserts. It's almost like walking on sand, in that it will more easily conform to the way your foot is exerting pressure. Kinda like an orthopedic insole, but more portable (move to different shoes) and a LOT cheaper.

The trouble I have with any inserts is that my worse foot - the left one - has also changed shape because of a fusion surgery. I have a hard time getting non-custom shoes that will fit both feet. The insert just makes the left one smaller, when it really needs to be bigger.

What works best for me is some kind of good quality athletic shoe, either a walking shoe or a cross-trainer. Many have a layer of gel right in the factory sole. The fit will not change from adding anything.

Mike

I know this sounds almost ridiculous, but get a pedicure. I have terrible problems with my heels, and my Dr. sent me to get a pedicure. I go every three weeks, in between times I scrape my heels with a foot file, and I use a heavy moisturizer every night to bed. If I get cracks in the heels, I put a drop or two of crazy glue in the crack to close it. I also wear an orthotic insole. I find that I get this worse in the spring and summer months because of wearing thongs.
Whatever works for you, I wish you luck. I know how frustruating heel pain can be.
Tracy

on the advice of someone here on the thread i started about what sneakers to wear, i got two pairs of the Dr. Scholl's gel insoles and they are wonderful! i switch them from shoe to shoe and rotate them. i love that they fit in my brace because they are so conforming. they helped dramatically.
also i find New Balance sneakers very light weight. i hope this helps and you can keep walking. joan

Thanks for the help. I will check on the New Balance shoes. What I find about a lot of the tennis shoes they feel like you are wearing weights on your feet. I just sold a pair of expensive Nikes because of how they felt on my feet. I have tried so many pairs of tennis shoes. I actually had one good pair a few years ago but wore them out. Can't remember the name.

A pedicure sounds nice but for me expensive for my budget. My heels do get cracked in the winter but I have been working on them and they aren't like that now. I bought a thing from Avon to massage the heels and work on the callus' on them. It helped a lot and I have been soaking them in a hot bath and using good lotions and that has helped with the cracks a lot.

This is just a deep heel pain from where I am walking to much. I have only walked once this week, I am trying to give them time to calm down. I will try the gel insoles though. I have been so busy I haven't made it to a store for a month. The move did me in.

Crazy glue, that sounds interesting. I heard something about using it for something else on the body, can't remember. What they come up with.

I found a great cure for ingrown hairs or places that won't heal. you put ice on it for a few seconds and then use eye drops on it after it dries. It works. I have now cured the places under my chin that hadn't healed in 2 years.

Thanks for the good ideals. I can't think anymore enough to come up with any on my own and there are so many things out there nowadays you can soon spend a fortune until you get to the right thing that works.

Ada