[cbmare]

It has been hurting since Saturday. It feels like a wrecking ball trying to break out. Sometimes it is in the heel and others in the arch. It isn't in the same place. It is also starting to wake me at night. It feels better with shoes on. I can massage my foot and it feels better for a short time.

I had to take a break from WATP because I strained my knee. I just got back into it and now this happens.

Any advice?

[mandalinn82]

To the doctor with you! And likely, the podiatrist.

Feet are VERY hard to diagnose. It could be as easy as getting an insole, but the pain is moving around and you certainly don't want it to get worse, so I would go see someone.

If it is a CRAMPING pain, I'd try getting more potassium, but this seems like a steadier kind of pain.

[nylisa]

If your insurance will cover a visit to a podiatrist without requiring a referral from a GP, go directly to the podiatrist. My experience has been that they diagnose foot problems more quickly & accurately because they specialize in that. I had to go to a GP first for some foot fractures & plantar faciitis & they just ended up referring me to the podiatrist.

Your symptoms sound very similiar to the ones I had when I had plantar fasciitis (link below explaining). But it could be other things too, so see a podiatrist to be sure.

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00149

Is it worse first thing in the morning and it gets better as the day goes on? That was the case with me. Also, have you had flat feet at any point in your life? People with that are more prone to it. And have you recently intensified training by going up hills? Tackling hills can cause flare ups because of the position it puts your feet in.

Mine wasn't too bad, I just did the ice/pain reliever thing & eased off a bit on activity until it felt better. Also, instead of going barefoot around the house (lifetime of apartment living training), I now wear either slippers with a wedged heel or flip flops with a wedged heel. If it plantar fasciitis, you'll want to make sure any footwear you wear has good arch support. And I did the recommended stretching exercises. I didn't have to get shots or surgery fortunately. It started acting up again when I tried the hill intervals on the arc climber & didn't stretch properly, I switched back to regular intervals & make sure I stretch now.

Another thing I was told was to watch road surfaces. Concrete is the toughest, grass, treadmills & asphalt are preferable to concrete. And to make sure shoes are cushioned to absorb impact. Some shoes are also designed to help with over-pronation if that's an issue (it is with me).

[RealCdn]

It may not be the same thing, but I used to have problems with foot pain (especially when starting up with the treadmill after a break). A friend, one big into exercise told me it was likely plantar fasciitis. I'll add a link to Wikipedia about it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantar_fasciitis

There's some info about what you can do, but the most helpful thing I've found (once the initial pain has subsided) is stretching the tendon, especially before exercise. Stand on the lowest step of the stairs, without shoes, with about half of your foot hanging off. Bounce lightly a little (dropping your heels down), then stretch up on your toes and drop back down a few times.

When I first had problems I would do this always before using the treadmill. I don't seem to have a need to do this as long as I'm walking regularly, but if I take a break I always do it before.

Hope some of that helps. The Wikipedia article also talks about shoes, drugs (hey I also take glucosamine which it says that one study says may help, but that's not why I take it), and other more medical treatments.

[ANOther]

IANAD, but a stress fracture occurs to me since my boss has one in his foot and is laid up @ home for possibly 2 weeks. By all means see a doctor, and perhaps request an MRI, the boss needed one to pinpoint the stress fracture. Good luck

[cbmare]

Thanks everyone. I do have plantar fasciitis in both feet. I am oh soooo familiar with that pain. This isn't like it.

I've put a call into the dr.

I do wear slippers at home. I used to be a barefoot babe but over the last 10 years, I can't stand it. I'm only barefoot in the shower and bed now.

[Tharmony]

Originally Posted by cbmare

I can't stand it.

Did you make that pun on purpose? I hope that everything works out and that you feel better soon.