My fucking feet are driving me nuts!!

[Gingernaut]

I'm 48 and I'm in the middle of yet another health, fitness and weight loss drive.

I have lost over three stones but need to increase my levels of fitness, tone up, build up stamina yadda, yadda yadda....

I need to lose about another 3 stones as I am less than five feet tall, petite with very small bones - a sparrow skeleton hidden by a penguin body.

Over the years, I have tried different gyms, but have always had to bow out.

Apathy mainly, but in recent years, I have acquired swim ears (requiring the perfect ear plugs which don't seem to have been invented yet), post viral labyrinthitis (leaving me too giddy to be safe on equipment) and I even managed to sprain my arse (coccydynia anyone?).

Now however, I am thoroughly fed up.

I have had trouble with my feet over the years.

Being so fat for so long, my gait has adapted so I waddle like a penguin. This has resulted in problems with my feet as I stand and walk with my feet pointing out almost in a ballet position.

Bilateral plantar fasciitis (the injection!! ), a variety of orthotics to accommodate that, followed by a left Morton's neuroma with another set of orthotics and a left bunion all of which have left me with limited shoe options.

No heels, no flats, very few sandal options, nothing with toe posts, my DMs require special care to breal them in, or else they'll break me.

I have finally joined another gym.

I have taken advantage of the three free personal sessions and have now taken on a personal trainer.

And i have acquired another, right sided, Morton's neuroma.

I am in fucking agony with a pebble or blister sensation under my right foot as I walk. The toes alternate between stinging, pins and needling and numb and I can wear only two pairs of trainers.

I have seen the doctor who has referred me to the podiatrist for yet another pair of orthotics but this will take 6-8 weeks.

Meanwhile, all the good work the personal trainer has done is slowly coming unravelled.

I can't do the treadmill, I can't do the cross trainer, I can't do the rowing machine, I can't do the leg press, i can't do lunges, press ups and so on and so forth.

Yesterday was awful. I went limping around the local park and had to stop a couple of times as my feet (bunion's playing up as well) were so painful.

I don't want to stop now.

Would I Be Unreasonable to consider going private for possible surgery?

I can afford it, as I was left a large inheritance.

The alternative is a 6-8 week wait just to see someone who's only going to give me another pair of orthotics (I already have a pair for neuromas) and then I have to report back in 4 weeks time to see if they're working.

I'm fed up, in pain and don't want to have to do that all over again.

Would I Be Unreasonable?

Has anyone else had something similar?

Would they recommend a particular course of treatment?

This place is starting to turn my head.

www.cryosurgery.co.uk/cryosurgery/

Sorry g.p referral ,

The bloody cat just deleted my entire post!!!
Anyway encore une fois. I'm a podiatrist, don't wait for your insoles. Go buy a large sheet of semi compressed felt 6 mm thick and cut a large pad about 4 inches long by 2 inches wide, the bigger it is the less the Morton's neuroma will hurt. Cut a U shape in the top and pop the neuroma area in the U. This will take the weight right off it and you should be able to walk without pain, you may need to experiment a bit. We do this in clinic every day to take the pressure off plantar ulcers so that they heal.

Would a trike with big pedals work for you? You wouldn't have to balance it like a two wheel bike.

Sketchers memory foam trainers are very padded and tough. I've worn one pair for well over a year now, for long shifts and they're still nicely padded.

Oh and when I had a nasty blister on the ball of my foot, I made a pad to take the pressure off. One pair of socks, then some thin foam padding, then another thin sick. It too the pressure off.

I'm holding the 'tough' memory foam orthotics with carpet tape.

I went to see the consultant. He put me down for an ultrasound, the consultant radiographer diagnosed an impinged neuroma, after which I had a steroid injection.

After the injection, the second and third toes on one foot were pointing in two different directions as if giving a two fingered salute.

I've got to take it easy for the next day and I have no idea what's going to happen when the local anaesthetic wears off.

Right now, I can't feel a thing.

Yeah. Private self pay treatment meant stumping up over £700.

Yeah well. I'm paying for the convenience innit?

I have bilateral PF and neuropathic pain in both my feet. Every day is agony.

I started wearing Fitflops a few years ago and now wear virtually nothing else. They are the only things that help the pain and allow me to walk semi-normally.

My NHS physio hates them and tells me to wear trainers (she has no brand preference) instead, and walk barefoot at home.

I haven't been able to walk barefoot for many years and wear trainers to my appointments with her, but otherwise refuse to put myself through any more pain than necessary.

Yes, they're clumpy (though some types aren't too bad), and they won't win prizes for the most attractive shoes out there, but my scrunched-up face when in pain walking in other shoes isn't attractive either.

I feel for you as unrelenting foot pain is awful. Go private and get the help you need. Good luck.

I wore a style of shoe similar to this to the consultation

[http://www.cosyfeet.com/womens-extra-wide-footwear/cosyfeet-shoes/belle#c:1124]

And have three pairs of trainers I can stick my feet AND the orthotics into.

Fitflops - not so much. Too narrow, I can't wear the flip flop types anyway and the 'wobble' thing is pointless.

Today, there's less pain. There's pain, obviously, but less. It feels like someone is pinching the skin between my toes.

Hopefully, the pain will lessen as time goes on. Hopefully. Maybe. Hope so...

Hi. My sympathy - this sounds awful.

Two things: with regard to bunions I got my mum one of those bunion cushions. Looks like nothing on earth but apparently the difference is incredible. She can walk far further with it on.

I also have foot problems, luckily orthopaedics seem to help a lot. I use good walking boots g there is a lot more room in them than trainers and you can get a really secure fit. You can even get some in black so while not glamorous with trousers they do look quite smart.

Hope things improve soon.

I had a neuroma (not Mortons) removed from near the ball of my foot. It made a massive difference to me, I was able to walk normally again. I haven't restarted running, and keep my exercise limited to things where I'm not thudding down on my feet.

But! I know that my neuroma may come back if it feels like it. I have some nerve damage, my big toe is a bit numb and I get strange pins and needles sometimes.

The end of an era.

Currently wearing Cosyfeet Belle in black.

I came across my old shoes in BHF.

I miss them.