Tendonitis in both freaking feet

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Oh god please someone help me before I totally lose the will to live. I'm nearly 28 weeks pregnant and over the course of the last month or so my feet have become so blooming painful to walk on. It stretches from my toes right up to my ankle , and everything is such a chore and takes me an age.

My Gp basically said there's nothing that can be done apart from flat shoes, which I've done, and parafreakingcetamol

Please wise mumsnetters, there must be a magic cure out there

Sounds dreadful !
How on earth are you managing ?

Don't know what to say ....acupuncture ?

Honestly?? I really don't know. I've got a demanding job, which doesn't lend time to sitting either.

Most nights I'm coming home and literally crying because of the pain. The thing is it's also affected my back because I can't walk easily, but that pain I can cope with.

I might look in to acupuncture. Presuming it's safe in pregnancy that is.
It's getting me down a lot.

If you normally wear fairly high heels, then totally flat shoes may make it worse. Try something with a low heel, rather than totally flat.

Can you talk to someone at work to alter the conditions you work in? You've got another 10 weeks of this, so assuming you have decent employers, I'm sure they would prefer to help than have you go off sick.

And I know it's easier said than done, but when you can sit then do so, with your feet up preferably.

I second what MrsZoidberg says. I have had tendonitis in both Achilles tendons (not related to pregnancy). It was bloody painful, especially at night. I had physiotherapy which was basically massaging the painful tendons to reduce the swelling around them. I was advised to wear shoes with a 1 inch heel. I have also found that using a microwave wheat bag at night has helped. I lie with my ankles on the warm bag.

Try Fitflops - they are very supportive and gentle on your feet. My physio recommended them for painful feet

With fitflops your toes will grip with each step so it might make it worse.

I would try MBT trainers tbh, you need something that fastens over the bridge of your foot, anything slip on or that can be put on without undoing the fastenings and re-fastening them will slip around on the foot while you walk, you wont notice but the toes will grip to try and hang on to the shoe which will overwork the tendons that control the toes.

Flat shoes isnt enough, it needs to fasten securely. You can see the NHS podiatrist while pg for free and any insoles they prescribe are also free.

Thank you everyone for your ideas. At the moment I'm wearing lace up pumps from next, which are nice and soft but it feels like I'm walking on concrete.

I'll go and google MBT trainers now, but I think I might need to give my midwife another heads up about this because it's taking the pip now.

Don't know if it is the same but I had fallen arches after the twin DDs. The pain was intense and quite crippling. Chiropodist made me some arch supports and they were fantastic. When they wore out I bought some from Boots ready made and they were just as good. Worth a try. They might feel a bit odd at first but they did wonders for me.

Did your feet recover?

I'm actually worried I'm going to be left like this

Yes, hardly ever need to use my arch supports these days. The explanation I got was that the tendons stretch/slacken/go loose during pregnancy because of hormones and then afterwards they do not do their job as well as before.
Still find I get twinges in summer when I wear sandals which do not support my feet. Believe me, you will get over it.

I have achilles tendonitis and was referred to the NHS Podiatry service. They gave me free insoles to relieve the pressure from the achilles tendon. I think you should see an expert as insoles are not cheap to buy and you don't know what shape they should be to cope with the pain you are suffering with.

Do you think my midwife would be able to refer me, or should I go back and see my gp?