shoes and heel pain

nikonos · Jan 22, 2005

Here is some very good advice for finding the best way to reduce foot pain via footwear. Find your local running store that caters to the running/jogging community - NOT a sporting goods store or a megastore that sells running shoes, you need an actual running store. Look in the yellow pages or call around to local running clubs if you have to. These smaller stores deal with people who log hundreds and thousands of miles on their feet every year, they have seen it all and will walk you through finding an appropriate shoe for your particular anatomical build. You may end up paying a little more for the shoe but in general the personal touch and the outcome will be well worth the 10 or fifteen dollars you would have saved if you went to the local superstore. Many will also let you try the shoe out for a limited time to see if it works for you. Running shops are smaller stores and they depend on return business so the employees that I have dealt with over the last ten years have gone beyond the call of duty to get me fitted in the proper shoe and make sure that I am comfortable. It's definately an overlooked option and resource.

Interested Party · Jan 22, 2005

I used to suffer terribly with pains similar to the ones you mentioned. Later, I was told that the arch on the soles of my feet are rather flat. Ortho-heel inserts were recommended and I have been wearing them for the last 3 years in most of my shoes and what a difference it made. My back and hips and ankles are not sore anymore. Ortho-heel inserts only goes partway from your heel to midway of your sole and you can probably get them from a good shoe shop. Hope this helps for you.

prmenrs, RN · Jan 22, 2005

A lot of times, heel pain is a symptom of plantar fasciitis (sp)--a problem w/your arches. A visit to the podiatrist might help!

Gail-Anne · Jan 22, 2005

Glad someone caught my typo! I thought I'd typed to go to a sport shoe store, but only put sport store. Big difference. It pays to watch the clerks for a few minutes in some stores and pick out one. I was prewarned that the two good stores where I live are quite different. One can be snobbish (I'm sure not all the clerks) if you aren't a runner, the other store is known for spending the same time and energy regardless of being a lumpy overweight nurse or marathoner.

One thing to watch about footwear is clogs or other foot wear with open heels. Workman's comp may not have to cover you if you get a foot or leg injury at work, if you are not in proper attire. Check your state regs. I was called as a witness (by phone) by workmans comp when a team-mate twisted her ankle on the way to a code-- what did she have on her feet was the first thing they asked.

jen.sn · Jan 22, 2005

I love my birkenstocks! They are the only shoes that I can wear for as long as I want and my feet and legs don't hurt afterwards. Note, they may take a few weeks to break in, but once they are you'll never want to wear anything else. I didn't wear birks until I got into nursing and was on my feet all day...I'm sold!

saskrn · Jan 23, 2005

I love my birkenstocks! They are the only shoes that I can wear for as long as I want and my feet and legs don't hurt afterwards. Note, they may take a few weeks to break in, but once they are you'll never want to wear anything else. I didn't wear birks until I got into nursing and was on my feet all day...I'm sold!

I don't even have a breaking-in period for my Birks. They say to wear them more gradually, but I've never had to do that. They are perfect.....perfect in every way! :rotfl:

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jan 24, 2005

i swear by danskos. i wear new balance for walking -- walked a half marathon in them! but danskos for work. i love the steel arch supports.