Morton's Foot?

[jasmine]

Thanks for the welcome, I have a set of those little Yamuna foot bumpy things, actually I have one, my puppy chewed the other, they are cool and/but painful to get used to. Great for working out soreness and knots but hard to use when pain is acute.

[OakLeaf]

Hi Jasmine...

Listen, Knot knows what she's talking about. The rest of us are just muddling our way through, trying self-help solutions because we don't have access to a competent professional.

So if you don't have anything else keeping you from good posture other than your 1st MT being shorter than the second one, I'd recommend taking her advice.

If you have something else structural keeping you from good posture - as Zia does, and I still need to find someone to actually look at my feet - then pad away and/or try to find a professional who can help you. If not, then I'd really urge you to take Knot's advice.

[jasmine]

yah thanks Oakleaf and thanks Knot I am determined to do all of Knot's foot exercises and recommendations re padding---i have gone to so many "professionals" who look at my feet and gasp and push surgery---so far this thread is the most helpful thing I have come across ever

[NbyNW]

i have gone to so many "professionals" who look at my feet and gasp and push surgery

That's been my experience, too -- I've basically been told (by podiatrists) that custom orthotics can be used to correct some of my mechanics and to slow down the development of my bunions, but I will probably need surgery someday.

I had asked about exercises for my arches was told that other than orthotics, there wasn't anything else to be done. Don't get me wrong, the orthotics have been great, but it seems that maybe exercise and stretching has not been part of the training of the podiatrists that I've gone to in the past.

Maybe in the future I need to consult a doctor or other professional with a different set of training/broader range of skills in this area. I'm not at that point right now, but I think it goes to show that it's important to really research the professionals that you consult, which can be tough if you don't even really know what you're looking for.

[jasmine]

Hey I just got a pair of Keen wool clogs--maybe they are called Hybrid's not sure--anyway they are far and above the most comfortable shoes I've worn for my poor achin feet in a long time! It's such a big deal for me to find shoes that feel good I thought I'd share

[NbyNW]

ooo, cool! I've had good luck with Keens, but I didn't know they made wool clogs! Time to start writing out my Christmas wish list . . .

[zia]

So I have an interesting post-script to this thread. During the course of this thread, my knee pain was nearly 100% eliminated by placing a small pad under my first metatarsal.

Well.

I have been upping my mileage to train for a half marathon, and was very worried after a 9-mile run. My right knee was in intense pain from 5 miles on, and I was concerned 13.1 just wasn't going to be possible.

Nonetheless, I scheduled a 12-miler with my running partner and crossed my fingers for the best. Right before the run, I decided to check the pads I'd put under my insoles, and -- lo and behold -- the right one was missing! I'd been fiddling with the shoes and forgotten that side. I put a new pad on, ran 12 -- at a brisk pace! -- and had no kneed pain at all, and felt great the next day! (Last August, pre-padding, my knees hurt so much I literally had to crawl up stairs after my first Olympic Tri.)

Maybe it was just my body adjusting, but, given my 20 years of fairly persistent knee pain, my bet's on the Morton's Foot diagnosis and subsequent insole changes.

Just thought I'd share.