hallux metatarsalphalangeal joint arthritis

[beccaB]

Say What????
I thought I was having a bunion and this is what the orthopedist diagnosed. I have to get some orthotics made and then find shoes just to wear around that will accommodate those. The bike shows will be problematic, and I'm pretty sure I won't be using orthotics in them, but is there a brand that may cause less pain than the specialized mountain bike shoe I'm using now? I just live with the pain, and having the orthotics in my regular shoes will help to control further damage. Anyone ever have this?

[azfiddle]

I have this also, but perhaps mine isn't as bad as yours. I had about 2 months last year when driving was a problem, sometimes it hurt other times. The doctor who diagnosed/explained it said that wearing good shoes with stiff soles would be helpful, and if it got worse there were a couple of options- injections was one. Surgery was last resort. I also have a bunion on that toe. He said the stiff soles on cycling shoes were good (he happens to be a cyclist as well).

Practically, it means most women's shoes are completely out of the question! Most of them offer no support, or they cut directly across the joint (like ballerina slip ons).

Good luck with it....

[beccaB]

Which bike shoe will accommodate orthotics? I use spd pedals because that's what I have on all my bikes. Typically mountain bike shoes and commuter shoes fit those. My current bike shoes are very stiff. I think the problem is with my other shoes and the structural problems with the bones in my feet. I don't think biking makes it worse so much as it already hurts when I set out to go biking. Most of my hiking style shoes are actually fairly flexible. I'm coming to understand that's a big problem for me. I am a shoe hound too. that's probably going to cause financial stress when I have to purchase 50 pairs to accommodate my orthotics!

[beccaB]

I have been wearing MBT shoes (Masai barefoot technology) for a few days and I'm finding a lot less foot pain. The person who's going to do my orthotic put a metatarsal pad in the insole of my bike shoes, but It's been raining every day and I haven't used them yet.

[shootingstar]

Becca, it might be a choice between wearing a type of biking shoe, even if MTB, that won't cause long term pain for you and you will be encouraged to keep on cycling lots for a long time in life.

Or sticking to SPDs and making yourself slowly disabled later on in life.

I have worn orthotics for past 20 yrs., in hard soled, slim shaped mtb cycling shoes. But I don't go clipless so it's not a big deal to me.

I've accepted the fact that I cannot wear certain types of dress shoes that have no support. In most cases my dress shoes are in styles where I don't ahve to wear my orthotics. When I walk to work, I wear runners with my skirt, etc. Or a sensible low heeled dress shoes. I cannot wear ballet slipper like shoes because they're just too flat. So after a few years I had to give up wearing my silver ballet slipper shoes. I loved them!

I cannot wear stiletto high heels at all. Never could anyway.

I also have x-country skied in my orthotics and I must snowshoe in my orthotics. Or else I will be in pain within 1 hr.

[NbyNW]

I wear Rx orthotics for flat feet and to slow down the development of a bunion.

My podiatrist made two pairs for me: one for athletic shoes, and a thinner profile pair that can fit in most, but not all, casual/dress shoes. There is a circle cut out of the heel of the dress orthotics so they sit flatter in the shoe and don't lift my heel up too much.

I actually use the dress orthotics in some of my athletic shoes... they fit in my cycling shoes, and I've decided that I like them better in my ski boots than the pair that was made for athletic shoes.

There are some really great casual shoes out there that can be compatible with your orthotics, or if they're not, just limit how often you wear them or save them for special occasions.

[beccaB]

I thought y'all should know that the MBT (Masai Barefoot Technology) shoes have really been helping. I have been wearing them for almost 2 weeks, and I am a lot more comfortable. If fact the achilles tendonitis is bothering me less too. I have an appointment to get the orthotics made on Friday.