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I had a problem, needing arch supports and rarely finding them high enough. Another problem was sore heels and arches when I walked.
I self diagnosed and had Planters Fasciitis. This is helped by using arches in shoes and usually bending the foot back, trying to move the toes upwards towards the leg.
The idea is that there is a tendon that runs entirely down the sole of the foot and up the back of the leg. It tightens and consolidates and needs stretching to loosen up. This, and the added arches helped a lot.
I noticed that the skin on my foot was very thick and calloused. I bought several files 'till I found one that worked well, and gradually whittled these down. You can't do this too quickly because the skin can crack and be painful.
Once I got rid of this thick, insensitive and inflexible skin, I found that I could use a lower arch.
Now I walk fine without having to do stretching exercises and I can wear a lower arch, which makes a lot more shoe styles available to me.
I am only posting this because it has been a very long learning curve for me and maybe someone else can get helped more quickly.
Oh. I went to two different specialist doctors for this and all they did was fit me with very heavy and unwashable shoe inserts. They cost $300 each, were made in different labs and were definitely NOT worth it.
The calluses, I think were a combination of many summers spent walking on hot sandy beaches and my habit of walking about three miles every other day.
Hmm I have heel spurs and have those orthotics and they helped me tremendously and insurance covered them.
I don't think I said that what my experience was would be everyone's. I don't see your point. Please explain.
My thought is that my thick calloused feet were actually causing the skin not to stretch properly, causing strain on a segment of that tendon. The doctors were both clueless about that. The thick skin was also contributing to my inability to wear shoes with a normal but good arch. I constantly needed a higher arch. The doctors' orthotics were heavy and I was never told that I would not be able to wear a loafer type shoe again. The doctor's orthotics could not be submerged in water and they still did not totally solve for my painful feet as the impressions were made to suit my already low arches.
The best arch supports that I have ever had were made by the Good Feet Company, but you have to be personally fitted and they have very few stores. They have a set that are very thin, but very strong plastic: semi-opaque, about as thick as a few credit cards, light weight. They can be worn with sandals or women's dress heels if stuck to the shoe with double sided tape. They are completely submersible in water and are guaranteed for life.
That is what I mostly used until I realized, as I gradually whittled away at those callouses, that those were my problem. Now, if I buy a good shoe with built in arch supports, I don't need additional support.
My commentary is on the lack of observation of my two doctors, all the expense and bother that they put me through, and them supposedly professionals. I'm glad they are working out for you.
Can you get an operation to remove the spurs?
Last edited by goldengrain; 01-29-2012 at 03:08 PM..
I don't think I said that what my experience was would be everyone's. I don't see your point. Please explain.
My thought is that my thick calloused feet were actually causing the skin not to stretch properly, causing strain on a segment of that tendon. The doctors were both clueless about that. The thick skin was also contributing to my inability to wear shoes with a normal but good arch. I constantly needed a higher arch. The doctors' orthotics were heavy and I was never told that I would not be able to wear a loafer type shoe again. The doctor's orthotics could not be submerged in water and they still did not totally solve for my painful feet as the impressions were made to suit my already low arches.
The best arch supports that I have ever had were made by the Good Feet Company, but you have to be personally fitted and they have very few stores. They have a set that are very thin, but very strong plastic: semi-opaque, about as thick as a few credit cards, light weight. They can be worn with sandals or women's dress heels if stuck to the shoe with double sided tape. They are completely submersible in water and are guaranteed for life.
That is what I mostly used until I realized, as I gradually whittled away at those callouses, that those were my problem. Now, if I buy a good shoe with built in arch supports, I don't need additional support.
My commentary is on the lack of observation of my two doctors, all the expense and bother that they put me through, and them supposedly professionals. I'm glad they are working out for you.
Can you get an operation to remove the spurs?
if your heel spurs are very bad you can get Surgery. Luckily mine were not that bad,and with cortizones shots for 6 months, ultrasound on thr spurs and orthotics I have been pain free for 2 years. I still wear the orthotics in my sneakers though.
Keeping up with your callouses like, removing them with a callous remover, using a pumice stone in the shower, cream them everynight and wear socks to bed too.My husband has a thick callous on one heel and every week I soak his feet in warm soapy water, I use a foot file and cream them. It seems to help. do you walk barefoot alot outside? They also say callouses are a type of fungus. It does suck when you spend all your time and money at the doctors and they are of no help.
if your heel spurs are very bad you can get Surgery. Luckily mine were not that bad,and with cortizones shots for 6 months, ultrasound on thr spurs and orthotics I have been pain free for 2 years. I still wear the orthotics in my sneakers though.
Keeping up with your callouses like, removing them with a callous remover, using a pumice stone in the shower, cream them everynight and wear socks to bed too.My husband has a thick callous on one heel and every week I soak his feet in warm soapy water, I use a foot file and cream them. It seems to help. do you walk barefoot alot outside? They also say callouses are a type of fungus. It does suck when you spend all your time and money at the doctors and they are of no help.
I admit I know nothing about callouses other than my own, but the one's that seemed to be causing the most problems ran along the outer rim of the foot and, up from there along the outer heel in little ridges. I admit, I had never paid much attention to my feet during my lifetime, other than clipping the toenails. I never had any reason to.
Filing this tough material down should be done gently, as doing so in a more rough manner will tend to stretch the skin under it, make it sore, and encourage more callous growth.
So, here I am, to be found every other night, patiently whittling away on years of build up. The improvement I see in no longer having sore feet is worth it, though.
Glad you are having success with your heel spurs. I think I remember something about their being an additional bone growth on the heel though. Do you agree with that, because your treatment would not seem to mitigate bone growth?
Yeah. I wasted a lot of time and money on these doctors. My husband was prescribed those orthotics, too, and he likes the foam arch supports, the half foot deals, that you find in drug stores. He also prefers the things that they used to sell on tv to those the doctor made for him.
I admit I know nothing about callouses other than my own, but the one's that seemed to be causing the most problems ran along the outer rim of the foot and, up from there along the outer heel in little ridges. I admit, I had never paid much attention to my feet during my lifetime, other than clipping the toenails. I never had any reason to.
Filing this tough material down should be done gently, as doing so in a more rough manner will tend to stretch the skin under it, make it sore, and encourage more callous growth.
So, here I am, to be found every other night, patiently whittling away on years of build up. The improvement I see in no longer having sore feet is worth it, though.
Glad you are having success with your heel spurs. I think I remember something about their being an additional bone growth on the heel though. Do you agree with that, because your treatment would not seem to mitigate bone growth?
Yeah. I wasted a lot of time and money on these doctors. My husband was prescribed those orthotics, too, and he likes the foam arch supports, the half foot deals, that you find in drug stores. He also prefers the things that they used to sell on tv to those the doctor made for him.
what about going for a pedicure every 3 weeks and have them remove your callouses and dead skin? It's so relaxing and your feet feel buttery smooth. The spur is a piece of bone growing out and pressing on a tendon or nerve. Also being overweight does not help heel spurs. I have lost weight. Man those were painful. I would get up in the morning and limp and could not figure out why my heels hurt until I went to a podiatrist and had an X-ray.good luck with your feet as well.
what about going for a pedicure every 3 weeks and have them remove your callouses and dead skin? It's so relaxing and your feet feel buttery smooth. The spur is a piece of bone growing out and pressing on a tendon or nerve. Also being overweight does not help heel spurs. I have lost weight. Man those were painful. I would get up in the morning and limp and could not figure out why my heels hurt until I went to a podiatrist and had an X-ray.good luck with your feet as well.
You know, I get a lot of satisfaction in doing it myself. Thanks, anyway.
I know how far I can go because I'm the one feeling it. It's just my way. I'll probably start getting my hair done, but for years I frosted and cut my own.
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