Besides using Superfeet or equivalent, does anyone have a positive experience with any other preventative for metatarsal or ball of foot pain? Pads? Treatment?
Grant aka Fire Marshal
Metatarsal - ball of foot pain
system
#2
is what you have.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/metatarsalgia/DS00496
You probably have high arches like me. You need a “metatarsal lift”. This is a “bump” that you put in your shoe behind the point at which the end of your metatarsal bone comes in contact with your shoe. This takes the weight off the end of the bone and gives it some relief.
I use these for my street shoes that don’t have a lot of volume…
I can’t find a link right now but a company named “Spenco” makes an insole with a built-in bump that I use in my hiking shoes.
This has improved the situation for me considerably.
Locomotive Breath
system
#3
I just discovered Birkenstock shoes and insoles which support the metatarsal arch. good luck
margaret
system
#4
arnica.
a great homeopathic for all sports ailments!
however, be sure to follow exact protocols as written on the label or the effects are non-existent.
leslie
system
#5
Superfeet now has a new footbed with padding under the met heads. It’s the orange model and should provide some extra padding until the feet toughen up. Also, consider trying other brands of socks with extra padding (more dense) padding under the ball of the foot (Bridgedale makes some good styles). Good Luck, Tiki
Tiki
system
#6
Check at footsmart.com for a mortons neuroma insert - its a small little pad that saved my hubby while hiking.:girl
ro
system
#7
You poor sod. This can be a crippling condition. It has taken me 2 years to get over it. Still not “cured”; but now I can manage it.
Step one: Stop it hurting! It will never come right while you are continually injuring it. I made insoles using carpet underlay and cut holes in it where it hurt.
Step two: Give it time to come right. This stage may take a couple of months.
Step three: Select footwear and insole combination that causes no pain. For hiking, I use Salomon Adventure Trek 6 boots and “CushNStep” insoles. (I bought mine in Scotland - if you can’t get them in the States, you may have to do the same). Plus two pairs of socks. And I carry my carpet underlay insoles. This, so far, has given me emough to mix and match to avoid pain.
Now, the question is why are you getting the pain? Mine was largly caused by poor walking style. This was picked up by a podiatrist.
David
system
#8
Thank you all for your responses.
I have custom orthotics that I’m going to try in addition to Superfeet, which I highly recommend.
I will say that I have been overworking my feet lately with tennis and Salsa dancing lessons, but I also have a tendency to walk on the balls of my feet instead of more evenly over my entire foot. I walk lightly because I’ve lived in upper floor apartments for a while and I’m trying to be courteous to my downstairs neighbors.
Anyway, I am in the planning stages of trying to continue my 2004 thru-hike attempt, nobo from Duncannon, PA in June. I don’t know how far I’ll get, I’m just going to hike at a reasonable pace until I can’t stand it. (knock on wood) Until then, I’m going to rest my feet.
Grant = trailname Fire Marshal
Grant aka Fire Marshal