I don't know anything about the OP's condition hallux rigidus, but I wanted to share a revelation I am having on the pain at the base of the big toe (and inner ball of foot). In 2004 I did an 1100 mile hike (with backpack) and had fairly constant foot pain starting on the second or third day. I thought it was to be expected for walking that much. At around 500 miles I knew something had to change and got "custom" molded Superfeet and different boots, which didn't improve anything. A couple years later I was on vacation in Colorado with blistered heels from hiking, and my boyfriend recommended I go see one of his college buddies. He is a downhill ski boot guru at Vail, and made me some custom Surefoot insoles for my hiking boots. I've always thought I liked them, but never had a long walk to really compare them until now. I am currently on Camino (Frances) and around 300 miles in, and I really think these are making a huge difference. I'm 11 years older and 30 lb heavier and my feet feel so much better than they did back in 2004 only a couple of days into hiking. I had a few blister problems here on Camino that caused me to buy and use gel insoles for two days twice - and that familiar ache/pain in the joint and ball of my foot was noticeable with 15km or so.
I don't work for Surefoot, and there may be other similar methods of getting inserts like this, but here is what I think are the main reasons these work well for me:
- I have high arches, which after long mileages I think the muscles/tendons get tired and allow my foot to flex too much, makking it flatteramd forcing extra motion or loading forwards at the ball of my foot unless properly supported.
- I also am a natural pronator
- These insoles are made my standing on a machine, the guru gets your joints lined up ankle-knee-hip and then it measures the profile of your loaded foot (which includes some natural foot flexion but not the over-flexed tired flex you'd possibly have after miles and miles of walking). A machine takes that measured foot profile and 3-d carves a footbed out of some material (not sure what it is: softer than rigid, firmer than gel insoles). The footbed is a Loaded profile- so it isn't rigidly holding that high arch up too high: it still allows some natural foot flexing which is important.
- I have had "custom" molded-to-me Superfeet in the past, but they molded my foot while I sat in a chair. I also had a podiatrist make expensive orthotics: Hard plastic formed to a mold made while I laid on my stomach. Neither of these helped in distance hiking, and the plastic orthotics were uncomfortable.
With any change to your foot support, you need to gradually work in to wearing it. I feel like I tried a lot of things and had started to think I should just expect foot pain. Now I have sore feet after a big day of walking, but it is soooo much better. I'm so happy to have found something that works for me. I wish I could rewind the clock and have learned this years ago.
I don't know if this necessarily helps the OP or people with other things going on in their feet, but hopefully it can help someone. Nothing else- don't be afraid to keep asking questions and trying things until you find something that works for you. I got some bad advice from "experts" years ago, but luckily I didn't stop there and accept it - because eventually I found what works for me.
