Hello all, I'm not usually one to share my aches and pains with the world but some readers may find this useful.
Last year I walked the Camino Frances in a pair of well worn in boots and compared to many had very few problems with my feet. Well after the days walk the balls of my feet were pretty painful but I just put this down to the long distances plus pack etc. I mean I really dint have anything to compare it to. I was walking just as fast or as slow as many people half my age so I thought nothing of it.
Earlier this year I bought a new pair of boots again heavy leather and I just could not break them in. I would get a pain in my right foot after a very short distance. So I would tighten the laces the loosen the laces then investigate different ways of lacing boots till I was almost mad. So I went out an bought another pair of boots, this time softer gore-tex type. They felt great in the store and at home but as soon as I started to walk I was having the same problem. Not all the time and not to the same degree every time.
Eventually after a threat of divorce from my wife who had been watching me changing boots for a month I went to a podiatrist. I won't go into all the details but part from a slight pronation and very tight calve muscles which increase the load on the ball of the foot he said one of your legs is longer than the other. Sure I said every one has one leg longer. No No its a lot longer. So he sent me off for a scan to be completely sure as to how much longer. Guess what? One leg is 18mm longer than the other, yes that's right 18mm. I'm 49 years old and have never noticed. This would explain my low back pain etc. Anyway I picked up the orthotics for my shoes today and although they cannot compensate for the full difference my feet felt immediately better. Both in trainers and both sets of boots. They will take some getting used to because I will be using muscles and tendons at different angle but as I said the positive effect was immediate.
Sorry about the long post but if your reading this and are having foot problems that don't seem to make sence go and see a podiatrist or even 2 or 3.
Sorry about the long post but as I said it may be useful information for someone out there. I was starting to think I may have to put my future Camino plans on hold but now "Have orthotics, will walk"
Pablo
Last year I walked the Camino Frances in a pair of well worn in boots and compared to many had very few problems with my feet. Well after the days walk the balls of my feet were pretty painful but I just put this down to the long distances plus pack etc. I mean I really dint have anything to compare it to. I was walking just as fast or as slow as many people half my age so I thought nothing of it.
Earlier this year I bought a new pair of boots again heavy leather and I just could not break them in. I would get a pain in my right foot after a very short distance. So I would tighten the laces the loosen the laces then investigate different ways of lacing boots till I was almost mad. So I went out an bought another pair of boots, this time softer gore-tex type. They felt great in the store and at home but as soon as I started to walk I was having the same problem. Not all the time and not to the same degree every time.
Eventually after a threat of divorce from my wife who had been watching me changing boots for a month I went to a podiatrist. I won't go into all the details but part from a slight pronation and very tight calve muscles which increase the load on the ball of the foot he said one of your legs is longer than the other. Sure I said every one has one leg longer. No No its a lot longer. So he sent me off for a scan to be completely sure as to how much longer. Guess what? One leg is 18mm longer than the other, yes that's right 18mm. I'm 49 years old and have never noticed. This would explain my low back pain etc. Anyway I picked up the orthotics for my shoes today and although they cannot compensate for the full difference my feet felt immediately better. Both in trainers and both sets of boots. They will take some getting used to because I will be using muscles and tendons at different angle but as I said the positive effect was immediate.
Sorry about the long post but if your reading this and are having foot problems that don't seem to make sence go and see a podiatrist or even 2 or 3.
Sorry about the long post but as I said it may be useful information for someone out there. I was starting to think I may have to put my future Camino plans on hold but now "Have orthotics, will walk"
Pablo