Still having foot issues 4 years later - thoughts?

[Artemisofephesus]

Dear all,

Gosh, it's been a while since I've been on this forum!

I walked the Camino in winter 2009. I started developing pain in the soles of my feet (and everywhere else, while I was walking) about halfway into my pilgrimage, but because I was a driven seventeen-year-old, my headspace didn't really allow me to take a break. So I kept going, because everyone has aching feet, right?

Four years later and I am still having pain issues. My feet feel like they're walking on a sharp bitumen road in the peak of summer when I put pressure on them. I can walk for about ten minutes before the pain sets in, stand in one spot for five. Even resting my feet (soles down) on my bed with me knees pulled up sets them off.

I've seen various podiatrists and tried a bunch of orthotics. I don't think I have plantar fasciitis, as I really don't fit the symptoms and none of the orthotics have helped. The more my feet are boxed in, the more they hurt - sandals are the best, runners/joggers are the worst. A pain physician I'm seeing at the moment for other issues has said I might have stress fractures that have never healed and said that a weight-bearing CT or bone scan might help determine if this is the case.

Has anyone had similar issues, post-camino? Do you have any ideas for what else might be going on? I am pretty certain these issues started with the camino, as I never had problems before and well, it kind of makes sense, right?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Jo x

 

[pbucilla]

Hi Jo,

It sounds like you're on the right track continuing to follow up your problem with your physician. If your physician is suggesting a CT or an MRI, it would seem that that's the best advice to follow. Often times a diagnosis can only be obtained through a process of elimination, and the only way to rule out stress fractures is through one of these investigative methods.

Most of us here on the forum aren't going to know enough about your history or what possibilities have been considered by your providers, nor do most of us have the medical knowledge, to provide much useful advice. So with that in mind, hang in there, and keep pursuing an answer until you're satisfied. Good luck!

Pennie

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Artemis, I think your feet want to come back and walk the Camino again. Starting at Lourdes!