my feet hurt

“when i go backpacking the bottoms of my feet start hurting so bad. i don't think it's normal cause it's more than a soreness, it's a real pain. it goes front to back right down the middle of my foot. almost like my foot was stretched out too far.
any suggestions?
arch supports?
live with it?”

“hey i get that too!
i just figgured it was my flat feet tho”

“I sometimes get that and I have far from flat feet. On the trail, a little asprin and a shot of 151 does the trick.. :)

It might be something to do with your insoles of your boots. I have updated anything in my boots cuz it gives a good reason to carry booze on the trail :)”

“Try those squishy rubber sole inserts and/or thicker socks.”

“ya know what now that i think about it they hurt more when i wear thin socks.”

“Hey ya'll may have a slight case of Plantar fasciitis (pronounced PLAN-tar fashee-EYE-tiss). It’s more commonly known as heel spurs (Ca deposits) but usually not limited to the heel area. I suffered from it from my college cross-country days. My pain (spur) originated behind the ball of my foot and ran along my arch to my heel. It’s probably the worst nagging pain you can have. You can find a ton of info about it online. A lot of people unknowingly suffer from slight cases of it.”

“Just exercise and stretch those musckles. Wear more supportive(arch) footwear especially daily wear and better socks. Those comfy daily shoes may actually be your problem.

Rub your feet more often!!!”

“trailhound, i think you hit the nail on the head. thanks for the info, i'm gonna have to look it up.”

“JOSH, I had very achy feet after hiking all day with a 35 lb pack. Walkindude had talked about the Superfeet insoles, so I got a pair, wore them in my sneakers all winter, and tried them on the trail this weekend in my boots. After 17 miles in two days my feet didn't hurt much at all. So if the pain is in the arch, all under your feet and up through the ankle, try boot insoles with more support (break them in though). If the pain is more localized in the skin surface more, then the plantar idea may be the issue.”

“it runs right down the middle of the bottom of my foot from ball to hell. it's like it's localized right in the middle and just spreads out. it hurts the most when i push forward off the ball of my foot.”

“Excuse me, Splash....

You were on the trail this weekend? I don't recall being invited.......”

“Maybe it's the 75 pound pack???”

“Josh one pretty sure symptom of a good case of Plantar fasciitis is sore tight toes and arches right after you roll out of the bed in the morning. The soreness comes from the way most people relax their feet and toes while they sleep.”

“Fritz, dear, it was a last minute jaunt. I'm not winter geared so I'm really picky about the weather.”

“You may need an arch support to. I use them at work. Could also be the insoles. Are they worn flat? Super Feet or Sof Soles are very good.”

“While SuperFeet insoles gave me great support when I tried them for similar pain problems, there was little if any added cushioning for heel impact. I finally gave up on the SuperFeet and went to a gel heelpad. So far, both issues are at bay. Though I have noticed that some of the stress has been moved forward to the ball area and base of my toes at times. I may try a full gel insole, since my Asolo Fusions are not very cushioned in the sole.

From what I read about plantar fascitis, that tendon that crosses from heel to ball across your arch is the central issue -- so it can generate pain anywhere along that pathway, or all along it, in varying degrees. When I first noted my problem here last May or June, a couple TTers said give it 6 mos. to a year of dealing with stretching it out, changing insoles, etc., and there will usually be some improvement or rehabilitation. So far, they have been right.”

“Both of my feet went through the pain from hell over about a three year period.

First one, then the other.

Plantar Fasciitis!!!”