2 years and still hurt

[sbhikes]

2 years ago I had only a few more miles to go to reach the Canadian border on my PCT hike. My feet still hurt every morning when I get out of bed. Also, down on the outside-back part of my heel it still hurts a lot. What should I do? Just suck it up and live with it?

[DapperD]

2 years ago I had only a few more miles to go to reach the Canadian border on my PCT hike. My feet still hurt every morning when I get out of bed. Also, down on the outside-back part of my heel it still hurts a lot. What should I do? Just suck it up and live with it?

I know for those who have suffered with plantar fasciitis, a lot of times it gets much better eventually, but never completely goes away. I don't know if this is what you have. Make sure you wear good quality shoes. Many of the choices for footwear today are rediculous. Some of the junk that is out there for sale is utterly horrible to put on ones feet. Also maybe foot massages or baths may help.

[DLANOIE]

I hate going to the doctors, but maybe thats what you should do? Two years is a long time to let something hurt like that. Sorry, just my .02 cents.

[Hoop]

Bite the bullet and go to the doctor.

[halftime]

Try this...worked for me.

[sbhikes]

Not plantar faciitis. My doctor is a dweeb. He just says take it easy you are getting old.

[ScottP]

Not plantar faciitis. My doctor is a dweeb. He just says take it easy you are getting old.

get a referral to a podiatrist. GP's really don't know much. They're pretty much just paper pushers and gateways to basic drugs or specialists.

[Doc Mike]

get a referral to a podiatrist. GP's really don't know much. They're pretty much just paper pushers and gateways to basic drugs or specialists.

Don't you think that is a very generic statement? Do you even know what a GP is, or the difference between them and family medicine or internal medicine?

I'm sure at 27 you are an expert on medicine and who is more qualified to treat certain disorders..

[Snowleopard]

sbhikes, I second the suggestion to get a referral to a podiatrist. Even better, find a podiatrist that sees lots of runners or a sports podiatrist; some of these are more focused on getting you back on the trail. I found someone here who does triathlons and has good recommendations from runners. I'm not sure how old you are, but you're surely younger than me. Having feet hurt everyday is not OK and shouldn't be accepted just on the basis of 'you're getting old'.

I have several great doctors, including my primary care; he generally diagnoses me but often sends me to a specialist. I've also had the occasional bad doctor. Finding a really good primary care doctor is the key to good medical care nowadays.

[ChinMusic]

sbhikes, I second the suggestion to get a referral to a podiatrist. Even better, find a podiatrist that sees lots of runners or a sports podiatrist; some of these are more focused on getting you back on the trail.

I agree with this a lot. Your foot issue might be just run-of-the-mill stuff or it might be something related to the extremes of long-distance hiking. I would seek council from someone who has more experience treating runners, etc.

[burger]

+1 on seeing a podiatrist. You might also consider a sports medicine doctor. A good doctor will NEVER tell you you're getting old--they will try to figure out what is wrong with you and how to fix it.

That said, I hope you have good insurance. If your diagnosis is difficult, you might need an MRI, which runs into 4-figure territory.

[BobTheBuilder]

-1 on the podiatrist. I don't like them, they are not real medical doctors, but they let people think they are. Sneaky sneaky.

Have you considered that it could be tendonitis? Whoops, I'm not a medical doctor, either.

[ChinMusic]

A good doctor will NEVER tell you you're getting old--they will try to figure out what is wrong with you and how to fix it.

Disagree. With aging comes dings and dents that do NOT always require treatment. My fastball does not scare a 10-yr-old anymore....
Been there, done that.......

[Saint Alfonzo]

Hello SBhikes, how are YOU???? I feel Your pain. It sounds like Osteoarthrits to me..The reason I say that is, I have the same problem in both feet. Both feet have been x-rayed and M.R.I.
Thats my 2 cents worth.. You take care....MIKE....

[sbhikes]

I know it's from the hike. It's not debilitating. I can still hike a 30 mile day. But it's annoying. I guess I'm the only one whose feet still hurt 2 years later. It's the only remaining pain, too. I came home hobbling all the time and all the little pains above the ankles are long gone and only the ones below remain.

[burger]

Disagree. With aging comes dings and dents that do NOT always require treatment. My fastball does not scare a 10-yr-old anymore....
Been there, done that.......

Humans lose muscle mass with age. So your fastball being slow is to be expected. But constant pain in your feet is not normal and should at least be investigated. Even if it's not treatable, a doctor can help with pain management.

[ChinMusic]

Humans lose muscle mass with age. So your fastball being slow is to be expected.

I am MUCH stronger than I was at age 25. That creeking, groaning, and poping ain't muscle. It's the accumulation of dings and dents collected through the years. Some of it may be "fixable" but most of it is not.

[Snowleopard]

Disagree. With aging comes dings and dents that do NOT always require treatment. My fastball does not scare a 10-yr-old anymore....
Been there, done that.......

I partly disagree with ChinMusic. You usually need to get those dings and dents diagnosed. Sometimes it should be treated and sometimes there's no cure. There's also a large gray area, there's no cure but there are treatments/exercises/changes that make it somewhat better. For me, there's a bunch of exercises and stretches that make my injuries 80 to 90% better. And my fastball was always slow anyway.

[Tilly]

Diane,

Think about perusing medical supply outlets online, you can get a small portable ultrasonic device that will cut down on inflammation. My SO had chronic inflammation in the arch of his foot for 1+ years and this worked, along with rest, and massage w/a tennis ball. Good luck.

[ChinMusic]

I partly disagree with ChinMusic. You usually need to get those dings and dents diagnosed. Sometimes it should be treated and sometimes there's no cure. There's also a large gray area, there's no cure but there are treatments/exercises/changes that make it somewhat better. For me, there's a bunch of exercises and stretches that make my injuries 80 to 90% better. And my fastball was always slow anyway.

If I were 25 again and made my living from that fastball, I would do everything I could to correct that shoulder. At age 53 I accept it. Not everything can (or should) be cured. There ARE certain aches and pains that one has to learn to accept as they age or life will be very frustrating. I am NOT saying that SB's situation is aging, far from it. I suggested her having it checked out. I AM countering the point of "A good doctor will NEVER tell you you're getting old--they will try to figure out what is wrong with you and how to fix it." The very definition of getting old is that things start to break down. There is no fountain of youth.