Feet problems

[Panache]

Oh, and I got really picky about shoes.

Whether or not you like "painkillers", one of the most important things that you can do is try to control inflammation. Once something gets aggravated, a cycle of inflammation starts and should be brought under control... start taking ibuprofens until I know that it's subdued.

I had was experiencing a lot of pain with what semed to be heel spurs and using cushioned insoles for my shoe, being picky about finding comfortaable shoes, and using ibuprofen to control inflamation (including taking a dose before SCD class) has made a huge difference.

It sounds like you don't like take medications but maybe this is an option you should rethink. Everything has pluses and minuses, you have to weigh them for each situation.

Hope you feel better soon.

Cheers


Jamie

[MartinGrenoble]

Some ten years ago, I got so much pain in my feet that I could hardly walk (luckily I had no trouble cycling). In spite of consulting various doctors and specialists, using special soles, creams and pills, there was no improvement until I gave up wearing any footwear except the lightest of sandals that did not touch any of the tender points -- not easy to find!

The pain finally eased, and I started wearing ghillies again for dancing. Big mistake! Agony!

As with so many shoes, the tight lacing of ghillies means that there is no elasticity and they press hard on your feet -- especially when you start getting hot and tired.

I have then been dancing barefoot for nearly ten years, with no regrets. Feet were not designed to be enclosed in unforgiving leather, cloth or anything else. The enlarged toe joints that I had assumed were normal have now disappeared, my toes are all parallel to each other, and I quite convinced that I am far more comfortable using my feet as nature intended than I ever was before.

Yes, I usually stretch my muscles a little before dancing, and have sometimes taken an aspirin or two when I feel a twinge (after Irish dancing for example, which is a bit more punishing), but otherwise have no intention of returning to ghillies or ibuprofen!

It is never too late to undo past mistakes. I am 66.

Martin

[Tetley]

I have then been dancing barefoot for nearly ten years, with no regrets. Feet were not designed to be enclosed in unforgiving leather, cloth or anything else.

Martin

I dance in very loosely tied shoes and that seems to do the trick for me. My painful feet comes from various sprains and trauma such as having a horse fall on my foot (no joke) and if I'm not careful, trying to walk when I get up the next morning after a dance can be excruciating.

So, I do the foot & ankle stretching after my morning shower and make sure that I walk to work and back (4 miles each way) on the days I don't dance. Only when I forget these do I get the problem back.

[Graham]

Thanks for all the advice, great stuff.
Briefly, in response:
Tried physio's, podiatrists etc, little help there they just tell me dancing is the problem - I know that!!!!!
I have good insoles designed for dancers, I did find some relief a while back after reading about the Gospel of Barefeet Summer time I go barefoot most of the time, wintertime my feet get soft and I have to toughen them up again.

Fish oil could work, I won't take drugs of any kind, I'm a real health nut, I could loose a few pounds, that will help.

The pain doesn't dampen the dancing too much - I'm addicted to SCD, I dance three nights a week and just recently attended my first Winter School.

We press on!!

[Arlen]

I don't know that it's the same issue you are having, but my wife and a few other friends in our dance class suffer from Plantar fasciitis. It caused them a lot of problems until they got arch supporting insoles.
There's a lot of info to be found online to help with it.
I'd also second the advice about stretching your feet and ankles before dancing.


GOOD LUCK!