Feet hurting

So a few days ago I was in New Orleans, where you walk everywhere. Not a big deal, I've been walking the same amount, more or less, at home. On the 4th day, out of the blue, the bottoms of both feet started killing me.

Pain was evenly distributed across the bottoms of both feet. Slightly swollen, red on the bottom and a little ways up the sides, hot to the touch. Ended up taking a cab back to the hotel and sleeping about 4 hours. (In the middle of the day.) Pain meds didn't seem to help, but soaking them in the somewhat chilly pool felt pretty good. I'm talking a good 7 or 8 level pain.

After the sleep, was okay walking out for dinner and around a bit more. Next day, felt fine, then started hurting again. Not quite as bad as the first day -- and I took a pain med earlier as well as lots of ibuprofen for inflammation.

Made it home, but ankles and feet are swelling -- not a lot, but enough so I notice. And at the end of a very lazy day today the bottoms are hurting again. Part is probably a lot of salty food on the trip, and maybe not as much water as I usually drink.

I know we get random areas of inflammation, but honestly I haven't had any inflammation for a while and was caught a little off-guard by this. Has anyone else had the bottoms of the feet revolt like this?

Thanks.

This is much different than that kind of swelling, Joy. I've had that before and this is much more just the bottoms of the feet. Like someone has been beating them. Pain I've had from standing all day is nothing like this was/is.

Woke up with bottoms hot & painful this AM. Good thing I see rheumy Wed.

I'm wondering if it was hot concrete and maybe that is what has made it become more inflamed rather than say, your floors at home. I find heat really exacerbates things for me.

Have you tried some ice packs or maybe even a cool foot bath? If the somewhat chilly pool helped it wouldn't hurt to try. They almost sound as though they are burnt. Do they feel like a bad sunburn on the bottom? Wouldn't that be odd. But that's lupus for ya! ;)

I have a lot of issues with my feet. I can walk through a grocery store with no problem but after standing in line for a few minutes, the walk from the grocery store out to my car is extremely painful. The bottom of my feet will become tender and I can't put any pressure on them.

I was really glad I didn't have a flu shot -- they wanted to give it the same day as the tetanus/whooping cough. I think I would have not been happy!

I have actually never had a flu shot, but don't have any of the normal risks associated with getting the flu (not out around people, no small children, that sort of thing), so haven't worried about it. And haven't had the flu in a very long time.

Feet getting better with a short course of prednisone -- too bad this was the one time I was traveling without it!

Hey Lynnwood, any news on the feet with the rheumy today? Oh and I meant to ask about the cholesterol too. How are you doing?

Chartreux that sounds very painful :(

Thinking of you both and hoping you get some relief.

Lynn:

So glad to hear that your feet are feeling better. It's amazing what prednisone works for us doesn't it? Glad to hear that overall health is improving and you are feeling more like yourself. These are all good things to hear. I just wanted to let you know I've been following the thread and wanted you to know I was keeping up on how you're .

Chart wrapping your feet with cold tape sounds not very pleasant, I'm sorry to say. I know my feet are also cold 24/7 and I just hate that. I need my feet warm, however, while doing PT they ice my foot. I'm now working on trying to take the therapist into putt heat on my foot. LOL

I just wanted to wish you both a good night and I hope that you both will continue to feel better. Please take care and I'll be around to check on your threads.

Love,
Barbara

Thanks Lynnwood, my RA doc said I have RA ulcers on my feet...they do throb and hurt...I do hate using ice because of raynauds, but it's what a doctor would say to try... I have seen foot doctors in the past, but I'm leary of them as they were both bad doctor's...Plus if it's RA, then what good is a foot doc?

Lynnwood so glad your getting better...Hope you continue to do better.

Going to try taking a cat nap...hope your feeling better.

Barbara, still keeping you and David in my prayers, it's your turn to get to feeling some what better...or at least to start having some good days...

That stinks. I agree, time to drag yourself to the doctor :(

Let me know how it goes, maybe your t-bird can be replaced with a ferrari!!

PCP thinks it's the most extreme case of Plantar Fasciitis she's ever seen. Apparently it usually only hurts in the heal, it's very unusual to damage the whole thing along the entire bottom of the foot. But of course that is what I did.

It seems what *might* have happened is that the tight Achilles Tendons that have bothered on/off me for years decided to pass the buck along to the tendon along the bottom of me feet.

Treatment -- rest, ice, repeat. Longer term treatment, same as for Achilles - stretch & strengthen calfs, achilles, feets, etc.

Slowly feeling better, thank goodness. Particularly good they are improving since I ran out of pain meds before Christmas and am having quite a time getting them renewed.

Thanks for everyone's concerns & comments.

Well, darn!

I can't believe feet are still such an issue here. PCP was convinced of severe Plantar Fasciitis, so I treated with rest, ice, stretching, all the recommended things. It seemed to be getting better, but I still wasn't doing much walking after a month. (Which takes me to the end of January.)

Now in the last week it seems to be worse again. Less actual pain and more tingling...but enough tingling to make my days uncomfortable and hard to fall asleep at night, even with my horse tranquilizers. (lol 300 mg trazodone!)

I started on a Pred dose pack on Monday - 5 days @ 15mg, 3 @ 10 mg, 1 @ 5 mg... I don't know where to turn if this doesn't help.

Neurology or podiatrist? I have new running shoes which hasn't helped... lots of water & keeping feet up...

Sigh. Thanks for listening.

I dunno, some of your symptoms sound similar to around the time my arches fell. My feet were swollen and hurting all the way to the back of my heels. I ignored it and stayed on my feet just wanting to get through the workday. Then I had searing pain, felt like someone cut the bottom of my feet with a knife. When I got home, I realized both my arches had fallen. I think it was caused by inflammation of the posterior tibial tendon. Was 19 at the time and 130lbs. It's the odd things like this that have happened to me since childhood, like my arms and elbows falling out of socket just from a slight pull that make me wonder if I haven't had lupus or related issue my entire life.

Nowadays my feet can hurt all over. Rest, elevating my feet, shoe inserts, arch support, pain meds, and taping my feet to help me get through the day (if I'm all day on my feet) are how I cope. There are several different foot taping techniques and many how-to YouTube videos.

It may not be your issue at all but I hope you find answers and relief soon. My local Walmart has one of those dr Scholl's foot assessment machines that measures the distribution of pressure through your foot. It will then tell you to pay $50-60 for a shoe insert but it might give you more insight to where and what the problem may be.

Glad to hear it's better.

I found out my foot pain was a rheumatoid node on my heel. Ugh.