Yesterday was a rough day. I have had pretty bad foot pain for about the last year. I (and my doctor) assumed it was from the lupus. It wasn't until last month (when I gave more detail about what hurts and where and told him about all the stiffness and unrelenting fatigue) that he realized why my lupus meds were helping some things but not others... that's when I got the fibro diagnosis, something that I had never considered.
Anyway, yesterday I decided to go shopping for new sneakers because mine absolutely KILL my feet. 30 minutes of walking in them and it feels like someone has been beating my feet with a hammer. :/ I finally found a pair of Skechers, after trying on half the shoes in the store. But I ended up having to buy an entire size larger than I normally wear (and I buy gym shoes a half size larger than I need anyhow, as I like them roomy). So technically, I had to get a pair that's 1 1/2 sizes bigger than my actual shoe size, plus I had to get them in wide width, even though I have narrow feet. I wear a 6 regular and had to buy a 7 1/2 wide.
I can't tolerate the arch supports, and the leather pressing on the tops and sides of my feet are terribly painful. In Michigan, I can't wear the cheap canvas shoes in winter, which are the most comfortable for me (no arch supports, and the canvas "gives" and doesn't press on my feet). I wear sensible dress shoes for work - flats or low, chunky heels - and they don't hurt my feet like sneakers do.
So to wrap this up finally (haha), I guess I found what I was looking for but had to get very creative to do so. I wore them for a bit yesterday afternoon, and they were more comfortable on the tops and sides of my feet, but that darn arch support still bothered me. I am having a tough time with this... I have always been a shoe lover, with a pair to match each outfit, and now can't even buy a pair of sneakers without big problems.
Apparently, I'm having a pity party right now. I don't expect all of you to attend. ;) It helped just to complain about it.
I decided to join your pity party this morning because I didn't have anyone to attend mine. Misery loves company? I have recently experienced something somewhat like you have described only its with my hips. Anything pressing on them causes horrible pain. Now, I have to wear underwear and pants, so I have no idea what to do. I am in constant pain everywhere, but recently have had two evenings with worse pain than usual. I can't lie on my sides because of my hips. In all honesty, it's like my whole body is in a massive hellashious cramp. I didn't think my constant mind-numbing pain could any worse, but it did! Bad thing is I have nothing at all for pain because my doctor will not prescribe anything. He has put in some sort of "order" for a pain management doc, but it hasn't been approved yet, which I don't understand. So, here I am hobbling around and hurting terribly with no hope. I really don't know how much more of this I can take. I have searched the Internet for anything that could possibly help me to no avail. I don't know if a cane would help with my hips or not. That is the only thing I haven't bought yet. I just don't have a clue what to do next. I sympathize with your pain and difficulty finding relief, Red. Okay, my griping is complete for now. Any advice would be appreciated.
OMG! Shoesister! You don't know how many pairs of just black shoes alone I have! One for every reason right? LOL Just recently, I had to buy a new pair of dress shoes in black for you know, funerals and weddings. LOL I had to go up a half a size, my feet flattened out suddenly in the past year. So..new shoes! Tah-dah! :-)
I assume you've tried some type of OTC pain reliever (ibuprofen, Tylenol or something)? Have you tried a heating pad? Neither of those would be helpful for my feet, so maybe not for your hips either...
Honestly, I'd go back to your doc as soon as you can get in. I'd ask why you haven't been set up for the pain management doctor yet, seeing as how you're in so much pain. Then, I'd ask for something to get you through until you see the pain mgmt doctor. If he refuses, I would honestly find a new doctor. I don't believe that any of us should have to suffer. I don't know if a cane would help you or not. I can't think of how using a cane would relieve hip pain, but I understand your search for anything that may be useful.
I'm not on anything for pain, but my doc did start me on Wellbutrin and a small dose of Gabapentin to see what, if anything, they help. I see him again next month and we will re-evaluate our game plan. I have big problems with adverse reactions to medications, and I'm already on so many pills I should rattle when I walk, so we are taking a slow and easy approach to this. Which explains my foot and back pain. Lol. But at least I have hope that we will eventually get to where we need to be.
If you've lost hope, your doctor is the reason for it. My way of looking at it is he has a prescription pad and you have pain. What's the problem? Honestly, I have fired 2 Rheums and an internist in the last 4 years. I expect to be listened to, to be taken seriously, and to be helped. Don't settle for less than that. It's his job to help you.
Hope your Friday isn't too terrible. We are taking a mental health day - my 7 year old son has a sub today, so we're playing hooky and going to the movies this afternoon. :)
Lol Wendy. I have a pair of high heel black leather boots that I want to wear so bad. It's winter and they are my kick-a** boots. In them, I am unstoppable! But... I can't wear them. :(
Hi Red and Susan, Hope you don't mind me joining in on your pity party too. I have been pretty pityful these last few days. Nothing is going right, I'm not sleeping at all, it's taken me 10 minutes just to write this because I am not staying focused. I went Wednesday to my Rheumy because my back was killing me to where I couldn't stand. Got an injection that hasn't kicked in yet, while I'm there she said Robin do you always have this rash, huh lol I didn'tknow I had one, she said I want to test you for Lupus. Just what I need, I told her my sis has it, Than I tell her about my dry mouth and eyes so another test for that. Then I tell her about my sweats well well well its the Niacin I have to take, lucky me right, not... I asked if I could stop it which she said nope its for my high Cholesterol and I cant take regular cholesterol meds because of my hypothyroid...Oh one good thing she gave me Lunesta. Guess what Im affraid to take it. Okay I did my complaining booo. Red, sorry your feet are hurtng so bad, but good thinking on the bigger size. Hope you feel better soon... Susan, I feel your pain along with my back pain it runs right down to my hips and its a killer. I do use my heating blankets and throws and sometimes it helps. Ok girls I'm sending hugs your way, hope you feel better, Im getting off the pity bus now lol. Hugs Robin
I like the theory of shoes. Then I try them on. The ones I have quickly go off and I put on sandles or slippers or bare foot! I like my hiking boots. But even they go flying off!
Sorry about your back pain. I hope the injection kicks in soon. I'll cross my fingers that your tests come back ok. Another thing to worry about, huh? I have heard good things about Lunesta, and you're actually lucky if your insurance covered it (mine doesn't). Lack of sleep makes everything worse, including pain, plus it just makes us less tolerant of everything. Maybe you should try the Lunesta and see if you can get some solid sleep? New meds can be scary, I get that. I just know how ugly I am if I don't sleep. ;)
Same here. All of my favorite shoes are un-wearable now. I love my slippers and sandals too. Unfortuately, my days are pretty busy (work, a 7 year old, all the other "normal" things in life) and I have no choice but to wear shoes. Sandals would be pretty cold in the snow. Lol.
Thats the good thing about living in Florida, I wear sandals all year round. I cant wear heels. But I sure do have a big collection of really cute sandals.
Hi Redwing!
I am joining the party but I am going to sit in the corner and eat finger food and observe as my hands and wrists are too tired and achy to “talk” much. LOL
Hugs, MB
When I read your discussion, you were writing my story! My foot pain brought me to my lupus diagnosis by chance. I spent almost a year trying new shoes, and inserts and then finally going back to the doctor and he ordered an MRI, and also blood tests when I told him I was so tired, and my hands and feet hurt so bad....The results came back, and I got a referral to a Rheumatologist, and Orthopedic surgeon. We tried conventional methods to heal my foot and the tendonitis, and then came a diagnosis first of RA, and then a month later he changed it to Lupus. In November I reinjured my foot, and tried rest but it didn't help and we decided on surgery. A day before my surgery, my Rheumie diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia as well. I cleaned out all my old shoes, my favorite heels, and my boots - I love boots. I gave them all up, and decided on replacing them with 'sensible' shoes, whenever I am able to wear shoes again. My daughter got a pair of boot slippers after I got my cast off, a size XL - and we still had to cut the top of the slipper wider so it wasn't so tight across my foot.
I really thought my foot issues, and the swelling that I had was from the lupus - but I've had carpel tunnel on both hands and a tendon release on my right leg when I had my foot surgery - so was it lupus or fibro or both?? Trisha
I have had terrible foot pain for years…until…among all of my illnesses, the doc found I had a bad case of candida. I know it sounds too simplistic, but for me there is a direct correlation between the two.
In fact just this past week I can feel it comming back…and guess what…heel pain is coming back. Prior to knowing this, I spent a bundle on a Podiatrist and shoe inserts. When I have no candida problems, I can where whatever shoe I want and no pain! Just my two cents.
Trisha, mine has to be fibro. I'm on Methotrexate for the lupus, and it has done an amazing job on my lupus symptoms, especially the joint pain. Before the fibro diagnosis, my doc and I were scratching our heads, trying to figure out why the MTX helped everything except the foot pain. It looks like you had an issue with one foot? For me, this is both feet and they hurt exactly the same - same places, same amount of pain, both aggravated by the same things.
Can feel your pain over the black leather boots because I own a pair too. I wish so bad I could wear them, but right now I am stuck with one pair of comfy shoes. I think they make me kinda look like a hippy, but oh well. Robin ... glad you came to the party. Can so relate to the back pain running down to the hips and legs. And, you're right it IS a killer. I also have sleep deprivation. I take 100 mg of Trazodone before bed, and it helps. Sending prayers to Robin and Red!!! (hugs)
A Fellow Michigander! Yayy! I live in White Lake off of M59. My rheum is Dr Kozlowski in Milford. I do have fibro but I also have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome which causes a lot of joint pain. I have the HEDS type which means I am hypermobile akia double jointed. I have trouble with shoes too but I wear Nike N7's that are made for Native American feet. People who need extra room in the toe box and height in the front of the shoe but have narrower heels can wear them. If anyone wants the EDS links I can post them. Not a lot of people know about it, even many doctors don't know a lot about EDS, so it gets missed. It causes a lot of hip pain and foot pain for many people though. I have blue sclera (the whites of my eyes have a blue tint) a high palate and crowded teeth, joints that smap crackle and pop because they dislocate and sublux, GERD, early onset osteoarthritis, chronic pain, fatigue, soft smooth skin that makes me look a lot younger than I am (I know that doesn't sound like a bad thing but it's a symptom.) and more I'm not thinking of. Thank you for the pity party, I needed it too lol
I now find that I need to wear shoes one size larger and so does my sis. I believe that Chinese shoes are smaller than those that were made in the USA, so that might answer one part of your puzzle.
I don't know if this will help you but my feet hurt terribly for a long time. I finally went to a foot doc who had a foam type of insert specially made for my feet. My foot pain wasn't all fibro but the inserts helped anyway. Don't know if this would be right for you but you could ask your doc.
And finally, feel free to complain. Pain hurts. Ans we're always on our feet, so foot pain is even worse. The way that fibro hurts us, we've a right to complain about it, I figure.
Good luck. Hope you can get the foot pain resolved.
I wanted to add this one weird tip I heard for foot pain. My sister tried it and said it does help. You take a bar of soap and put it in the bed near your feet when you're sleeping. I know it sounds strange but I think maybe the magnesium in the soap is absorbed or something, not sure. Some people put it under the bottom sheet so it stays in place. Some put it in an old sock or pantyhose because they don't want to touch the bare soap. My sister works on her feet all day and she says it works. According to a forum I saw about it, the soap also helps with restless leg syndrome and leg cramps. My sister decided if it didn't work she'd just use the soap in the tub but it ended up working for her.
