Please help I could use some advice and some hugs right now.

mummyb

Well folks got the results of xrays of my feet today, they confirmed that I have OA in both feet. Not sure what to think or feel right now. In lots of pain when I walk and when I rest, it keeps me awake at night. GP says that only thing we can do is look at suitable footwear and keep on with the painkillers, he's going to refer me to a podiatrist, not sure what'll happen there. Please does anyone have any experience of this, does this get worse? will it stop me from walking at some point? can anyone recommend any footwear that doesn't put pressure on the joint at the base of the big toe? What happens at a podiatrist appointment? Sorry, the questions jut keep on coming. I'm a bit scared at the mo and very fed up, can anyone PLEASE shed any light on any of this. Many thanks for listening, sorry for going on and on. Brenda :?

annie_mial

Lots of (((((((((())))))))) to you Brenda..........you do sound as if you need them.....

There are a number of comfort shoes and sandals available now, generally folks seem to find something that suits in the end, but it probably does mean finding a specialist shoe shop where you can try them on and where they have trained fitters.

I'v had foot problems all my life and I currently live and die in Fly Flots. Some peeps swear by MBT's and some love Ecco.........there is a choice out there. I would love to have a pair of trainers but I cannot wear shoes with backs........my heels are too painful.

I'd wait and see what the podiatrist says and then take it from there.

Annie

barbara12

Hi Brenda
I am sorry you have arthur in your feet, I have it in my left foot, I just want to say, that mine sought of comes and goes (think I might regret saying this) I did get infection in it a few months ago, but since then It has not been has painful.
Sorry I am not being much help am I, I do make sure that I exercise my feet has well has the rest of me, and I was told to keep changing footware Ie dont keep wearing flat shoes.
I do hope you get some more information, and try not to worry.
Lots of hugs ((((((()))))
love Barbara xx

elnafinn

Sending over gentle hugs to you, Brenda. There is nothing scary about a podiatrist appointment. They are there to help you and you may well have inner soles/wedges made especially for you to insert into shoes. If they go down this road, a plastercast will be made of your feet to get the exact sizing. Well that is how mine were done, years ago. They were of great help to me and I do not need them now but I have kept them, just in case. Write down all the questions you have and ask them at the appointment. Never even think that you are going on, when posting on this forum, because you are not.

Luv
Elna x

snowball

Oh Brenda I'm Sending ((((((hugs)))))) to you, sorry can't be much help as I have r/a. Write down your questions for when you see the foot docter because if you are like me I forget what I wanted to ask. Take care.

Julie xx

mummyb

Thanks girls for all your lovely words of comfort and hugs, they are very gratefully received right now. I'll start having a look at sites for shoes and will most definately write down my questions as they're coming thick and fast at the mo and I'm sure to forget them on the day. I'm so glad I found this forum, thanks again ladies, best wishes, Brenda xx

dippydoodah

hi brenda, im sorry to hear you have oa in your feet. i was diagnosed with oa in both feet earlier this year. like yourself, i found it extremely hard to walk and some mornings woke up in tears clutching at the walls wondering what was wrong with my feet.

since being diagnosed i was sent to a podiatrist who was wonderful. i had to take 2 pairs of shoes with me and she fitted a insole (which she made up there and then moulded around my feet) and i found them to be extremely comfortable. i would suggest if you do have to take any shoes with you that you make sure they are your loosest comfortable fitting shoes as one of the pairs i took wasn't and once the insoles were in, they were very tight on my toes. unfortunately i havent found the perfect pair of shoes yet but im thinking of trying simply be as they have bigger width sizes and im hoping to find a well fitted pair. im sure others will have plenty of ideas for you though.

i hope you find some relief after you have seen the podiatrist. as long as i keep up with my painkillers (naproxen) i find my feet more bearable and there are days when its much easier to walk.

im sorry i cant be much help. i know how fustrating and upsetting it can be and hope you feel better soon.

caroline x

speedalong

Hi Brenda – just lost my reply to you … so let me start again ….

I’m sorry you have OA in your feet. You must be devastated.

I have OA too – hips and knees.

If you are in pain when you are resting and you can’t sleep then your pain is not as well managed as it should be and you definitely need to get back to the GP asap until you find a combination of meds that work for you. Usually a combination of an anti inflammatory and pain killers. If you aren’t sleeping everything will seem even more of a struggle and even worse than it would if you were well rested. No sleep seriously affects your ability to cope and your tolerance levels. Stress and worry also make pain worse. Have you explored additional avenues to help with the pain - soaking feet, elevating feet, heat pads/ice packs etc Have you tried physio and hydro? Have you seen an OT?

When I had the trouble with my feet in my late teens it was the bone at the base of the big toes. In the summer I found strappy sandles were the best – softest leather I could find, with straps that let the bone stick out – ie straps went round it not over it. I also was comfy in canvas shoes. Make sure you buy them roomy so that when your feet swell, there is plenty of room. In the winter I went for soft leather and not to pointy shoes.

A podiatrist will analyse your gait and will work out the best way to support your feet when you are walking by using insoles – this should certainly help.

My OA did not stop me walking, but it did affect my ability to do sustained walking and walk distances. It gradually got worse. I adapted my life style as much as possible so that I did not walk when I did not need to and I used to conserve my energy where possible so I could do the things I wanted to do.

Eventually my OA in my left hip got worse and worse and I had a THR – no more pain, though not as good as a “real” hip. Then it got worse in my right and I have just had an op on that – early indications show it is going to be a success. The OA in my knee is currently manageable. Obviously surgery is a last resort – but it is an option when all else fails.

Keep us updated, and be kind to yourself.

Speedalong

hileena111

Hi Brenda...sendin g you ((((((()))))))))))
Sorry I cant be of much help ...I have OA in both hips {just had a THR in one} and my spine and left ankle.....but not my foot {not yet anyway}
All I can do is send (())) and hope that you get things sorted out soon

Love
Hileen a

mummyb

I'd like to say a big thank you to Annie, Barbara, Elna, Julie, Caroline, Speedalong, Hileena and Lynn for all your words of advice and encouragement. Thanks too for sharing your experiences with me, they have helped enormously and have given me hope. With the diagnosis of each new joint I tend to just feel really down and without hope, but reading your posts has helped to put things back in perspective for me. It looks like the appointment with the podiatrist is the way forward so I look forward to it now, I'm having so much trouble finding shoes anyway that I shall wait for the appointment before I waste any more money. I had a look at fly flots Annie, they seem to have lots of nice styles and sound very comfy, maybe I'll give them a go. I find it quite bemusing that my joints are being individually diagnosed, whenever one flares up I'll have the xrays then comes the diagnosis, would have thought there was a way of making a diagnosis of all the troublesome joints at once, or maybe I'm being a little naive. Oh dear, I've started rambling on a bit now, sorry!!!

Anyway girls, big thank yous from me and sending lots of hugs back to all of you , and thanks again for all of yours (((((xxx))))), love Brenda xxx

frogmorton

Oh Brenda

Have no experience to share yet - luckily for me.


BUT I do send you lots of hugs((((((((())))))))))

and think teh others have been totally reasurring - I think they will have helped you no endf. What agreat forum this is eh?

Take it steady girl

love

Toni xx

skezier

Hi Brenda,

Late again, sorry....

Not sure about a podiatrist appointment as I have never seen one but have had vast amounts of arthritis in both feet. Mine where lucky and have been rebuilt twice on one and 4x times on the other. I don't know where or what your problem is but.... for me I would ask the ortho's can they help as well I have been lucky and they always have been able to for me.

I did have a 'special' shoe made after the toe and joints were removed and that really helped but now back in ordinary shoes I find boot the most comfortable.... not very fetching but.....

If you use the search engine at the top and look for comfy shoes there have bee a few posts about them and that might help? I have never really been able to spend a fortune on shoes so don't know how good the designer ones are but can recommend Hunters

I hope it all goes well for you and leaving you a (((((((((( )))))))))) and a bucket full of hopes. Luv Cris xx

Wonkylegs

HI

I have nothing more constructive to add to all the superb replies above,but wanted to send you loads of wonky hugs (((((((((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))))))) and say that you are never alone if you come on here ... there is always someone who has been there and got some good tips.

hugs (((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))

wonky xxx

ironic

Hi Brenda,

I also have had insoles fitted and I can tell you they have really helped. They have eased the pain of walking. I was offered injections but at the moment I'm doing ok with the insoles.

Hope your appt comes through quick.

Lv, Ix

tillytop

Hi, I have RA in both feet - and very painful base of big toe joint on one foot which I think is probably OA. I live in "Merrell Jungle Moc" shoes. Not at all glamorous but lots of depth to the sole, so cushions my feet well. They don't seem to be widely available on the high street but can be easily found on the web (although it's obviously better if you can try some on). Good luck with the podiatrist. Hopefully they will be able to help you find some relief and make walking easier for you.
Love Tilly x

mummyb

Thank you soooooooo much guys, I find it so humbling that so many of you are there to support me. I'm overwhemed by all your good advice and all your hugs and best wishes. Thanks as well for all the suggestions for types of shoes to try, I'll get stuck into looking right away. I don't know what I would have done without all your support, thanks again and sending hugs back to you all (((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))) xxxxx Brenda xxxxx

mummyb

annie_mial wrote:

Lots of (((((((((())))))))) to you Brenda..........you do sound as if you need them.....

There are a number of comfort shoes and sandals available now, generally folks seem to find something that suits in the end, but it probably does mean finding a specialist shoe shop where you can try them on and where they have trained fitters.

I'v had foot problems all my life and I currently live and die in Fly Flots. Some peeps swear by MBT's and some love Ecco.........there is a choice out there. I would love to have a pair of trainers but I cannot wear shoes with backs........my heels are too painful.

I'd wait and see what the podiatrist says and then take it from there.

Annie

Hi Annie, bought my first pair of fly flots today, my what comfort, they are fab. I'm so looking forward to wearing them. Thank you so much for the tip, I can't imagine wearing anything else now. Thanks again, Brenda xxx