Arthritic Feet! Help Please!

This is the serious problem i think you can directly visit nearest knee pain treatment center.

I've got arthritis in my feet, all over. The worst was my left midfoot. My doctor gave me a cortisone injection there and it helped a lot.

I forgot to say - some manufacturers make shoes with removable insoles so you can take them out to make more room. Some Pavers, Loretta and DB Wider Fit shoes amongst others.

Jalima my nhs ones were rock hard like Luckygirls and thick so when you put them in your shoe they pushed your foot up making it push on the top and side of the shoe or boot
I've had to buy all new shoes Bluebelle, wider ones to accommodate the orthotics and either lace-up or Mary Janes to keep my feet in the shoes!

The orthotics did take a while to get used to (months rather than weeks) but now feel comfy.

I can never understand anyone who has pain but refuses to take painkillers - it's daft, not brave. Have you asked about steroid injections at the doctors? I suspect you'll say you don't want those either. If you've already contacted Arthritis Care (people who know about Arthritis, your only options would surely be painkillers/anti-inflammatory medication and/or seeing a podiatrist.

What about some foot spa for feet? I think it is a very nice and relaxing procedure which may help you. There are some nice recipes on tipnut.com/5-homemade-foot-soak-recipes/ which you can use for your feet. Also, if you are looking for a spa, I recommend you to take a look at those from homus.org/best-foot-spa/ They are really awesome! Feet massage is the best thing ever, I have to sa!

anno; is it definitely arthritis and not Ledderhose (which I have). Do you have Dupuytrans in your hands?

I think Naproxen can cause stomach bleeds too loopylou so I understand the reluctance to prescribe it.

I find Anadin Exttra better than ibuprofen, for low back pain, tho more costly. There’s obvs a large gap in the market for effective analgesia for arthritis.
Best wishes to everyone suffering from terrible pain in feet and hands. Life sounds impossible.

Unfortunately I believe a side effect of Naproxen is renal damage, hence I guess the reluctance. I find ibuprofen and paracetamol do nothing for me, Diclofenac was very effective but is no longer prescribed.
I've recently developed arthritis in my hands and feet and I struggle to find anything other than heat that has any effect.

I meant to say that no-one has suggested orthotics, but the most comfortable footwear (apart from my slippers!) is my Skechers slip-on trainers with memory foam insoles. Not glamorous - especially as they are purple!

I have a lump on top of my left instep. It's been there for ages and the rheumatologist said it was osteo-arthritis which was no surprise to me. Apparently it didn't show up on x-ray. Lace-up shoes are uncomfortable because they press on it. Added to dodgy knees, I'm finding walking painful. I can't use opiate painkillers or NSAIDs, so am left with Paracetamol. The consultant has prescribed a drug usually used for rheumatoid arthritis which isn't working, though I'm giving it a chance!

As I rely entirely on the orthotics to walk, I find it tedious to have to wear the same pair of shoes all the time, and never slippers. It is such a pain to get them in and out every time you wear a different shoe (and I think that manhandling them weakens them) - to the point where I basically do not bother and wear the same pair for every occasion!

My NHS orthotics are good. When my feet were particularly painful a couple of years ago, the bio mechanic added an extra layer of padding. This meant I had to wear trainers or good 'stout' shoes in order to accommodate the orthotics, or go up half a size.
Wearing orthotics does affect the type of footwear available. So many previously good shoe manufacturers now have such low supports at the back, the foot is raised and sliding out of the shoe. I often cut the shoes own inner to fit my orthotic, so support is given at the front of the shoe but I can still fit the orthotic in. Tedious isn't it.

So many people suffering severe pain from arthritis. So many people saying that Naproxen is the only pain killer that works. So many GPs reluctant to prescribe it. You’d think this painful and wasteful circle could be squared.

Jalima my nhs ones were rock hard like Luckygirls and thick so when you put them in your shoe they pushed your foot up making it push on the top and side of the shoe or boot

The orthotics I had from the hospital were too deep to fit into any shoes and were rock hard to walk on. I have no idea what they were supposed to achieve!
Mine from the NHS aren't rock hard, they are quite nice and spongey but they did take a bit of getting used to. The ones made by a private podiatrist were awful and really caused pain.

I've had to buy new shoes Tegan, to accommodate them, although one or two pairs had removable insoles and could just take the orthotics.
Loretta shoes have removable insoles as do some Fly Flot and Pavers, otherwise there are specialist firms online.

Skechers do a huge range of styles and are very cushioning.

I do exercises just for my feet. They may creak and click a bit while I’m doing them but they seem a bit better for it.

I find that not walking too much helps, though as a non car owner I do still walk a fair bit, just pace myself. You could try paracetamol which are not too strong. I find the correct shoes makes the most difference. Shoes need to have very thick soles. I find either Nike trainers or Ecco shoes or Clarks Trigenic are best, though only certain styles in each work. If I wear thinner soles, I can't walk or be on my feet for long.

Wow, that takes me back many years. Some times the older treatments are the best. They worked.

So glad it wasn’t me Luckygirl I gave them back but of course they are useless for anyone else such a waste of money

I agree about the NHS orthotics - they match them to your foot out of the shoe and as soon as you put them in a shoe and put your foot in they no longer fit - they move to a position where the shape does not fit your foot - and they are rock solid. And very painful indeed to walk on.

I finished up paying £200 for private orthotics - the measurements were done with a laser scan - in the NHS you stick your foot in a box of hard foam. The resulting inserts fit perfectly and are softer. I would not be without them - I cannot even wear my slippers round the house without being in pain. But with the orthotic it is entirely tolerable.

I just thought the NHS orthotics were a total waste of NHS time and money.

I have no cartlidge left in my right foot and like you Zuni I don’t take pain killers volteral was a waste of time and didn’t touch either the arthritis in my finger joints or my Gammy toe I was given NHS orthopaedic inner soles but they didn’t help as it just pushed my foot higher in my shoe making it more painful I could have the bone pinned but so far have preferred not to have the op
I find shoes like sketchers Ugg type boots anything fairly flat and soft although I have a pair of boots with a small heel that are ok
I think I ve got a bit used to the pain and sort of blank it out a good bit but can’t do long walks

One treatment that used to be available in hospitals was paraffin wax. You dip your feet repeatedly in hot paraffin wax , wrap a blanket or insulated boots around them and relax.
You can buy parawax heaters that are temperature controlled.