Seeking relief for the balls of my feet - YouLookFab Forum

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Seeking relief for the balls of my feet

Antje

Veteran

My booties are really hard on the balls of my feet. I've never had this problem before and wanted to see if anyone has suggestions. I tried the Foot Petals (http://www.footpetals.com/cgi-.....index.html) but don't find them to make a big difference. Are there other remedies?

General

18 replies

Latest reply was from Eva

Ana

(website)

Veteran

The footpetals do nothing for my feet, either. I've mostly stayed away from heeled shoes because my main issue is that the balls of my feet get really sore and tired, too.

I've tried these in the few pairs of heels I have:

http://www.drscholls.com/drsch.....archArg=50

They are pretty good for general light cushioning.

These gel ones are the best, but they make your shoes a bit more tight:

http://www.drscholls.com/drsch.....archArg=51

http://www.drscholls.com/drsch.....archArg=60

Here are some for just the balls of your feet:

http://www.drscholls.com/drsch.....earchArg=5

shana

Veteran

I have that last pair of Dr.Sholls gel pads that Ana has linked in my high-heeled booties. They work really well for me!

Antje

Veteran

Those Dr. Sholl gel things sound great, thanks Ana and Shana. Do I get these at any old drugstore (Riteaid, Bartells, Walgreens)? Tnx.

Dani

Veteran

Antje, I think it all depends on your feet because I have those last gel thingies and they don't work for me at all, in fact they were downright painful for me. By all means, give them a bash but I've just done as Ana has and avoid these styles altogether (which has been very hard for the past few seasons as everything seems to be at least 2 inches high!).

As a side note, I have better luck with shoes like Born and some Clarks (and Dansko and Merrell...but these have very low AAR) with higher heel heights. Let us know how they work.

Oh yeah, I found mine at Wal-Mart so I'm sure Walgreens would probably have them as well.

BLB

(website)

I have the same problem with my black pumps. I tried the Dr. Scholl's gel inserts, and they do next to nothing for me. I'm probably going to end up consigning the pumps. Triple sad face. Sorry I don't have any help to offer!

Dani, what is AAR?

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Yes. I should add that if you are doing major walking all day, the gel inserts only go so far. If you have enough room in your boots, you could try putting in a thin general cushioning insert (the kind you have to cut out of foam), and then put the gel cushion in. I think that would help. Why don't they just make shoes more cushioned?! You would think it wouldn't be that hard, really. Sigh....yes, I'm sad that I can't wear heels to school. (lol).

BLB, AAR is "Angie Approval Rating."

Maya

Veteran

I'm with Dani. I tried gel inserts in the back of my shoe. Not only did they not stay stuck, they rubbed badly and gave me blisters.

Dr Scholls makes a double weight insole (like a regular insole but twice the thickness). It makes shoes a little more snug, but it adjusts to your foot. I don't know how much it will help with the ball of your foot in general, but it might get at least a couple more hours out of your shoes.

shiny

Veteran

I'm sorry to say this, but I have personally concluded that if you have pain like this on the ball of your foot, no insert can solve it. It's an issue of the shoe last, plain and simple.

I do think that if the last is "right" for your foot, you can wear higher heels. It depends on the brand. Each brand uses a different last. Once you find your brand, theoretically, you should be all set. For example, I can go up as high as 3 inch heels with Nine West pumps and have no prob - but in other brands (like the Aerosole spectators) - the last is wrong. I can go only so high before the ball of my foot is writhing in pain.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Great. How much you want to bet "my last" is something like Jimmy Choo or Christian Laboutin? I'll never get to wear heels. Just kidding. But, you don't think it's the force of your weight being pressed on the ball of your foot when you walk on hard ground in heels that have little to no padding? That's what I always thought it was (since on carpeting I can last a little longer than sidewalk).

Dawn

(website)

I used the Dr. Scholl inserts in my workshoes over the summer but they were flat Converse- they worked to the effect of my feet not throbbing for hours after a 9 hour shift. I've never used them to any great success in any shoes with heels though.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I have to agree with Shiny; it's the build of the shoe that makes it tolerable. I can now wear high heels more comfortably than I can flats because I've found the right shoe maker for my feet. (Oh, Franco Sarto, how I love you!)

That said, if my feet are tired or feeling pinched at the end of the day, I use Yoga Toes. They're really dorky-looking, but they do spread my toes out and help my feet relax.

http://www.yogapro.com/ts/toes.....xwodV3C5UA

Antje

Veteran

Thanks ladies for all the input. I bought the Dr. Sholl gel pads today (the ones just for the balls of the feet, since the shoes are pretty snug and I doubt a full insert would fit well) and will give them a try.

I do think it's not the heel itself (it's 2 inches, which is my maximum but I wear that heel height quite often) but this specific shoe. It's just not cushioned at all and it gets quite uncomfortable after a while. While I don't plan to wear these booties for extended walking, I would like to continue wearing them for work, and I've noticed that the balls of my feet start aching in the afternoon. Not good. I've never experienced this, my feet are generally pretty mellow. And of course these are my cute booties that I bought in Germany, so I'll neither return them nor will I swear off wearing them altogether. (I will, however, be even more picky in the future when buying shoes! I certainly hate the notion of suffering for beauty's sake.) I'll try the gel pads and hope they can turn them into 8 hour work day shoes; otherwise I'll have to wear them for evening occasions where I'll be sitting more than moving around and/or just only wear them for a few hours at a time.

Anonymous

Please explain what you mean by shoe last. I've never heard that term.
Thanks

Dani

Veteran

San - it's a new term to me as well, but here is a definition...
http://www.shoeschool.com/shoe....._what.html

Maybe someone else will chime in with how to determine which manufacturer has a last that works best...I'm assuming it's just trying on a bunch of different brands until you find a fit you like?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sorry to hear that, Antje. People's feet react to different things. I do best with the cheapest foam insert for $2. I don't do well with gel inserts. Also, you might have to demote these shoes to 2-3 hours (sad face). Shiny has a point.

Anonymous

Thanks Dani. Great imformation.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Kristen, my yoga teacher just mentioned Yoga Toes on Monday. She said they look goofy but work wonders. Thanks for the link!

Eva

Thanks for the definition of shoe last, Dani. Does it make a difference if you put in a good shoe insert eg. Superfeet? I use them in my exercise shoes.

Angje, how did the gel work? I found that when I used the gels, the top of my foot pressed up on the top of the shoe, making it uncomfortable. I think I would have needed a larger shoe size or something. But the bottom was cushier.