Question
I have been to the orthopedic surgeon and to no avail there is nothing noticably wrong with me.  Foot xrays, foot mri, nerve testing all negative results.  I have this severe pain in the tops of my feet that started a year ago.  First in my right foot then slowly my left foot started experiencing the same pain.  Now both feet are unbearable.  Circulatory problems won't be looked at because that would be ridicilous since I am not diabetic.  I am 33 have had 5 children and it just flat out hurts to walk, once I get my feet into the motion the pain will go away but starting walking is a killer.  My feet crimp up not all of the time,and are just flat out painful, only on the tops and sides.  Just sitting here in bed they are throbbing and lots of times I can't sleep from the pain.  I don't do pain killers and I refuse to go back to the doctor because I can't see being put on unnecessary meds for pain.  I do have Hypo thyroid, which is under control and also have sickle cell trait which isn't susposed to cause problems.  I can't stand to wear shoes it makes the pain worse, especially dress shoes even if it's only for a short period of time. I do way 200 and am only 5'5 but I have been this weight for 6 years since they zapped my thyroid with radio active iodine.  I don't know what to think about the doctor I say aside from the fact that he can't explain why my feet are in pain.  I wasn't going to even see the doctor but people started asking me why I walk funny when I first get up or get out of the car.  Now I'm at the point of freaking out over this pain.  Is there another type of specialist to see for this.

Answer
Hello Jennifer

Well, I have had more than my share of pain over the years, and I personally can say that foot pain is the worse! If your feet hurt, you cannot go anywhere!!

The problem is your muscles in your feet are tight, so blood will not flow thru properly. When you get walking, your feet muscles get more relaxed, so the pain goes away.

Let's work on making your feet relaxed all the time so you don't have to start each day in pain.

Stand in your kitchen. Hands on the edge of the counter top. Put one foot back, firmly on the floor. Bend the other knee.
Push forward with your body, stretching the calf muscle in the leg that is set back. Keep your foot firmly on the floor while doing this. Go back and forth 10 times. Then reverse feet and do the other foot. 10 times. Do this every day. Afternoons, evenings is good.

Step back a bit, put your hands on top of the counter top. Squat down slowly, go up slowly. Do 10 times. Also do this every day.

Buy The Step. They have them at Walmart and Target. Put it by your bed. Before you go to bed, step up and down 5-15 minutes. Then again when you wake up in the morning. Take it slow, this is not a race.

When you go to bed. Lie on your back. Legs stretched out. Move your feet forward and down, then back up. Go up and down as many times as you can. Again when you wake up, before you get out of bed. This stretches the feet muscles to get the blood flowing and the muscles relaxed also.

Now throw in time and patience. This will take a number of days but it will greatly improve the pain you are feeling.

I was in a 90 mph head-on car crash two years ago and I do these exercises every day to keep my feet and legs flexible and pain free.

Yes, it is tight and somewhat painful every time I do them. But afterwards, for the entire day, I feel great!! Without them, I am in constant pain all day.

Shoes I recommend; Redwing tennis shoes with Dr. Scholls heavy-duty foot inserts. Absolutely wonderful to walk on.

I got the foot inserts at Walmart.

PS when you walk awkward, due to the pain, eventually it messes up your symmetry so you develop all kinds of leg and hip problems. With these exercises, you will walk normal again.

Hope you feel a lot better soon!