Fatty pad atrophy (ball of foot)

[Dorunrun61]

Hello,

I am hoping there might be someone here who has experience of coping with fatty pad atrophy. I have recently been told by a podiatrist that this is the cause of the pain in the balls of my feet. I feel like I'm walking on my bones and have nerve pain due to the reduction in the fatty pad.

It feels to me that it has come on quite suddenly and I'm struggling to understand why. I'm a healthy 61 year old who has always been active... no underlying health conditions to explain the onset of this. I started running, beginning the C25K in February last year and only run for 30 minutes or so 2/3 times a week.

Anyone else out there with this who'd be able to share their experience? I've been given some insoles at the podiatry clinic, but on mark 2 they aren't really alleviating the pain - which is constant when walking (haven't been running sadly) unless I take painkillers 4 times a day.

The insoles have been given an extra layer along the whole of the foot - but this means my running shoes are now too high at the heel - no longer hugging my foot - and the same is true of any other non boot shoes. I plan to ask if they can be modified again, so the extra layer is only around the ball of my foot.

I'd really appreciate hearing about anyone else's experience of this.

Thanks, Debbie

[MissUnderstanding Administrator]

I don’t have any experience of this at all but just wanted to send a whole bunch of sympathy your way. It sounds miserable. Hopefully someone will be able to share their experience with you. Really hope that things improve for you soon ❤️

[MrsLydiaWickham Graduate]

I'm so sorry you are suffering. It must be very painful. I wonder if it would be worth trying another podiatrist, with knowledge/interest in running? I know that's probably easier said than done. There is an American runner/podiatrist online called Dr Ray McClanahan. I have found information in his videos useful in the past. Really hope you can get it sorted.

[Dorunrun61 Graduate in reply to MrsLydiaWickham]

Thanks! I checked Ray out on youtube, very useful.

[Dexy5 Graduate]

that does sound painful Dorunrun. I know nothing about this subject that can help you, but I’d just like to check. Have you removed the manufacturer’s insole from the shoe? I know from other people that the podiatrist insole has to replace this, not be in addition to your own.

[Runnin-g Graduate]

Sorry, can’t help you with your question but I wish you a speedy recovery. Sounds so painful ☹️

[JeremiahObadiah Graduate]

I had metatarsalgia -pain in the ball of foot foot near but not in the toe joint . It would come on as I walked when I had been walking for about 30mins. It was debilitating and I would have to stop, ease the pain and then could resume walking. Once I sat down the pain would almost feel like it turned off.

I spoke to the Dr who said ideally have specialist foot physio, NHS would be a long long waiting time.

I also visited a specialist shop and bought Joya shoes for walking which are really padded., expensive and not necessarily stylish!

This is the odd bit-I kept on walking in the new shoes with enforced breaks and gradually I could go further and further without the pain. I now hardly get it-although I might regret actually admitting this.

It came on about 3 years after I had Plantar Fasciitis. I really do wonder about hormonal changes as one ages which lead to a catalogue of other weird issues. But I have no medical background or input on that-just my ponderings. Maybe it’s just normal ageing.

[Bbleiche in reply to JeremiahObadiah]

Hello JeremiahObadiah, I was very interested to read your reply. The symptoms you have described are exactly the same as the ones I have been experiencing for the last 18 months.

I waited a year for an NHS ultrasound as my doctor thought I had a Morten's Neuroma and needed a steroid injection. When I had the scan there was nothing there so I was referred back to GP who then referred me for physio. I was only offered a telephone appointment and after discussing symptoms the physio sent me a link for some exercises but still no clue as to what was causing the symptoms. I thought I must be going mad and the symptoms were in my head so I've tried like you to just push through the pain and carry on as normal. I walk for a while and when the pain becomes unbearable I stop, take off my shoe, rub my foot and toes and then I can walk for a while again. I used to be a keen walker and my partner and I are planning to walk the coast path next year. You've given me a glimmer of hope and convinced me I'm not imagining the symptoms because they are exactly as you describe so thank you 🙏

[JeremiahObadiah Graduate in reply to Bbleiche]

Sounds very familiar-I also felt it was madness!! It’s like walking on a pebble when it gets bad. One foot was more prone than the other but I have/had it in both. I can now walk for a couple of hours without feeling the pain set in-but still have slight echoes of it.

I do hope that whatever ‘settled down’ for my feet does so for yours and you can train pain free for your Coast Path walk.

[Hedgehogs123 Graduate]

Hi Debbie, I was intrigued by your post. I have severe pain in the balls of my feet. It doesn't happen all the time, but when it does, I can barely walk the pain is that back. I had an xray and they say I have arthritis in both big toes. So although its not the same condition as yours, I too struggle to get relief other than take painkillers when it strikes. I've just turned 62 and have always been fit and active, so its extremely frustrating to say the least!

The one thing that does help sometimes, is the way I lace up my running shoes. Someone on here put a brilliant post on about a year ago, which gave examples of different ways of lacing up depending on the different food conditions. If you haven't seen I will try and find and repost.

[Dorunrun61 Graduate in reply to Hedgehogs123]

No i haven't seen that. Happy to try anything! Thanks

[Hedgehogs123 Graduate]

worth a try.

Lacing patterns for running shoes