Foot pain and foot problems are common in RA impactin... - NRAS
Foot pain and foot problems are common in RA impacting on quality of life. Tick all the statements which are relevant to you.
408 Voters
Morton neuroma is common on one foot it build up of calcium between the 3/4 toe very painfull and keeps growing till removed ,some grow back ,and some loose feeling underfoot where the nerve was taken out as the Morton Neuroma attaches itself to the nerve. I'm in the 4th week of recovery of having this op all going well .
Have custom insoles that do help me. Balls of my feet hurt nearly every day. I only buy Hotter shoes in extra wide to accommodate the insoles - they are expensive but well worth the money, soooo comfortable. Their styles are quite nice as well. Never was one for high heels so don't miss wearing them!
broke my foot early June, now healed but of course that area is now vulnerable to the damp weather more and it aches a lot - I use Voltarol to rub on sometimes.
I have Psoriatic arthritis I have. pain in the ball of foot,under the foot where the toes join the foot and in the toes (I also have bunions on both big toes.)themselves.I saw Rheumy and a podiatrist a few years ago. Neither were helpful. It is up to me to sort my problems out. I buy Hotter shoes and add insoles.I can only wear the Mary Jane type but having worked on my feet all my life,I never did wear heels.At my daughter's wedding last month I did feel "grannified" but smiled through it,as always.
I also have Pasoriatic Arthritis, and you have described the ball of my right foot perfectly. Also have bunions of both big toes. I do see a Podiatrist, and he has been very helpful, as he says I have no padding over that bone, it's just skin with a callous over it. He trims the callous when it hurts too much to stand on it, and discovered a re-occuring "blister" of fluid under the callous that the body has manufactured apparantly to create a cushion there. He drained it, put triple antibiotic ointment on it and a heavy bandage. I clean it daily with Hydrogen Peroxide and replace the antibiotic ointment. Also, put moleskin adhesive padding pieces on either side of the sore area to take the weight off when stepping down. That really helps make it bearable to walk.
Have just ordered a cut pair of orthotic Mary Jane shoes from his catalog, look a heck of alot better than sneakers for everyday wear this winter.
My Rheumy recommended the Podiatrist, and I am happy to say, he's very helpful. He has also been injecting a Morton's Neuroma near same sight, with steroids, sometimes alcohol.Either one works just the same to quiet the thing.
Also have badly deformed and misplaced toes, over lapping toes, so he is wary of any surgical intervention.
I am here to say, ITS THE PITTS! I used to love shoes!
The only shoes I can wear since having RA are Hotter shoes. They are pricey but the comfort of them is worth it.
I also have trouble with my feet and also wear hotters all the time. The only problem I have is when I need to dress up and would love a nice pair of shoes for evening or special occasions. I wish some of the big companies would cater for us.
I buy M&S Foxglove Wider fitting for the dressy shoes, when only wearing for a couple of hours in the evening. Otherwise Hotter all the way for me.
I have trouble with my feet and live in Sketchers fitflops all summer but then in the winter it is a nightmare to get comfy shoes and boots.
My toes swell all the time so this makes things very uncomfortable, I buy wide fitting shoes and this helps a bit.
I do have insoles and they help.
Do these Hotter shoes, have nice soft insoles and where can one get them from? please.
I've recently started wearing them. You can Google their website and I think new customers get a discount. They have a search facility and I put in "clearance" and got my shoes for half the usual price. I'm finding mine very comfortable although I wish I'd bought wide to better accommodate my special insoles. I'm finding them comfortable without the insoles though.
This post has come at the right time! I do suffer with foot pain but nothing quite as bad as last week when I was walking with a limp for a couple of days, it was a horrible crampy pain in my toes 
I'm currently reviewing my footwear choices!!
Hi, I also wear hotter shoes and am able to use the insoles supplied by my podiatrist. I have painful toes, but my main problem is my ankles and tendons. I have had RA for nearly three years, I walk with a permanent limp and have constant pain due to damage in right ankle particularly. I can only manage to do small amounts of food shopping at a time, otherwise I use my scooter which I'm still not comfortable about, but at least I get to go where I want to go. I have been on Enbrel for four months so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that no more damage is being done to my feet.
i get two pairs a year of made to measure shoes from my podiatrist at hospital ,they are a great help and their is a good variety (qmc nottingham)
I have recently posted on my completely torn achilles tendon. The professionals (hospital + GP). Failed to diagnose complete tear, after 2 ultra sound scan and finally an MRI. I was informed it was inoperable, due to amount of damage since tear occured on 15th june 2013.
Now walking with a limp..........awaiting poditrist appointment. Distraught at level of neglect of proper diagnosis.
Carole
Not related to RA but my daughter who is at dance college hurt her ankle in April this year. She went to A and E for xrays etc and they were not sure if she had broken it, so they sent her away with crutches and that was that. Now we are seeing a physio who said that she has damaged her tendons inside and out and damaged her achilles tendon, which could damage her choice of careers that she has worked so hard for. As for the GP well you can walk was all she was told there, at 20 years are age I think that running and jumping etc are also important.(The physio is doing ultrasound at the moment and telling her to strap it up when doing lots to give it extra support and she kept re-damaging it when it started to heal so I don,t know if this could help you)
Thanks Ozzy, mines is completely torn in 2 pieces. Not able to be joined due to the extent of tear. Tendon graft was considered but due to severity of inflammation, consultant decided I was at too great a risk of further limb damage. Poor prognosis of a likely recovery.
Good luck to your daughter. Good physio and ultrasound do hsve positive effect.
kind regards
Carole
Putting it in a temporary plastercast also allow the tendon to heal, it does however mean extensive physo to re establish full movement and mobility.
Hope she gets the help she needs.
I found the poll inadequate. I have had terrific foot problems which have resulted in both feet being completely rebuilt and the left metatarsal on the little toe has crumbled and is no more so I only have 4 bones in that foot.
The surgeon and the clinic has been wonderful, most helpful and the surgery itself has been excellent.
I use specialist walking boots and shoes made by top hiking footwear providers as these work for me, they are extremely comfortable and support my feet and ankles extremely well. They are far superior to anything built for me by the orthotics services which have been basically rubbish. I'm a very out-doorsy person so I don't grieve for pretty shoes at all
I've been taught how to care for my own feet and do so every night and morning. I also have diabetes (type 2) so it's extra important for me. I file down any hard skin, I have some planta faschia in my right heel, and use a good cream on them. I do my own nails because the poediatrist always cut my nails too short so they grow into the skin so I can't walk for weeks!
Foot care is very, very important for all of us with RA and should be something we are taught about and helped with by all the relevant hospital services.
Hi, sorry you found it inadequate. We are limited to 142 characters for the question and 8 replies and I started with a list of something like 16 replies which had to be whittled down and also restricted in character length. It's not intended to be a scientific process, more to give me an idea of the typical problems people are experiencing. The replies which people give providing further details are really helpful, so thank you.
My feet are turning so that I tread over my shoes and the balls and arches of my feet leave me in lots of pain. No help from hospital so now I am paying for a physio who helps me a lot and the feeling of standing up without pain is worth every penny as long as I can still work to pay for it. I had private cover but every time I ask for help they say that it is probably something to do with RA, so that was a waste of money paying into!
My feet are very misshapen and ankles extremely swollen - I've had Hotter shoes in the past but found them too 'hard' on my feet - I now buy from Cosyfeet - they're not exactly the most fashionable shoes but there are one or two styles that are okay and they've been a godsend for me. (You can also buy strap extensions for the shoes which is a bonus!)
Sounds like you need to see a podiatrist or your consultant. If people are experiencing real problems with feet and ankles, do seek help, don't just put up with it. There is always something which can be done. Are you aware we have a very informative foothealth section on our main website under 'help for you'.
Ailsa
Some great advice here. thanks everyone.
Carole
I have found Rieker shoes to be good too, esp if you have narrow feet - I find Hotter and Echo shoes too wide.
Thanks for that Ailsa, that's been my problem, even with swelling my feet are narrow. I will look them up.
Hi i have had three ops in total and may be having a forth soon as i have my appointment next week to find out. My first op was to the joints to my toes on both feet, they shaved the arthritus off of either side of the joint then a metal pin put through the joint and left in for 6 weeks to fuse the joint back. as both toes were done at the side time it was hell to get through the day. however this didn't prove to be sucssessful so the next op was to one toe/one foot to make sure it worked first so they removed the joint although there is no pain i can no longer move the toe or bend it.so now the other toe needs the joint taken out !
Thank you for the poll. Nearly everything applies. I usually wear the wider fitting shoes from M&S but they could be even wider. As a child I had to wear men's shoes and also had them custom-made. Luckily there are more options nowadays. My mother and sisters wear Josef Siebel. Recently found some good shoes from Arche that were pricy but a good width. Have had totally flat feet since an operation as a 9 year old to remove bunions and an extra toe (inside the foot). I've had another 2 ops since. Walk on four toes on each side (ie the little toes ended up on top of the foot, & I can't move the right toe properly but that is due to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, not RA, as I didn't have RA when I had all the ops). I go to the podiatrist regularly to look after my feet. Since developing RA the foot pain and swelling has got worse. Out of interest did anyone else have foot problems before developing RA? I've never known anything different so just wondered.
Seeing a bio-mechanical specialist at the hospital was really helpful for me once the specially made insoles were no longer enough. He was really thorough in assessing my gait and the particular problems of each foot. My joints had become unstable and hyper-mobile so I needed the opposite of the soft and comfy brands that other folks have been describing. I needed a rocker sole and had found clogs helpful but too hard on the soles of my feet. I was recommended to try the Fitflop clogs and trainers - they have a denser level of cushion foam than any other brand and a rocker sole. I now have black ankle boots from them as well - they're expensive but I pretty much always buy them on sale. There was a particular style of Asics trainers that he also recommended.
I'm currently recovering from foot surgery and have a second set of surgery to have on the other foot once this one has healed. The fat pad under the ball of the foot has slipped forward and eroded on both feet so I will still need the density of foam as otherwise it's like walking barefoot on a pebble beach
Get the best assessment that you can from the nhs - you are entitled to this treatment. You might not be able to get pain-free feet but getting as comfortable as possible is a realistic aim pre-surgery.
Just as one can get funky walking sticks and crutches, I hope that one day a design student with a family member with RA will be inspired to tackle the thorny issue of footwear for those who are not ready to be wearing 'Grandma' shoes before their time! Meanwhile, my Fitflops [silver and gold trainers and red patent clogs] are much admired by those who have no foot 'issues' - so that's a good start:-}
Cece .
I see the pot surgeon again next week he gave me soft insoles initially as I was flaring but next week wants me to get "metal soles" is this what your rocker soles are?
Lol foot surgeon, maybe pot surgeon would be better!
Not sure Allanah, the rocker soles are just that - shaped like a rocker [chair or horse!] with the toes and heel raise upwards. It is rigid but padded and means your foot doesn't have to bend at the ball of the foot. If you look at a Fitflop online the side view will show what I mean
Cece x
Thanks
Cece, if you can get them over there, Sketchers makes a large line of "rocker" shoes like that, even sandals. I tried on a pair, but decided with my spine, night not be the best idea. They hav several styles of walking shoes, lots of padding, and in wide widths. Might even be worth ordering online if you can.
Advice please. In august I fell over severely bruising and possibly breaking a toe. I am unable to curl up this and a toe next to it. It wasn't X-rayed, was at a music festival. It's not painful other than when feet are flaring.
I'd been referred to a podiatrist before who was awful, told me I was wasting his time. Do I need to inform rheumy team, or not?
Not a bad idea. My Rheumy prefers Orthopaedic Surgeons who specialize in foot problems. He told me regular Podiatrists may not be able to do the same surgical techniques the Orthos can. I lucked out locally with a very well schooled Podiatrist. So far.
You have to help yourself with foot care alot of the time. Good luck.
Although I've had RA for nearly 5 years, I'm still close to tearful when it comes to buying footwear, because I can't have anything remotely feminine. I used to live & work in high heels (how did I do it??!!) and have a sense of bereavement with 'pretty shoe' business. It has got a little bit better, and sometimes I get lucky. I see that a lot of people buy Hotter shoes, but I only buy Earth Spirit because I find the moulded insoles ideal for collapsed arches. I highly recommend the Earth Spirit Oregan ankle boot for Winter - as well as the insole, the leather is really soft to allow for the boney growths and bunions (ooohh! Doesn't that sound lovely!)
They may be ugly but they are very comfortable - Uggs, for warmth in winter, Crocs and trialing skate shoes as they have good padding.
I've had RA for 26 years. Some of my toes have become damaged and I now have peripheral neuropathy. Even bedroom slippers hurt me! I usually wear Hotter shoes, but as someone mentioned, they can be a bit hard. I've often looked at Comfy Shoes, but I don't like buying shoes online as I like to try them on first and there is a Hotter outlet near me. I used to have a couple of pairs of shoes made to measure at the Orthotics department of my hospital, but my feet changed shape so quickly, they soon began to hurt. I can't wear Uggs, Crocs or any other kind of shoe as they don't support my feet and ankles enough. I'm 62.
At the moment I am waiting to have a nerve conducting test?? As I have lost all feeling of my left foot and it doesnt bend at all cant lift toes up or bend them it was like walking on sand now other foot going same way.
I have foot pain in both feet constantly the doctor turned a blind eye as per ususal but IVE WON THE BATTLE BEEN REFERRED TO HOSPITSL AT LAST.....cant wait to get check out i got ra osters of both knees spine ... so we see if its gout or ostes ra.... nightmare had to fight for this 2015 ....getting worst took me 4 months just to get referred... was go docs everyweek ...THINK GP GOT SICK OF ME COMPLAING HE JUST PAIN KILLERS ETC..... IM ON MORPHINE PATCHES NOW... BUT IM FEEL LIKE CRAP SO PLS HURRY AND SEND MY REFERREL APPOINTMENTXXXX
I have had RA for 8 years and have just recently started having foot pain. It varies from day to day but is always in my toes and the ball of my foot. I have also been feeling some tingling and numbness. I do have customized insoles which do seem to help. I am having a difficult time finding comfortable shoes. I have a couple of pairs of Skechers, but can't seem to find the size I need anywhere. I was just reading the replies below and will look for Hotter shoes. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories.
