Painful feet: Hi all my feet over the last few weeks... - NRAS

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Painful feet

Carolsos profile image
14 Replies

Hi all my feet over the last few weeks have been hurting so much. My left one is the worse right on the balls of my feet, the right one hurt too but not as much. But after a day of worKing I can hardly walk with the pain and aching. When I feel my foot it's like there is a bone sticking out underneath. I don't know what to do. I wear flat shoes or Sandlas. Or work boots with foam insoles but they still hurt. Could it be to do with RA and hoping some of you have some answers.

Thanks for listening and I hope you all have a good day.

Carol x

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Carolsos profile image
Carolsos
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14 Replies
medway-lady profile image
medway-lady

Go to your GP and refer to an orthopedic surgeon. It might be Morton's Neuroma's which is like walking on broken glass or just where RA has reduced the padding on the ball of your foot or something else completely. Either way, it'll need treatment or insoles etc no 'good footwear will help - sorry.

Barrister profile image
Barrister

This was how I first got a diagnosis. It felt like I was walking on marbles. I thought I had Mortons Neuroma but after I had an MRI I was told that I had synovitis and needed to see a rheumatologist. Clemmie

KatyDid profile image
KatyDid

I think foot problems are quite common with RA, unfortunately. I would speak to your rheumatologist about it. After a MRI & joint injections, which didn't help, my rheumatologist referred me to orthotics for insoles, which really help.

Foot pain is horrible, I hope you can get help soon xx

Matalow profile image
Matalow

I agree it's part of RA I've seen a few podiatrists and now waiting to see the orthotic people .once I start walking the pain is manageable but when I stop and try to start again agh😱😱😱.

Hope you get some relief.

Regards Mike

margarete-72 profile image
margarete-72

are you sure you haven't got plantar as iv dreadful painful feet and my ankles swell so much I have ostio arthritus in my knees range in my hands I still have dysphagia I can't swollow lumps salad or meat iv had every test done I have continued neck pain and dry throat. my ankles swell I can't walk I'm seeing a private chiropractic as I have scoliosis in my bk and neck . x hope u find an answer xxxx

Cornishrex profile image
Cornishrex

I was diagnosed with RA based on positive anti ccp only to find out 18 months later that what was actually going on in my feet, after insisting on a scan, was mortons neuromas in both feet. Try and insist on an ultrasound. I was pretty miffed that it took 18 months of pain to finally get to the bottom of it. Your pain type sounds like mine.

Cornishrex profile image
Cornishrex

Oh. And if it turns out to be mortons, get some vionic shoes. They have great foot beds that help a lot. Or just get some anyway.

nomoreheels profile image
nomoreheels

Yes it could be due to RD. It sounds like it could be metatarsalgia, something I have along with other problems. Ask your Rheumy to check both your feet, even though you're aware one is more troublesome than the other that doesn't mean you don't have the beginnings of similar problems in the other. See if you can relate to this info nhs.uk/conditions/metatarsa...

According to ARUK - The foot contains many synovium-lined structures which can be affected in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Consequently the foot is involved in about 80–90% of people with RA, with the forefoot, and in particular the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints, the most commonly involved region.

Because my Rheumy wouldn't examine my feet, despite me asking two years, disease activity has done it's worst. The first thing we did was add new meds & increase doses of existing ones. I've seen a Podietrist regularly since she confirmed my Rheumy's diagnoses & further issues were revealed. It's just so maddening, it's a simple enough check, takes minutes but of course feet & ankles aren't included in the DAS 28 so often they're ignored until we're aware of problems & by then the damage is done.

Shoes are very much a personal thing I've learnt. There can be many different problems which need addressing so what's suitable for one person isn't for another, you really need advice from a Podietrist, so if it's felt necessary your Rheumy should refer you. For example my issues determine I can't wear anything that's not supportive & I'd stopped wearing heels (nomoreheels is no more!), I was told it was the worst thing I could have done. I can now wear block heels & wedges which is great but they need to be lace-ups to support my whole foot & accommodate my orthotics.

Hope this helps & that your Rheumy checks & has images taken of your feet to determine just what's going on. If caught early on hopefully you won't sustain the damage I & many others have.

Pamelah5 profile image
Pamelah5

My feet use to be extremely painful. I was told by my Osteopath to wear "Birkenstock sandals" which I have now for over a year. The ones with the toe piece which goes up front of foot to give support. They have ridges on the foot bed. The sandals after few days mould to shape of your feet . Mine feel like slippers also V fashionable love them!!

I hope this helps.

Sending {hugs} xx

Gnarli profile image
Gnarli in reply to Pamelah5

Birkenstock also do shoes and clogs!

Cathy777 profile image
Cathy777

I have experienced exactly the same and its part of RA. I was in constant pain and would buy every insole going hoping it would help but they didn't. That was in early days of my RA and since I have been on meds (methotrexate and rituximab) my feet got totally better. Not sure what meds you take but I do sympathise as you can't stop using your feet! X

Pea3 profile image
Pea3 in reply to Cathy777

Same here, I did have a referral to a podiatrist & was given insoles that did help a bit. Basically it came down to the disease not being controlled sufficiently & now that I am on the right medication my foot pain is minimal. I found Fitflop shoes comfortable as they have a very thick sole, Birkenstocks & Flyflot also. Sounds like you need to go back to your rheumatologist, good luck x

LadyL0u profile image
LadyL0u

Yup, def sounds like RA issue! I seem to have become completely obsessed with finding comfy shoes these days because of it! As other folk have been saying, ask for referral to hospital podiatrist. The one I saw was brilliant, sussed out what was best for me within seconds and issued me with decent insoles which do make a big difference although don't take the pain away completely. Someone recommended Crocs but found they made things worse. I now stick to my Vans with my insoles most of the time, Fly boots in winter and some of Clarks shoes with the air-cushion thing are pretty good too. You don't appreciate your feet until this stuff starts happening, but you do your damnedest to make life as comfortable as pos once it does - well I do anyway! Like other folk, sore feet (particularly the ball) was also one of the first signs that I had this illness and it's become one of the main daily issues since then. Get some comfy shoes, good insoles and look after them :) I go for reflexology now and again and massage to help ease the pain, it all helps. Good luck :)

Carolsos profile image
Carolsos

Thank you all for replying. X

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