As you age your feet get sore and start to break down. Arches fall. Corns and calluses form. Arthritis kicks in. As you get old, some suffer from diabetes, which can affect the feet in a negative way.
Why Arches Fall
I’ve been told my arches were falling since I was a teenager. I never really knew what that meant. I just knew I had foot pain a lot. For the most part, I just had to live with it.
I was told to wear proper shoes, and take care of my feet. But what are proper shoes? I was a runner and so I wore runners. I grew up in the 80’s and so that meant a lot of flat jelly shoes and neon-colored pumps. That was normal to me.
I don’t know if I added to my falling arches, but I probably did. Now, as a middle-aged woman, I am having all sorts of problems with my feet. Most started shortly after menopause.
At times, I felt as if my feet were two-hundred pounds and I couldn’t move them. I also felt like they couldn’t support me. Just recently, I went through what I call a foot crisis. This summer, I did a lot of walking and my foot pain became unreal.
At one point, my foot pain was so intense, I couldn’t even walk from my bedroom to my living room. I knew I had to do something quick or I’d be a cripple.
But first, let’s explore what arches are and why they fall.
The arch of your foot is the area between your heel and the ball of your foot. It is made up of bones and joints joined together with ligaments.
Falling arches happen for all sorts of reasons. Some people are born with flat feet or abnormalities. I know flat feet is a hereditary trait on my grandfather’s side. He was told he couldn’t join the war because of his flat feet.
I don’t know if that is my problem. All I know is my feet hurt. I don’t care as much about how my foot pain happened, though that’s important too. My main purpose is to find solutions that work.
Now, several months after my foot pain started, I think I’ve found some solutions. I use foot insoles. In particular, inserts for Plantar Fasciitis.
What is that, you ask? I wondered too. Plantar Fasciitis is a fancy word for the fibrous tissue along the bottom of your feet. When inflammation sets in for whatever reason, you get a lot of heel pain.
I was in tears when I went to my local sporting goods store looking for arch support shoes. They didn’t have anything available at the time.
However, the sales rep handed me Plantar Fasciitis inserts and I never looked back.
I wear them every day. They lift my arch and support my heels. I’m so glad I found them.
How Arthritis Affects Feet
We all know that arthritis can become a problem as you age. My knees and my fingers are arthritic. They cause me a great deal of pain almost every day.
But can arthritis cause foot pain?
I don’t have all the answers because I’m not a professional. That’s what a podiatrist is for. I’m just a lay person who is struggling to find solutions just like your are.
I was told I needed shoes that would cost a minimum of $500 just to walk without pain. That’s nut. How many other people are suckered into that? Especially seniors on limited budgets.
My thinking is arthritis can affect your feet, just like any part of your body. Joint pain is real and you have to be cognitive of that.
I like to take supplements. MSN works for me, and so does Glucosamine. I’d highly suggest looking into those.
Diabetic Foot Problems
This is an area I have no experience on. Though my feet hurt, it is not because of diabetes. I don’t suffer from that. However, many people do.
As you get older, your risk for diabetes goes up. Weight gain is a huge factor. I try to keep my weight down and watch what I eat because I don’t want to become diabetic.
It’s a constant struggle. There are so many delicious sugary treats, it’s difficult to say no, especially around Christmas and Easter. Chocolate is yummy!
But watching your diet is a must in your senior years. Once diabetes sets in, it can affect your feet. According to the CDC, diabetes reduces blood flow to your extremities.
Nerve damage along with poor blood flow puts your feet at risk for foot ulcers and wounds. The shape of your feet can even change when you have diabetes.
When to See a Professional
I struggle with this one. I don’t like to see a doctor unless it’s absolutely necessary. However, if you want a proper diagnosis, you should see a podiatrist. They specialize in feet.
Podiatrist’s can treat injuries related to feet and also treat complications like nerve damage and neuropathy. They are medical professionals who specialize in helping prevent problems and find solutions.
It’s important to note that I am not a professional. Anything I say in this article is just my opinion and examples of things I’ve tried that help me. If you need medical help, you should go see a podiatrist.
That said, there are a lot of things that you can do on your own. I like to be my own health advocate. That doesn’t mean I encourage self-diagnosis. It’s important to get a medical diagnosis for your problem.
Think of it like this. The two can go hand in hand. You can see a doctor about foot problems, and also take care of your feet by yourself. The two can be complimentary.
Below is a list of things that I have tried that helped with my foot pain.
Solutions for Sore Feet
- Plantar Fasciitis Support Insoles
- Foot Massages
- Promote Blood Circulation
- Keep Moving – Walk through the pain
- Supplements – MSM, Glucosamine
- A Good Supportive Shoes
