Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:runner/walker here with lots of experience with injuries. Absolutely the shoes matter. You try to fix one thing and can cause or exacerbate another thing. You get the right combination and then sometime later pain creeps in (because the shoes are old, the inserts are worn, and the alignment is off). I would suggest first going to a good running store to get properly fitted. This is crucial. The aftermarket inserts are crucial if you have fallen arches. Even in motion control shoes the insert that comes with the shoe may not be enough. (also too much and you may get what you are calling bursitis, which is something I've had to manage if the arch supports are not exactly right).

Also, I have good friends who are orthopedists/sports med physicians, but in my own experience, the ones I saw clinically were not very helpful. I first got diagnosed properly by the PT the ortho sent me too. The ortho said "your leg muscles are probably imbalanced, but I see nothing on the xrays." The PT had me bring in my running shoes and within 10 seconds of watching me walk/run she diagnosed I was in the wrong style shoe and my arches had fallen while marathon training. Got properly fitted and was back in order.

OP here. Thanks for this. Do you have a local store recommendation? I'm in DC and went to Fleet Feet, which is where I got the Brooks Ghosts. Wasn't overly impressed w/their offerings or the staff knowledge, but the store near me (in Adams Morgan) may be smaller and more limited than their other locations.

Try the Georgetown Running store on M by the key bridge.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wear Hokas, custom orthotics and never go barefoot.

OP here — thank you for the suggestion. I know people love and swear by them, but I tried Hokas and absolutely hated them! Felt like my 80’s moon boots and were too narrow; I wear a wide in running shoes.

PP here. I also have PF (even though I am not a runner), and my podiatrist told me to get them. They have many different models. I picked one, used the orthotics that my podiatrist had made for me, and it took about a week to wear in the Hokas. I also got the super ugly Hook flip flops/recovery shoes for when I am not wearing my sneakers. I never go barefoot, even in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.

I can literally feel my foot with the PF often fighting against the orthotic and shoe to flatten out (which would make my PF worse, that's the problem, I need insanely rigid arch support). and the Hokas and orthotic fight back and win every time. Everyone is different, but this is what I need. After a few weeks of being very strict with this regime the pain is gone. Nothing worked before (I even did those sonar treatments on my foot which were $$$$$). Maybe Hokas have a wider width. Otherwise I would go to a running store like Pacers, bring your orthotics (if you don't have any, that's your first step is to invest in your feet and get a podiatrist to scan your foot and get a set), tell them your issues, and try on what they recommend. The shoe is going to need to be rigid. That's the trade off.

Anonymous wrote:Wear Hokas, custom orthotics and never go barefoot.

OP here — thank you for the suggestion. I know people love and swear by them, but I tried Hokas and absolutely hated them! Felt like my 80’s moon boots and were too narrow; I wear a wide in running shoes.

Wear Hokas, custom orthotics and never go barefoot.

Anonymous wrote:Also, I have good friends who are orthopedists/sports med physicians, but in my own experience, the ones I saw clinically were not very helpful. I first got diagnosed properly by the PT the ortho sent me too. The ortho said "your leg muscles are probably imbalanced, but I see nothing on the xrays." The PT had me bring in my running shoes and within 10 seconds of watching me walk/run she diagnosed I was in the wrong style shoe and my arches had fallen while marathon training. Got properly fitted and was back in order.

^This.^ Orthopedists are great for the joints they specialize in but often not great at looking at all of your moving parts as a system. PTs are fantastic at this and can analyze your gait and diagnose asymmetries, as well as diagnosing specific pains and figuring out how dysfunction in one part may be affecting another. I like my orthopedist, but he's never even asked me to walk down the hall and watched what happeed.

My husband has PF and the only thing that made it heal was getting a cortisone shot. He did the orthotics, rested for a month, and still needed it.

Anonymous wrote:runner/walker here with lots of experience with injuries. Absolutely the shoes matter. You try to fix one thing and can cause or exacerbate another thing. You get the right combination and then sometime later pain creeps in (because the shoes are old, the inserts are worn, and the alignment is off). I would suggest first going to a good running store to get properly fitted. This is crucial. The aftermarket inserts are crucial if you have fallen arches. Even in motion control shoes the insert that comes with the shoe may not be enough. (also too much and you may get what you are calling bursitis, which is something I've had to manage if the arch supports are not exactly right).

Also, I have good friends who are orthopedists/sports med physicians, but in my own experience, the ones I saw clinically were not very helpful. I first got diagnosed properly by the PT the ortho sent me too. The ortho said "your leg muscles are probably imbalanced, but I see nothing on the xrays." The PT had me bring in my running shoes and within 10 seconds of watching me walk/run she diagnosed I was in the wrong style shoe and my arches had fallen while marathon training. Got properly fitted and was back in order.

OP here. Thanks for this. Do you have a local store recommendation? I'm in DC and went to Fleet Feet, which is where I got the Brooks Ghosts. Wasn't overly impressed w/their offerings or the staff knowledge, but the store near me (in Adams Morgan) may be smaller and more limited than their other locations.

runner/walker here with lots of experience with injuries. Absolutely the shoes matter. You try to fix one thing and can cause or exacerbate another thing. You get the right combination and then sometime later pain creeps in (because the shoes are old, the inserts are worn, and the alignment is off). I would suggest first going to a good running store to get properly fitted. This is crucial. The aftermarket inserts are crucial if you have fallen arches. Even in motion control shoes the insert that comes with the shoe may not be enough. (also too much and you may get what you are calling bursitis, which is something I've had to manage if the arch supports are not exactly right).

Also, I have good friends who are orthopedists/sports med physicians, but in my own experience, the ones I saw clinically were not very helpful. I first got diagnosed properly by the PT the ortho sent me too. The ortho said "your leg muscles are probably imbalanced, but I see nothing on the xrays." The PT had me bring in my running shoes and within 10 seconds of watching me walk/run she diagnosed I was in the wrong style shoe and my arches had fallen while marathon training. Got properly fitted and was back in order.

Anonymous wrote:If you truly are walking 5 miles a day, they could be past their lifespan. Most only have a lifespan of 3-500 miles. At a 150 miles per month, that is about 2-3 months.

OP here. Good point. I didn't even think of that. This is my first time wearing cushy shoes, so perhaps they wear out faster than those with a firmer base. My last pair of Nike Metcons lasted years, but I did also rotate shoes more often.

Anonymous wrote:I used to walk in Brooks Ghost shoes, but when I developed plantar fasciitis, I had to switch to Vionics. I still sometimes have foot pain (and I don't walk 5 miles a day, more like 2-3), but I don't have hip and knee issues anymore.

Also, are you wearing shoes all day? I wear Vionic slippers around the house, and that's helped immensely. I know I sound like a Vionic ad, but a friend who had issues years ago swore by them, and they work for me too.

OP here. Thank you. I have a pair of Vionic slip-on sneakers, but I've been curious about their actual athletic shoes too. I'll check them out.

I wear shoes on & off all day. Suppose as I'm about to hit 50, I may need to readdress this...

I used to walk in Brooks Ghost shoes, but when I developed plantar fasciitis, I had to switch to Vionics. I still sometimes have foot pain (and I don't walk 5 miles a day, more like 2-3), but I don't have hip and knee issues anymore.

Also, are you wearing shoes all day? I wear Vionic slippers around the house, and that's helped immensely. I know I sound like a Vionic ad, but a friend who had issues years ago swore by them, and they work for me too.

If you truly are walking 5 miles a day, they could be past their lifespan. Most only have a lifespan of 3-500 miles. At a 150 miles per month, that is about 2-3 months.

Anonymous wrote:If they have changed your gait, it absolutely could be the sneakers. This is a good one to take to an ortho so they can give you guidance designed to address the entire situation and not just one body part.

Thank you. Ortho = orthopedic doctor?

If they have changed your gait, it absolutely could be the sneakers. This is a good one to take to an ortho so they can give you guidance designed to address the entire situation and not just one body part.

I was having issues with plantar fasciitis, so bought a pair of Brooks Ghost with arch inserts. I walk about 5 miles/day. But now, just a few months later, I’ve been having brand new-to-me hip pain which seems to be bursitis. So, could it be that new shoes are helping my feet but irritating hips?