Feet Pain for two years!

[Tina1137]

Hello,

I have these feet pains for about two years now,but I always had a mild pain in my feet, but due to using permanently the car, and having an office job the pain was not so unbearable like it is now.

The doctors (GP & Podiatrist) said I might have RA/Flat feet/Plantar Fasciitis/Nerve Damage-I am not sure if all together or separately :). Anyway, I wear for about 4 months some customised orthotic insoles which made my life by 30% better, but the pain strikes continuously.

I also have my legs from the toes to the knees dead ice cold,and I put them in hot water and change socks several times a day, and cover them constantly, but there is relief only for a half hour/one hour, if I don't make any movement.

If I need to walk, I could do that for about 10-15 minutes, but after that I need to sit, and after that, if I need to stand up without walking, I feel huge pain in both feet, under the arch and on the heels. After this escapade I need so many sit downs, that I never want to go to shoppings or go out again!

When I go to bed, there is another problem. I cannot sleep on any side, only on the back, like dead.If I try to sleep on a side there will be a 'stitch feel' like something is too short, very uncomfortable, and painful, and leads to cramps in toes, or arch, or calf.But I am so sick to sleep only on the back.

For the craps I have, I take quinine before going to bed, every night, and in six months I had only one cramp, three- four days ago, at my left foot between the big toe and the arch, but then I got scared to not repeat and I couldn't sleep for a few nights.

I would appreciate any answer,
Tina

[Yena H Do, DPM]

I would try sleeping on the side with a pillow b/w your knees and feet.
It sounds like you also have plantar fasciitis (heel pain).  Usually, this causes pain in the heels and arch after standing from a rested position.  Calf stretches tend to help.  You would need to do 45 stretches in the morning, afternoon, and evening.  When doing the calf stretch, you would need to hold the stretch for 15 seconds.  Make sure that you feel a nice pull on your calf muscle when you stretch...if you don't, you are not stretching correctly.
Continue to take quinine.  It helps with muscle cramps.  Also, bannanas are great too.  Sometimes, muscles cramp are due to lack of potassium (which are abundantly found in bannanas) and dehydration (drink up!).
As for the cold legs, see a vascular surgeon to have your vessels evaluated.  In the meantime, hot water bottles can help warm the legs.  Be careful not to burn yourself though!

[Tina1137]

Thank you so much for answering,doctor Yena. I will do exactely as you suggested.

I do use hot water bottles for long time now,I cannot go to bed without them and warmed up blankets: like I live at the North Pole.

All the best,
Tina