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  • #299953
    Key Pounds
    Participant

    Hi all!

    Just about a week ago both feet really hurting!  Can't really stand for any length of time and if I do, I really pay for it at the end of the day.

    Taking motrin and ultram.  Motrin helps more that the ultram.  I also got some shoe inserts too.  They have helped somewhat.  I also have ordered some shoes that are like the MBT shoes.  Has anyone heard of those shoes or better yet worn them?  They were pretty pricey and hate to spend that kind of money on something that might not work!

    I am also doing a little DMSO on my feet!  Any other ideas out there would be greatly appreciated!!!

    Hope everyone is having a pain free day!

    Key

    #310322
    Donna RA
    Participant

    Hi Key,

    I have the same foot problem.  I wear tennis shoes, even to work, so can't comment on the shoes you ordered.  One thing that does help is me is soaking my feet at night, in epsom salt and peroxide. 

    Good Luck,

    Donna

     

    #310323
    richie
    Participant

    Hi

    I found prescription  orthotics very helpful –they are superior to inserts

    Richie

    #310324
    A Friend
    Participant

    Key,

    This is a test that won't cost you anything except will power.  It worked for me during the first year I was on AP. 

    Just stop eating all red meat for at least 10 days, and eat very small portion of white meat of fowl or quality baked/broiled fish.  Include lots of steamed and/or fresh vegetables, along with brown rice and peas and beans together as a  protein source.  Eat little bread, and Ezekiel is a good choice; it is made from sprouted grain. If you can get Marie's Italian Garlic dressing in the fresh vegetable area (it's refrigerated), a spec of this to dip your raw vegetables in is delicious. 

    Also, you can make up a batch of Good Seasons Italian dressing (comes in a little box), using Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar and Extra Virgin Olive Oil for the oil and vinegar called for to mix it up, and then use to dress your fresh salads — it's also delicious; and I sometimes add quality tuna to the top of the salad before I pour on the dressing and toss. 

    No sugar and no cheese and milk would also be  good to omit during this time.    The meat, milk, cheese, and sugar all create lots of acid, which maybe are being stored in the small bones in your feet, away from your major organs, and be causing the pain.  Apparently, it was for me, as the pain in my feet and toes started going away a little each day after I adhered to the type diet mentioned above, and after about 10 days, my feet were happy again and no pain.  I didn't want to give up my Minocin, so I just gave up the red meat and pork.  It worked for a good while, until my body got more acidic from other sources.  I had just read in Dr. Balch's book, Prescription for Nutritional Healing that eating meat and taking forms of tetracycline can create excess acids that can cause a “pseudo” gout. 

    Good luck,

    AF

    #310325
    Susan LymeRA
    Participant

    Hey Keys,

    I'm from the mountains of VA and knew exactly what you meant by “your dogs are barkin'”.

    I have done much in my quest to get well, but the one thing that stopped my foot pain (BTW, I have had foot problems my entire life and wore orthotics for years).  Ok, the one thing that stopped my foot pain was osteopathic treatment by a D.O.  It was amazing.  It happened well over a year ago and so far, I still have no foot pain and do not need orthotics.

    I totally agree with A.Friend about the diet.  Going mostly vegetarian and having a bloodtest to identify my food allergies stopped almost all my inflammation which helped my ability to stand on my feet.  So, it could be a combination of things.  But the D.O. was immediate and so far permanent solution to my longstanding foot pain.

    Sure wish he could have cured my RA as well.

    Susan

    #310326
    Key Pounds
    Participant

    Richie  (George C.)

    Rx orthotics could be a quick fix…..I am all about quick!

    Blessings

    Key

    #310327
    Key Pounds
    Participant

    You Guys!!!! 

    yall are so great to reply!  I am desperate to try any and all suggestions. 

    When we are in pain I think your brain shuts off to rational thoughts!  as I went as far as sticking maxi pads to the bottom of my feet while working in the house!!  and found that they are really only good for one purpose!

    Theses are way better suggestions!!

    Thank you all so much!!

    Key

    #310328
    A Friend
    Participant

    Susan/Lyme,

    Will you describe the treatment in detail, which you mention:

    Susan wrote: Ok, the one thing that stopped my foot pain was osteopathic treatment by a D.O.  It was amazing.  It happened well over a year ago and so far, I still have no foot pain and do not need orthotics.

    It may be helpful for others (including myself) as an additional thing to do. 

    Many thanks,

    AF

    #310329
    JL
    Participant

    This is really interesting, I has the same problem at the onset of my PA and none of the docs had a clue (still don't).  It has since become manageable, mostly I think by diet, minocin and occasional liver cleanse.

    Out of curiosity, what where each of you diagnosed with?   Mine is PA and I'm wondering if there some correlation.

    Thanks

    #310330
    Sierra
    Participant

    Massaging your feet throughout the day increases blood flow and helps with pain. Soaking them in cold water or using an ice pack on them reduces inflammation and is very soothing. I'm also a fan of prescription arch supports and (expensive) comfort shoes.

    Wishing you peaceful dogs, asleep by the fire.

    Sierra

    #310331
    linda
    Participant

    Hi Key,

    Have you tried rubbing a little hydrocortisone cream on your feet before you use the dmso? Hope your upcoming dr appt goes well; you know I worry about you and that levaquin, but I also know that you've educated yourself on this therapy so I respect your choice. Who am I to talk, I'm back on remicade/mtx! Looking forward to hearing how it goes this time.

    linda

    #310332
    Susan LymeRA
    Participant

    Hi AF,

    I will be happy to share the “permanent” solution my D.O. gave me.

    First, a D.O. is a Doctor of Osteopath and is more highly trained than an MD.  He is an MD plus and can prescribe medications.  Osteopathic work focuses on the circulatory system, muscular and skeletal systems.  It is very non-invasive work that sets about to correct our crookedness.  Let me try to explain it this way (my simple layman brain)  If our bone structure gets crooked, it then pinches off our blood and/or fluid flows in our body.  By correcting the structural flaw, the normal flow of fluids returns and in many instances the body heals itself.

    My feet have hurt all my life and simply increased in their degree of hurt as I aged.  About 15 yrs ago, I finally saw a foot specialist (MD specializing in feet).  This is supposed to be far superior to a podiatrist.  He fitted me with orthotics and the orthotics became my best friend.  They did not heal my pain but did shift my balance so I was not in as much pain.  I could not go barefoot or wear many stylish shoes because I needed the orthotics.  My pain was so bad, I even wore the orthotics in my bedroom slippers.

    After being diagnosed RA, I began working with an Osteopath for the RA.  I mentioned to him that my orthotics were wearing out and could he prescribe new ones?  I was very crooked, BTW, and the angle of my orhtotics showed how crooked I was.

    He said “I get rid of as many of those as I prescribe”.  I was skeptical and he explained that foot specialists only look at feet.  They don't consider the structure of the entire body.

    I can't explain what he did to fix my crookedness, but he did it in one session.  Osteopathic work is very gentle and pleasant.  He checked me while standing and then while laying down.  I can't recall all that he said, but I remember my right leg being shorter than my left which was due to my pelvis being crooked.  He straightened them out by doing some pushes and pulls while I was laying down.

    When he was done, he said “Try going without your orthotics for awhile and let me know how you do.”  I never again had any foot pain.  Never.  I can go barefoot around the house.  I can wear sandals all day.  It is just great.  All my life I had suffered foot pain and today I have no foot pain.

    Osteopaths are often covered by insurance.  In our area, many of them are setting up shop within doctor's offices.  I highly recommend trying one.

    Susan

    #310333
    A Friend
    Participant

    Susan,

    Thanks for your very detailed answer.  When I moved to the area where I now live, I had been given by my then-physician a referral to a D.O. in a large respected clinic in my new home city.  He was an internist/D.O.  He and his office suite-mate were both D.O.'s  Unfortunately, he moved to the Northwest and the other one left to go into missionary work.  They both were well-liked and respected.  Wish one of them was still here, but I'm sure there are others. 

    The procedures and your results have really captured my attention.  Will see what I find available here.  And many thanks again for your detailed answer.  I'm armed with information now that will be helpful if I check my own “crookedness” out.  I do have very flexible bones in my feet, so the adjustment you describe would seem worth checking out. 

    Best,

    AF

    [Edit:3-15-08… My mentioning my D.O. above caused me to remember him, and wonder where he is now.  We really liked him a lot as a person.  He was my PCP/doctor of internal medicine, when I was first dx'd from labs with RA.  I purchased “the” book for him, but gave up on him and went to Iowa for tx.  I learned from a search that he left Olympia, WA and practices in Alaska (as of 2005).  I read there was a real doctor shortage there.  Now, am wondering if he ever read the book and, if so, if it made an impression on him.  I asked for the book back if he wasn't going to read it, but he moved and I never saw the book again.  Here's hoping that he did read it and someone is benefiting from his having read it.  AF]

    #310334
    linda
    Participant

    Hi Susan,

    I'm with you 110% on osteopaths. My pain specialist in San Antonio is a D.O.; he not only straightened out my posture, he also got my pain under control while getting me off vicodin. I wish I could clone him and take him with me wherever I move!

    #310335
    Sierra
    Participant

    STRETCHES!

    I mentioned my occasion feet pain to my rheumatologist this past week during a visit. She reminded me of some stretches which will help if done every day: rising up and down on balls of feet, and calf stretches. I was taught these by a podiatrist some time ago and have done them irregularly. My RA has affected my tendons as well as my joints–things get tight and need to be loosened though stretching, massage and swimming.

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