Bursitis in foot

Bursitis can take a long time to resolve, especially in feet because we use them all the time. Sounds like it’s time to see the doc again, or maybe get a second opinion. You might need fluid drained from the bursa, there’s also a chance of an infection there.

Good luck! Bursitis is very frustrating to deal with, especially for active people.

Hi Mercedes.  I do go back this Wednesday to see her.  I have noticed that the pads (ball of foot) on both feet have flattened over the years, so thinking that is putting more pressure on the center of foot between ball and outside edge which is where the pain is.  I have been considering hiking, come spring, on the PCT starting on border of Mexico and US but starting to worry it might not come to pass if I can’t get it cleared up this winter.

Good luck with your appointment, Victoria — hopefully there will be some promising next steps in resolving the bursitis. You’ve got a good long time before spring to focus on healing. Foot issues are the pits — I was out for 2 months a couple of years ago during the summer due to a foot injury, it was a serious bummer.

It can take a long time to heal. Give it time.

In the meantime, check the soles and footbeds of your shoes. If they are at all worn down or squashed a bit, buy new shoes. Yes, costs $$, but it seems that any depression under part of your foot there can make the symptoms a LOT worse. My wife has this problem: she wears down the area under the ball of her foot quite quickly, and then her foot gives problems. New shoes, of the right width(!() fixes that every time. I’m lucky: I don’t have that problem.

Also check that your shoes are wide enough – measure them on a proper Brannock Device, and do NOT buy any shoes which are narrower. Many brands only make a D width (and very often don’t tell you what width they are), which can be too narrow for a lot of walkers. Narrow shoes will give you very subtle hell. Trust me – we KNOW!

Cheers

My wife had  bursitis in her foot and it comes and goes. It rarely flares up now, but it took around a year to go away altogether. You have to let it quiet down. Aggravating it will just extend the duration of pain.

There are lots of reasons you can get it, but hers was caused by foot slapping which was ultimately a consequence of a weak hip. I’m with Roger on avoiding narrow shoes, but your hiking shoes are not enough. My wife pretty much gave up all narrow women’s shoes including high heels because they would cause it to flare. Her initial physical therapist was not helpful, as most PTs don’t cater to really active people. She found a therapist who focused on functional training of athletes and had a lot more success.

Hi Adam. Yep. Shoe width makes a huge difference. I found a medium width that actually fit my heel for in town daily walks. It is calming down after a 6 day course of prednisone that I ended up taking for severe sciatica. I really didn’t want to take it but I couldn’t drive for more than 30 minutes without being miserable so guess it was worth it. Hopefully, it will continue to get better. Sure messed up my summer.?

Victoria,

I have it too, in one foot only, and it short circuited my Oregon PCT section hike this summer where I had to come off early.

Basically rest is the only thing that has really helped.

I have found that the thing which aggravates it the most is long downhills, a steep couple miles or long slow descents lasting several miles. Flat and uphill don’t seem to stress it, even high mileage days. It’s the pressure of pushing forward in it seems to be the main issue to cause it to flare up.

I wear shoes now with much more cushion, Altra Olympus. They aren’t the best hiking shoes, they are too cushy really for the trail, but they do help.

It’s frustrating for sure. I’ve compensated by biking more, car camping more, but it’s not the same.

Hi Randy.  It is getting better because of the cortisone, but I have a hard time not going for my daily walks with my 22 lbs. weight vest…..I suppose rest would be the best thing. I don’t have many hills where I live so can’t tell if downhill’s would be worse.   I also bought Thorlo extra cushy socks which I think will help and got gel sleeves from my foot doctor.  I hope you can get back to the PCT.  I feel your pain……Vicky

Victoria,

Things that have helped me are: using Trail Toes every hike, instead of just in the wet, to help cut down on the friction; zero drop shoes; more cushion underneath that area in general, and especially more cushion when using my arch support. In other words, items that tend to reduce the pushing forward and stressing it.

Still, the best thing has been just plain old rest. Good for my foot but not so good for the rest of my body :(

Also, I concur with what Adam said above about his wife’s experience with PTs: I am really lucky that my PT is both a hiker and a biker, too.

“… but hers was caused by foot slapping which was ultimately a consequence of a weak hip. ”

+1

A short, Controlled stride will minimize the bio-mechanics of “slapping”.

Stretching – reaching for toes – helps me a lot.  As does strengthening leg abductors, adductors, and everything around the hip. Your sciatica suggests a tight piriformis.  More stretching.

Soft wide shoes – Hokas, New Balance “New Foam” models, and Altra “high cushion” models. I’m sure there are others.  If the seemingly expensive shoes offend your sensibilities, just look at the expense as part of the “causitive diagnosis” process.

Persevere, and best of luck.

Running friend recommended these for my metatarsal issues (no specific diagnosis).  They’ve got cushioning and built-in metatarsal pads.  I throw one in my left Altra when I run and hike.  I’m sure there is the possibility of displacing my problems to the plantar fascia or something, so I only use them when I really need them, but without them I’d be on the couch.  YMMV.

I know how disheartening it can be — good luck!

https://www.powersteps.com/product-pages/pinnacle-plus

Thanks everyone for all the advice and well wishes.  As far a PT goes, I went to rehab which didn’t help at all.  Prednisone, so far,has been the only thing that has seemed to work.  It was a short course (6 days worth) so hopefully will continue to feel better.  I do wear specialty, made for me, orthotics because I have scoliosis so getting new ones would not be the answer.  The gel sleeves seem to be working also.

@Victoria I cannot speak to bursitis, but on the sciatica, you need a diagnosis and a good Physical Therapist. You never mention icing as part of your regime. Most PTs do recommend icing as a way to reduce inflammation often in combination with NSAIDs like ibuprofen.

I personally found that aggressive stretching too soon can make the sciatica worse.  As noted above, the sciatica can also weaken certain muscles in your leg and calf and affect your gait which in turn promotes foot issues. In my case, the sciatica led to plantar fasciitis. It can take many months to get well. Good luck.

Hi Bruce. I did have an MRI. Because of my scoliosis, I do have problems and issues with my back. MRI showed that disk degeneration in L3,L4 and L5 with disk bulging in all. Narrowing and impingement in L4 nerve root. I had 2 surgeries done at Laser Spine Institute, 2 years ago, which really helped with the constant lower back ache.  Grateful for that. I also have lumbar spondylitis.  You are probably correct that it affects my gait. I have gone through so much rehab which is useless.  Like I said (hate taking drugs) but so far the prednisone has tamed the sciatica down. Unfortunately it was a temporary fix for the bursitis in my foot. Went for an hour walk this morning and I am feeling it again. Bummer. Not horrible, but letting me know it’s still there….