Hello,
I am new to the boards but experiencing problems I was hoping someone could give me insights into painful feet. My story is a long one but I feel I must share all to get help.

In October of 04 my feet began burning and down from my left knee. My knees also hurt unbelievably to kneel on. I couldn't stand to wear shoes, even socks. Thinking I needed some B vitamins I loaded up but the burning and tingling changed to pain by November in the ball of my foot when I wore shoes.
I'm on HRT, discussed with my OBGYN who found out my estrogen levels were low/ progesterone normal. So, we raised the estrogen thinking this a culprit.

By December I had an arthritic type feeling in my toes. If I squeezed my foot, it hurt or if I pushed sideways on them. There was a a rubber-band snapping-like sensation in my arch and a feeling as if walking on bone across the bottom of my foot. Also, I felt like little cinders were under my skin and sparking pain near my toes etc. A few rubber band snappy feelings in myleft heel.

My OBGYN suspected stress fractures, sent me for a DEXA--hip and spine-- normal though. A Chiro worked on my legs (said I had 'pronation' problems when I walked) etc. but no improvement. The arthrtic feeling came and went more mildly in my hands.
By Jan.
my feet were feeling better when barefoot but it hurt quite a lot to stand for longer than a few minutes. Felt like string pulling in one place on left foot near heel, sometimes a tickly feeling in toes, popping in ankles and slight stiffness.
Feb--all improving.
I gave up on the HRT idea and saw anothe MD. 12 x-rays of feet and lower legs--all okay.
Bone scan suggested as stress fractures still suspected, but I thought this unlikely given the DEXA results and feared the radiation. Physician was so condesencing that I decided to tough it out for a while though I did go see a Podiatrist.
I really didn't feel I got my whole story out before he said he didn't think it was in my feet even though my ankles pop when I try to rotate them and it hurt to sand. He suggested that I should go back to my doc. March--went to see another physician who said I had neropathy and that it didn't make sense, that it couldn't be my back unless a disk was miraculously bulging equally on both sides. She suggested I had anxiety issues and to come back if needed.
Feet all the time were improving and all pain/ issues gone for two weeks --unless walking on pavement for any length--until this weekend when I did a little boating.
Rubber band snaps, tingling, cold feel when not cold, pain upon walking, especially standing on hard surfaces--all back but resolving with rest.

Before this ALL came on months ago I had a huge night of restless legs.(they hit me now and again). A few weeks before that I had a swollen feeling in one side of my head.
I did think of lyme and got the last doc to get me a western blot--came back "equivical" which the doc said was negative. If I was exposed to lyme it would have been years ago.
We're back now to the previous doc and to getting an MRI for my lower back next week. I requested a C-Reactive protein and Sed rate test and haven't got the results.
If I dont' use my feet they'll heal up and feel fine as long as I don't 'stress' things but it's getting me down. Also, emotional stress brings on aching in my feet and exacerbates the proglems.
Also, during all this stuff from Nov to Jan my tailbone hurt real bad to put pressure on but all the docs just ignored this. It's really when pressure's put my feet now that I have aching and if I strain them the other stuff comes back for a few days while I rest.
Sorry for all this stuff but I am hoping someone will have some ideas as I need to find a more proactive doc and get some answers or post in the right thread :) I"m not sure where to put this post. I work from home and can just avoid standing on my feet but I'm gaining weight, feel trapped and am unsure how to proceed. In short, my life is being dramatically impacted and not in a good way. If anyone has any ideas about if this is a 'foot' problem etc. please let me know or any suggestions on what to ask doctor etc.
Thank you
Libretto

Libretto~ One thing I learned along the way of life was that the typical MD is overbooked and spends an average of 8 minutes, I think it is, on the patient. I don't doubt for a minute that you are suffering, and that this is impacting your life terribly. I went to a naturopathic MD, who had scads of education and multiple degrees. He spent nearly 3 hours with me on my first visit, and an hour and a half on subsbequent visits. He ordered such interesting tests, and by golly, I got cured, once we knew what hidden things were lurking in me. After years of depression and frustration, it was such a relief to find somebody that would spend the time to dig deep. I didn't have insurance,and he was an hour away, but I considered it like buying a new car. Your body and well being is of upmost importance, and this doctor was literally a life saver. If left alone, I would have continued taking the wrong meds, etc and definitely not being treated correctly for what was really wrong.

Good luck! I feel for you.

Debbie

Thank you Debbie.
I've been talking with a chiropractor who has me off all processed foods and dringing spring water. My feet are starting to improve as he thinks it's my thyroid and my system might be too acidic. Now, of course, I will still follow through with the MD becaues I still have sore feet after exertion or standing for long periods of time but the edge is off. I heard Naomi Judd in an interview say that doctors 'hex' individuals by throwing out diagnosis that are often not fully developed (as you point out) so that we think we are this or that. Often we are out of balance and just need to come back into balance.
I'm worried, from what I"m reading on the internet, that my foot thing is a harbinger of bad illness to come but I will try to do what you suggest with an ND too.

Hi,

I don't share exactly the same symptoms, but I do in the sense of for years (starting in 1992) I had many strange sensations in my feet,legs, back, etc. I would suggest a neurologist, physical therapist if you dr. would suggest it (one who can do manual therapy - not just hot packs - but really looking at the spine) and perhaps an osteopathic doctor. I still have various sensations. Over the last 12 years mine have been due to:
my back, my foot neuromas. Hope this helps some. I am appalled when doctors easily attribute things to psychological. Like the other person said, 8 min. or so is not enough to fully evaluate someone! Hang in there and don't give up! Patty :wave:

I'm suffering through a sprained ankle right now which is why I'm on the foot board, but I want to pass on a true story about feet pain. I know there are any number of foot problems out there, and I'm not addressing those....I'm talking about "undiagnosable" pain. I read years ago that a woman was practically in a wheelchair because of aching feet. Her doctor took her off her 6 pack of Dr. Pepper a day diet, and the foot pain went away. I told this story to a friend ~ she too was a sodaholic, and she was amazed at how the pain went away. You're right about our bodies being too acidic. And soda is definitely acidic. If they clean car batteries with it.....LOL. So, the moral of the story....try to balance our body's natural pH. Too acidic causes a host of problems. Found that out the hard way.
:D

I'm intrigued by the Diet Dr. Pepper comment and wanted to thank you for it. I've had undiagnosed pain in one foot for nearly 3 years which started after an iron gate smashed my foot. I've been blessed my entire life with an ability to heal rapidly - without exception - until this foot injury. That it hasn't healed after all this time is just a mtstery to me. I've tried about everything - podiatrists, naturopaths, orthopedic surgeons. MRI shows normal according to the orthopedic physician. The foot is constantly discolored on the top and side - looks like (and maybe is) bruising. The bottom of the foot doesn't hurt - just the top and sides. If I walk for more than 5 minutes, it will swell. Anyway, I drink many Diet Cokes every day - and have done so for years. I wonder if I cut them out I might see an improvement. It's sure worth a try.

Based on your description, it sure sounds like it's nerve related. Nerves are similar to electrical wires, so if there is irritation or compression at any point, it will effect the rest of the nerve. For example if there is compression on the posterior tibial nerve is the tarsal tunnel, it will affect all or part of the sole of the foot. The inability to wear a sock or shoe is often described by people with tarsal tunnel syndrome. Do you have any feelings of numbness in your feet?