[pct-l] Foot back to normal

[Scott Williams]

Congratulations on your section hike.  That's a gorgeous slice to do.  Many
on this list have heard my foot story, so go ahead and tune out right here
as you're liable to get bored fast.  In 2010 I thru hiked the PCT and came
off trail at Manning Park with terrible Plantar Fasciitis.  Not your
problem, but an overuse foot issue just the same.  I went 2 months after
trail with no relief and continued to live on ibuprofen in huge doses.
Just before going in to see a Dr. I picked up the book, Born to Run, which
had just come out, and which argues that we are the greatest long distance
running (and I would include walking as well) animals on the planet but
that we've been hampering our innate abilities and destroying or feet since
1971, when Nike came out with the arch support.  Through over padding and
supporting of our feet since then, we've basically weakend our feet.  It
seems we were better off with the simple flat shoes we'd been using for
hundreds of years prior to the invention of these high tech and very
sophisticated running and jogging shoes.  Keds and PF Fliers were just flat
tennis shoes.

It was a great read and convincing to me, so I took out my heal pad and
felt instant relief.  I waited a few days and pulled out the arch support.
It felt even better.  By the end of the week I'd pulled out everything,
including the the insoles and was totally pain free.  After 3 months of
misery it was incredible.  Since then I've thru hiked the CDT and AT as
well as long section hikes with no insoles at all, and running or hiking
I'm totally pain free.  This year on the AT I was amazed that after
numerous back to back 25 to 30 mile days, my feet not only didn't hurt,
they didn't even swell up in the evenings.  They looked and felt as if I
hadn't even been hiking.  Lots of other places on my body were beat and
swollen, but not my feet.  No ankle, knee or hip issues either and like
you, I'm in my 60's.

Everyone is different and you may need to seek medical advice, but I know
enough serious hikers who tell similar stories to mine, that I think there
is something here that is worth looking into.  It may be that orthotics are
needed, but check out Born to Run as well, if for nothing other than a very
good read.  And heck, Ken and Marcia Powers hike thousands of miles in
"slippers" and don't suffer for it.  Good luck getting over it.

Shroomer

On Wed, Oct 8, 2014 at 2:15 PM, John Herrin <johndavidherrin at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I finished a SOBO section hike of the PCT, Ashland OR to Mt Whitney last
> week. It was an awesome experience and I met lots of NOBO thrus. My feet
> held up pretty well but the ball of my left foot along with two toes began
> to feel sort of a numbing pain. I walked through it each day but now that
> I'm home, the ball of my foot is still tender and the toes are sort of
> numb. Not completely, just sort of half way between awake and asleep :)
>
> I'm beginning to wonder how long this might last and if any others
> experienced a similar pain.
>
> Thoughts? I am hoping it will resolve itself and I won't need to see a
> doctor. I kinda hate going to the doctor and even though I'm 60, I've
> enjoyed good health.
>
> Thanks,
> John Herrin
> _______________________________________________
> Pct-L mailing list
> Pct-L at backcountry.net
> To unsubscribe, or change options visit:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> List Archives:
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
> All content is copyrighted by the respective authors.
> Reproduction is prohibited without express permission.
>