[pct-l] Desperately need help for "Delicate Princess Foot Syndrome"

[steve_peterson at sbcglobal.net (Steve Peterson)]

OK, I may as well chime in, too, having just gone the custom orthotic route.

Reading between the lines a bit, it sounds like your feet are similar to mine in 
that we both have a high arch and narrow heel. I, too, can't lace the 
shoes/boots too tightly because of the high instep which means my heel will 
slide around if the shoes aren't a good fit. My podiatrist also pointed out that 
my feet are extremely flexible and I have a wide forefoot. This combination of 
high arch, narrow heel, etc etc, he says, makes my foot very difficult to fit a 
shoe to (which I knew from experience) and difficult to control which means that 
as I walk it's flexing and working very hard to keep me upright (and the shoe 
isn't helping by supporting it in the correct places) which is why they're darn 
tired at the end of the day. Sound familiar?

He built me some orthotics that cup the heel (keeping it in place and preventing 
it from flattening out), and support the arch and the rear portion of the 
metatarsals. These have made a world of difference in the way my feet feel at 
the end of the day.

If I were in (ahem) your shoes, I'd get the feet under control first, then deal 
with the blisters. Orthotics are an interface between your footwear and your 
feet; you therefore have to select/make them together. Find a podiatrist who 
deals with atheletes and who is at least willing to consider footwear other than 
  stiff boots. Mine wanted me to get shoes that weren't so flexible he could tie 
them in knots (he twists them longitudinally) and I can see the logic to that 
(for my feet). We ended up trying New Balance 906s which are stiffer than 
running shoes but still more like running shoes than boots and still fairly 
cushy (which I need for other reasons). Not saying 906s are right for you, just 
  indicating how the orthotics were made to work with the shoes.

Re the blisters, you don't say specifically, but I'm guessing because of your 
foot problems you don't get to hike consistently--I've found that my calluses 
don't really build up until I've done several months worth of weekend hikes (not 
huge mileage, just getting out there and doing *something*). Also, I have found 
as countless others have, that it's really hard to avoid blisters with boots or 
other rigid footwear--especially if your foot, like mine, is flexing and moving 
all around in the shoe. I ended up using Wrightsocks double layer socks when I 
was using boots; with the NB 906s almost any sock seems to work fine. My guess 
is that your foot is flexing/moving so much in the shoe that it's going to rub 
somewhere; if you can get the flexing under control (with orthotics) maybe the 
blisters will be easier to resolve (you don't say whether they always show up in 
the same spots).

Finally, orthotics aren't a quick and easy solution--they require time to fit 
and make, then a ton of fine tuning (unless you get lucky). But it's worth it in 
the long run. Heck, it's almost worth a visit just to play with one of those 
fancy models of the foot with all the bones and springs -- makes you wonder how 
the heck a foot lasts longer than a week or two.
--Steve

P.S. try contact cement to hold the heel pads in place--just make sure you get 
them positioned correctly before they contact the shoe because you will *not* 
move them once they touch! You can get the stuff at places like Home Depot, 
Lowes, etc.


Maggie wrote:
> 
> Hi. My name is Maggie and I've been quietly lurking
> here for almost 3 years now.
> 
> My dream/goal/intention is to undertake my thruhike in
> 2010, so I'm not quite at the point where PCT planning
> is at a forefront for me.
> 
> I have been backpacking for 6 years now. The longest I
> have been on the trail is all of 4 days. I have yet to
> make it thru a trip without mangling my feet.
> 
> I just returned early from an attempt at JMT section
> hike from Tuolumne Meadows to VVR. We were forced to
> hike out at Agnew Meadows due to what I sarcastically
> refer to as my "delicate princess feet."
> 
> I have tried numerous pairs and brands of boots, both
> high and low cut; trail runners; sport sandals; socks
> and various combinations of socks; lubricating my feet
> to reduce friction; powder or antiperspirant to reduce
> moisture; moleskin; molefoam; duct tape; crazy glue...
> if it's been suggested, I've tried it.
> 
> Occassionally I come across a pair of shoes with a
> sock combination that fools me into thinking I've
> solved the problem. I'll return from a few days hikes,
> or even a short overnighter with "only one" blister
> only to have the same combination reduce my feet to
> hamburger on the next outing. I can't seem to find the
> right setup for all occassions.
> 
> I had my feet measured once using the Phil Oren
> system. I know that my feet are narrow even by women's
> standards. My heels are ESPECIALLY narrow-- I could
> cut ham with them. I have high arches and high insteps
> with a small boney protusion on top of my insteps that
> makes tightly lacing my boots (to properly lock in the
> heel) cut off the circulation in my feet. My feet are
> overall medium volume, but because of the high
> arch/instep it's difficult to find mid-volume shoes
> that will lace over my insteps. -- unfortunately the
> outfitter who measured my feet didn't have shoes that
> fit those requirements and has since gone out of
> business. There are currently no outfitters in my area
> that I'm aware of that I would trust on this matter
> now.
> 
> Insoles have helped, but they don't help with the
> heels. Commercially available heel cups have proved to
> be a joke. Dr. Scholl's has heel pads that help
> significantly, but the adhesive isn't strong enough to
> keep them stuck in place after long term hiking.
> 
> In addition to problems with blisters, long hours of
> hiking result in feeling like I have crushed all the
> bones in my feet to powder. I have ALWAYS complained
> that it feels like I don't have enough cushioning on
> the bottom of my feet-- even just walking around the
> mall.
> 
> I am still supposed to be on the trail right now. I am
> absolutely heartbroken at yet another failed hike. I'm
> a step away from forking over the money for custom
> made boots-- although I'm not entirely sure where to
> have THAT done either.
> 
> I would appreciate any help, suggestions and
> encouragement to get me back on the trail with happy
> feet. 
> 
> I've tried lightweight and traditional gear and
> footwear-- at this point I don't CARE about the "pound
> on the foot eqauls 6 on the back" equation. I don't
> care if the perfect shoes weigh 6 lbs or 6 oz, as long
> as I can make it through a hike without hobbling.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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