The Wordsmith

This post is for those who suffer foot pain, but I pretty much think it applies to victims of any other skeleto-muscular ailment.

Running hurts me. It always have. I grew up thinking that pain was a necessary side effect of running. My first run around the school block for Tae Kwon Do class had me all a grimacing wobbly mess, over 20 years ago. But, no pain no gain, right?

So over the next few decades, I bit down and tolerated foot pain so I could have a super active lifestyle of field athletics, gym and jungle trekking. Which was all pretty fantastic except for the constant pain in the feet.

It was much later on that I learned I have collapsed arches. Plantar fasciitis in medical terms. Some people call it flat feet, but specifically, the correct condition for what I have is “collapsed arches”. I didn’t really take notice of it until one day, my feet just stopped functioning. I couldn’t walk. Every step sent shooting pain up both feet. I couldn’t work because work took me to into the far flung reaches of the rainforest in central Borneo. Most of all, my lifestyle grounded to a painful screeching halt because everything I love to became a great big journey of pain. How’s that for drama?

So finally, I decided I wasn’t invincible after all. Superwoman, yes, but woman of steel, no. That was 2002. Since then, I’ve spent a lot of time, money and effort understanding what ails me WITHOUT compromising my love for physical movement.

What’s the point of this story?

Because:

• Our feet bear the brunt of our weight all our life. They deserve special TLC.
• One in six people have some kind of foot problem.
• Active people, especially heavy active people, are more prone to foot problems at some point in their lives.
• Yes, active people can be heavy too. It doesn’t meant they aren’t fit.
• Foot pain can lead to other complications including heel spurs, knee, hip and back problems.
• Foot pain doesn’t mean you have to give up an active lifestyle.
• Get the pain diagnosed and treated. I’ve used special inserts, gone for massages, gotten help on correcting muscle balance, gone for acupuncture, TCM, medicated foot baths and more. Whatever you do, get it looked at because it CAN get better.

Where am I at today?

Recovering from a heel spur on my right ankle. In any one week, I cycle, hike, gym, swim, do qigong and dabble in a few other things. My current therapy includes massages, acupuncture, stretching and foot baths. There’s no question that I have to be extra careful in any activity that I do. But there’s absolutely no reason why anyone has to suffer pain and stop what they love or would love to do. My life revolves around activity, as it always has and I don’t intend to stop anytime soon.

Here’s more information on feet ailments and plantar fasciitis.