I have recently begun to suspect that many of my hip, knee, back, and foot problems come from wearing supportive shoes. I read "take off your shoes and walk", then switched to moccasins that are wide at the toe instead of regular boots and shoes that shape my toes slightly inward. I say slightly because they don't deform my feet nearly as much as most fashionable shoes such as heels and pumps. Well now that I can't walk more than a few yards without feeling pain, I threw my insoles and boots away. I walked in moccasins for a couple weeks, during which a lot of knee pain went away and I had the coming and going burning and tingling pain in my feet, lower legs, shins, etc. Since I'm in pain anyway whether shod or not, I haven't switched back to regular shoes. The pain started going away and my feet felt great. I am developing a nice strong arch and some muscle definition on the bottom of my smooth, delicate, fragile soles. I went totally bare at a hotel ballroom dance. So after that, I bought a pair of vibram fivefingers and started wearing them. It was like the next step in my barefoot progress. My foot ligaments are tingling again, some pain in the hip and shins. Through all this I've been trying to relearn how to walk without heelstriking. It wasn't easy. The pain (from my own chronic, undiagnosed problems) is very distracting and it makes me clumsy. My chiropractor and rehab therapist both own vibram fivefingers. I told them I can't achieve good posture in regular shoes so I'm trying out barefoot. So how long does this on again off again foot pain and tingling go on for? Will it take months before my feet are as strong as they should be? Some days I feel graceful and in no pain and that is awesome, but some days I feel clumsy and hurt again. It's very strange.
I cannot speak for how long your foot pain and tingling will go on for. Only a doctor can answer that, after an examination. You said you had "smooth, delicate, fragile soles". Many people start going barefoot on the first warm day, overdo it, get blisters and/or small cuts and swear off barefooting again. Easing your way is the best way. Start out slowly, for short periods of time. Start on grass or soft surfaces and eventually your soles will adapt to their environment. It takes time, some longer than others. Tingling can be a sign of neuroptahy. My best advice is to consult a doctor. Now.
I already have. I have signs of Meltons Neuroma and some plantar faciitis, snapping hip syndrome, pinched nerve in my neck yada yada. Chiropractor says this is sign of feeling coming back to my feet now that I've had some corrections done, and a little bit of over stretching my foot tendons. He said to put ice on it, but some people say they have to spend months building up the feet, some people say weeks. I'd have to be insane to put my regular shoes back on, because that was just way worse. THAT is not going to happen. I say undiagnosed because my therapist says we are focusing on my neck trouble first, and if it still hurts everywhere else in a few weeks we'll discuss it then. As is, my list of pains went from a page long to only a few sentences in 3 weeks. He says this stuff should clear up on it's own if I give it time. However, I think since the workout program he gave me includes stretches for the hips et al that he is working on it more than he lets on. Another doctor already diagnosed the neuroma and got me a special ergonomic chair at work to sit in and reduce swelling along my nerves. However, what good is a comfortable chair when I really want to stand up and walk?
just start walking barefoot,stop this nonsense of easing into it.Shoes are unnatural,and barefeet are cool,to go barefoot is no issue,two weeks max,and youl be able to go onto a field barefoot.Soles toughen quick
In your culture this is probably true. For many others, it is not. I've read posts where someone goes barefoot all day on the first nice day, gets blisters, sore feet and legs and swears never to go barefoot outdoors again. In your climate, people are raised in situations where they adapt much quicker to the warmth opposed to New York where the temps range from 10F to 90F over the year.
From another post: So it has been two months since I started barefoot /minimal shoe wearing exclusively. I love my vibram five fingers. All the pain I was in for the last ten years from supposed fibromyalgia, planta faciitis, meltons neuroma, shin splints, and flat feet is gone. The hip pain that keeps me from walking or standing for long, is almost gone. I've started using a wobble board to balance my hips and strengthen my weak, flat feet. I'm using a balance ball, medicine ball, and foam roller for stripping scar tissue from my illiotibial bands. My chiropractor did a foot scan last week and said I need orthotics to help take away the hip pain. However, I told him I'm still pretty burned out on shoes and plan on never wearing normal shoes ever again for as long as I live. I'm only 36. I threw out all my shoes that weren't minimal and my progress from constant pain + headaches and not being able to sleep to current is amazing. SHOES ARE BAD. So I told him, if I don't own shoes, how am I supposed to wear orthos? And since this is working, why not give it another few months? My rehab team agreed, that if it works, don't fix it. Barefoot in the desert. Yes, I am a person with compromised muscular systems in my legs due to shoe wearing. I found out that my mother used to make my shoes...moccasins until I was 11. My problems walking started when I started wearing regular shoes more often...at 11. However, yesterday I actually ran a few feet! And I walked around the store without limping. Progress!
