Hey, Thanks for the advice on the shoes. MY biggest problem are my toes and ankles.I thought RA Doc would think I was nuts when I told him my toes hurt & woke me up at night.He just smiled and handed me a pamplet. ( toes is one of the #1 places for RA) Because of my feet a trip to Gro. Store and Wal-mart, wears me out.I do have Clarks and Born brand shoes, but after a little while my feet really hurt.I too like to go barefoot and wear flip flops, I wonder if that might have caused all this?I used to like to go Antiquing,shopping,and working in my flower beds. Now it's just not worth the pain that follows. Can anyone help me make my husband and teenage son understand my pain & fatique. I've shown them plenty info on this but they make me feel like, I make too big of a deal of this. Let me tell ya, it sure puts stress on a relationship! You are all so kind and I'm glad to have someone to share with, who understands. CathyMy feet are my main source of misery. I personally find that they feel better when I walk around barefoot, especially in the yard. My main shoes this summer are a pair of beach/sport sandals. I wear them very loose; it's almost as good as having no shoes, but they just barely meet the dress code requirements at work.
Hi, perhaps we should ask our doctors about barefoot vs shoes? I wear really funky 'dr scholls' type nursing shoes in a big size for me. Then I put in soft/rubbery insoles and cut a hole where my pain/swelling is (front of my foot , left only). It burns and hurts after exercising and walking the beach. These shoes and inserts help me. I couldn't go barefooted or I'd feel like I was walking right on the bones!
Someone told me to never go without shoes? Who knows, whatever works for you. Lynda
I walk better barefoot. I usually run around in the house without shoes on and have started just running around the yard that way too. I have less pain. Sneakers are usually best for me but I have to watch what kind I buy because if they're too heavy I get pain in my knees. [QUOTE=Lynda M]Someone told me to never go without shoes? Who knows, whatever works for you. Lynda
[/QUOTE]THe first one is for the spoon theory, the other site is by a member of another RA board, she used to come on here but not much anymore.
http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/2004/11/the_spoon_theory.p hp
http://wayneysplace2.bravehost.com/what_ra_is_like.htm
I agree, whatever works for you! I know I couldn't walk barefoot! I wear slippers with my orthotics in them around the house and even put them on when I get up to pee in the middle of the night!I have taped Lidocaine patches to the bottom of my feet before. It really helps.
PJ
I can't really go barefooted much anymore either. I use to when I was younger all the time but now not so much. We were at the beach last week and I went barefooted alot. By the evenings my feet were killing me! I like crocs; but I rarely if ever wear them in public.
I honestly feel like some people are just more compassionate than other's. My first husband didn't handle my RA as well as my second husband does. I was very hesitant to get into another serious relationship due to the fact that I felt like my RA seriously affected my marriage. My 2nd husband knew this and researched RA on his own and came to me one day and promised me that we'd face it all together. I was shocked! He knew all kinds of things about RA and I could not believe the trouble he went to to learn all of this. My first husband wouldn't read a thing even if I put it under his nose and here was this precious man going to all this trouble to research the facts and understand what I was going through. I felt like it was just too good to be true. Luckliy for me it wasn't a passing thing. He's been amazing with my illness. He remembers my RA even on days when I almost forget. He's the first to remind me to "Slow Down" "Don't Lift that!" "Please rest a while". I makes all the difference in the world in my well being. We weren't married a month and he had to pick me up off the bathroom floor with my back out and wait on me hand and foot for days. It was a true test of his compassion. My daughter is also really compassionate and I'm truly blessed to have them both in my life. My 17 year old son is caring but not as much as the other two. Some people just have it in them....and other's just don't. Maybe I'm wrong; but it seems to be a battle so many here face.
Lovie, your husband sounds awesome and VERY understanding (from the pic you shared he's VERY handsome as well
Sinse I have almost always struggled with arthritis, I forget that people really do not understand. I am trying to be a little more patient with the ignorant. I am lucky...most of my family really understands pretty well.
As for shoes vs barefoot, I need those well padded shoes. I wear shoes to the bathroom in the middle of the night. The floor is just too hard.
I think it's extremely hard for people not living with this to understand. My youngest brother has always been great and helpful but I was relaying to him the Spoon story, he looked at almost dumbfounded. Until that moment he never truly comprehended what RA was like. And I've had this for both our lives. Now, he'll call and ask me if I need help with anything so I don't have to use up all my spoons.Hey guys... I am married to a retired military man. He has never been sick, had a headache or taken anything other that a couple of Motrin. I try not to complain too much and I get sick and tired of trying to act "fine". I hate the guilt and frustration I feel since being diagnosed. I truly can count on one hand the totally pain free days I have had since the beginning of May.
As for my feet, that is where my RA started and I have extreme difficulty going barefoot. My feet are very happy in a pair of really comfy, cushy slippers or good ortho shoes. I have thought about going to a podiatrist and possible steroid shots into my feet to just get some relief even if short lived.