Wrap it in a dish towel. If you can stand it, it does help on painful areas.
It has actually eased off quite a lot today and I can actually shuffle around the room a bit - ankles still very sore, but the feet themselves have improved a lot. Not going to overdo it, just in case. My new walking frame is coming in handy. Just about to order a caddy to fit it from Amazon.
I did all sorts of silly things in the Army. Parachuting and marching with weight were mostly responsible for me getting flat feet. From this I developed heel spurs too. In Germany I was prescribed insoles with a small area that stands up from the middle of the sole. This is designed to restretch the muscles and the ligament. Works wonders. Unfortunately they return if not wearing the insoles. I have to go back every 2 years to be remeasured. Never had them since though. Was you told to try and stretch the sole of the foot on the edge of a step? I had to do that and keep off it till I got the insoles. They are uncomfortable at first but the pain will disappear in a few days as will the spurs themselves.
The GP did suggest that I try stretching my soles but not over a step or anything. I ddid it a few times but not enough, I think, to make a difference. But the pain has subsided a bit now and is only bad in my ankles. Trying to exercise to keep everything stretched and moving and hoping it will all just sort itself out.
When I looked on the Amazon site yesterday, there was a caddy and a tray that would fit the walking frame I bought. They're not there today. Maybe they sold out. I'll keep on checking every so often and see if they get them back. It would make a big difference to be able to move things around using a caddy of some sort but I would go and buy the one that needed a special shape of caddy....
Ask your GP if he can prescribe orthopedic insoles. If your ankles are week it will affect your feet too. I also have to wear a type of boot to stop overpronating. That causes heel spurs to occur too. I wish you the best of luck. I know its not nice. Fingers crossed Ann.
I'm beginning to think that the pain in my soles, at least, is caused by the bandaging which stretches from my toes to my knees. It puts pressure on those areas of my arches that are not very arched. While these bandages are in place, no inserts would do any good because I can't wear proper shoes and the bandages are so thick and inflexible. Neil deals with his low arches (born with them) by having developed a way of walking with his toe down first - it looks a bit odd, but he's comfortable with it.
I'm sorry to hear that. As stated, I am in Germany. Stayed here after service. Our medical support is so different. It took some time to find the right Orthopedic Surgeon, but eventually I found one who took peoples ills seriously. He discovered my flat feet. He discovered I needed insoles and the boot on my right side. He saw my right side was weaker after years of compensating the pain by taking all the weight on the left. I was able to start my fitness all over again. I pay particular attention to my feet after getting polyneuropathy from 11.5 years of dialysis. I get regular massages, Laser treatment and podiatrist checks. I am entitled to request a 3 to 6 week rehab due to my conditions. They basically look after you, but you have to work at it too. I know you cannot get such things on the NHS which is a shame. Ironically because I self treat Diabetes, I get no diabetes prescriptions for sticks or lancets etc. I do not understand the NHS that much because I spent 35 years in the Army seeing Army doctors then German doctors. I hope your doctors sort the problems out for you and I hope you heal soon.
Foam rollers are good for rolling your feet on. A kids swimming noodle cut into 3rds is just the trick.
