Hi Everybody,

I'm 5 weeks out from surgery and walking for exercise. Today I did 5 miles on a flat surface at a 17 min/mile rate. The balls of my feet are extremely sore. This has happened in the last couple weeks several additional times. My shoes are either Ryka or ASICS and are in good shape. I'm no stranger to walking, I've just upped the intensity and distance since coming on board with WLS.

Am I walking wrong? Maybe my gait is still at my higher weight? I don't have flat feet or plantar fasciitis. My feet are normal and average. My heels are fine. What could this be?

Anybody have this happen to them too?

Thanks for your input.

Have you been properly fitted for shoes to match your degree of pronation/supination?

Walking around casually, the shoes are probably fine, but if you are walking 5 miles at a good pace, you may need something more supportive for you gait. I always suggest going to a local running store for a free analysis.

Of course, a trip to the podiatrist would be more complete. Could be a plantar wart (sometimes you can't even see them) or something else going on, but a good, fitted pair of shoes are always a good thing to have.

Might also be a corn. Never had one (or any foot problem) until about two years prior to surgery. I could see the corn but had no idea what it was until my PCP took one look at it. He said they can do surgery but didn't recommend it since they tend to come back. It's still there to this day. But after losing 130 lbs, I never even notice it and I'm walking four miles a day, three to four days a week. No pain at all. Just one more benefit of bariatric surgery!

Regardless of what it is, I agree with Dr. Tom - go to a shoe store and see what suggestions they have for a shoe that will give you more support. I just bought a new pair of walking shoes yesterday (from a New Balance store) and it's quite amazing what they can tell from a relatively simple machine. They were considerably more expensive than my $15 pair of costco tennies but the money I'll save on bandaids will help offset the cost!

Some people who have surgery lose weight in their feet and often times transition into a smaller shoe size. Since you are doing 5 mile walks at a fast clip, if your feet are getting smaller, it could cause a bad reaction, like blisters. Consider that some of your 54 pound weight loss may be in your feet.

I agree with PdxMan. Get fitted at a runner's store, even if you are walking not running. They know how to fit your personal traits with the best fitting, most supportive shoe. I cannot believe as overweight as I am, they fitted me before I walked a 1/2 marathon (my first ever). The shoes with a discount were $110, and the best money I have ever spent. We trained for 20 weeks, 3X a week, at the least 9 miles a week - up to 22 miles in the last week before our week off, then the 1/2 marathon. Probably 250+ miles on that pair before I did it. Only had a blister one time, towards the end when shoes were stretched out (and it was on the ball of my foot)....the runner's store fitted me with inserts to tighten up the fit. And off I went. If you continue to have trouble after getting good shoes, go to a podiatrist. We need our feet to be fit, to continue our journey. Good job on your 5 miles ... keep it up!

Thank you for your comments. I called around town and found a place that has some kind of gizmo that analyses my gait and such. I'm prepared to spend the big bucks on a well-fitted, proper pair of shoes.

I recently grudgingly laid out more than I wanted to for a pair of New Balance "walking" shoes along with sole inserts. Their machine indicated that my left arch is slightly lower than the right arch. Today was the second time I've worn them. Now I'm no marathoner but this afternoon I walked five miles in 68 minutes with an average one mile pace of 13:48 per mile. That's pretty dang good for me. I'm amazed at the difference the shoes made in my gait. And not the slightest hint of a blister. My $15 costco tennies resulted in two blisters to the point of bleeding over the same distance last week. Money well spent!!

Hi Everybody,

I'm 5 weeks out from surgery and walking for exercise. Today I did 5 miles on a flat surface at a 17 min/mile rate. The balls of my feet are extremely sore. This has happened in the last couple weeks several additional times. My shoes are either Ryka or ASICS and are in good shape. I'm no stranger to walking, I've just upped the intensity and distance since coming on board with WLS.

Am I walking wrong? Maybe my gait is still at my higher weight? I don't have flat feet or plantar fasciitis. My feet are normal and average. My heels are fine. What could this be?

Anybody have this happen to them too?

Thanks for your input.

Maybe bone spurs? I have heel spurs and have to always wear shoes with proper support and cushioning. My podiatrist said to never, ever, ever go barefoot, even in the house. If I step down hard on my heal the spur injures the tendon. Then it takes a loooong time before I can walk without pain - last time the pain lasted two years! Avoidance is key. Good quality, well fitting shoes...

And once a friend of mine got an injury from walking too much. Relatives moved in w/her temporarily and she started walking 5-6 miles per day just to escape the chaos. She got a stress fracture from w.alking