Mind My Feet: Psoriatic Arthritis, Foot Pain, and the Importance of Supportive Shoes

Having chronic pain in your feet is debilitating. It affects your every movement, and doing simple daily tasks is nearly impossible. Two weeks ago for the first time in ages, the tendons and joints in my feet became inflamed. Not just a little bit, either. It reminded me what psoriatic arthritis meant for me and also humbled me, underscoring that I must be accountable for how I take care of myself and my feet.

A long day leads to a flare

I had walked a lot that day, going up and down between work and school activities for my daughter, and there was hardly time to sit down for tea. There are days like this that are just “go, go, go.” When you have psoriatic arthritis, you can almost expect that you are going to need to rest properly for a few days after such a busy day. The fatigue and pain that follow can get really bad. This was expected. What I did not expect was not being able to walk for five days.

The problem with bad shoes

I will admit I had been wearing sandals for a few days straight, and I know I should not do this. But some days it is just how things work out. The weather had been warm, and I was busy every time I left the house, so I slipped my feet into the closest pair of sandals. I have since made a mental note to look for supportive and good-quality shoes. Suggestions are welcome; please comment below.

An unexpected jolt of pain

It did not even need overnight or time to develop. I went and sat down at some stage and noticed my feet were sore. By now, everything kind of hurt, so it was just a matter of how much and for how long it hurt. I rested, had my cup of tea, and took my shoes off.

Man oh man, when I tried to get up off that couch, I got a surprise.

A pain like no other shot out from my heel and felt like it was simultaneously going into my leg and to my toes. It was sharp and hot like a fire poker, and I simply collapsed on the floor. This in itself is so damaging to my body. I have not experienced pain like that before, and as you can imagine, I am rather well-versed in pain.

Forced rest and recovery

There was nothing I could do to alleviate this pain. I tried ice packs and heat packs, pain medications, and rest. Nothing was helping. I could not walk at all on that foot. Getting up to have a shower or use the bathroom was so excruciating it left me in tears. I had a long remote chat with my doctor. He knows my condition and history. He prescribed some strong anti-inflammatory medications and rest for a few days. I could not fight him, as I could not walk. So rest I did.

Along with some strapping of my foot, some strong tablets, and continued hot and cold therapy, I could finally put some weight on that foot after five days. It has taken consistent care and monitoring to make sure that it does not flare again. Decent shoes and being aware of how much time I spend on my feet is a top priority at the moment.

It reminded me to be so grateful for the gift of movement and the use of my legs and feet, something that is truly never to be taken for granted.