My First Pair of Orthopedic Shoes
My back hurts. My head hurts. Sometimes my hip gets stiff when I sit too long. But my foot hurts the most! Last year, I was diagnosed with gout—which was a little horrifying, humiliating, and humbling—but eventually, that got better. Then, my heel began to hurt and the pain was excruciating! I could hardly put any weight on it and hobbled around my house, assuming it was due to gout.
I limped over to my Doctor, certain I would be looking at spending a day getting xrays or MRIs and wondering if my walking days were already over. She calmly informed me that gout doesn't usually affect the heel. (But I was avoiding meat and eating anti-inflammatory foods for months! For no reason?)
So, what was the problem? Achilles tendonitis. Before this, I hadn't even heard of it! My doctor questioned my habits: walking barefoot, wearing flip flops, ballet flats, and never choosing supportive shoes (kitten heels and pumps definitely don't count). The diagnosis was straightforward, but the treatment involved:
· Stretching and physical therapy exercises
· Heel supports—not high heels!
· Supportive, full-coverage shoes
· Ben Gay for pain relief (and that classic grandmotherly scent!)
While doing calf stretches and heel raises, I started researching heel supports and orthopedic shoes, dreading the thought of wearing big, clunky sneakers. But then I came across Project Cloud—a modern sneaker that actually looked cute that I could pair with office attire. On a whim, I ordered them from Amazon and started wearing them right away. They may not be officially orthopedic, but the memory foam and full support made a huge difference for my sore feet. I can spend all day on my feet with minimal discomfort, and I've even received compliments. Most importantly, I’m able to enjoy walking again without the setbacks I used to get with my old shoes.
Project Cloud Women’s Sneakers - style meets comfort!
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Other changes also helped: I kept up with physical therapy, returned to my regular walking routine, kept avoiding inflammatory foods, tossed out all my flip flops, and now wear supportive slippers at home. And yes—when I need extra relief, I use Ben Gay, even if it means smelling a bit like a little old lady. Of course, I’m not a doctor, so don’t swap my experience for medical advice, but I love my new Project Cloud shoes so much that I’ve bought several different styles!