Footwear/strapping/gel soles

norris9 · Post by **norris9** » 20 Nov 2019, 17:06

Yo guys..

I constantly have pain in my feet area....

1. Achilles Tendon is fine when I am walking with shoes on, but if I don't have them on and I'm walking around the house or down stairs it is painful. Anyone else had this and how did you resolve this? do I need to strap it up?

2. The boney parts of the base of my feet, the heel and metatarsal areas, these are painful to walk on bare footed, but I do also feel pain when wearing shoes out on the round. I assume this pain is caused by the constant pounding against the ground. It feels as if the bones are bruised. I have RM shoes with gel pad insoles. Do I need to start looking for my own pair of shoes or maybe even buy some sort of gel strapping?
Did a quick google and it sounds like this is called: metatarsalgia

I bet most Posties here just wear ordinary socks, maybe have gel insoles and obviously shoes..... Maybe I feel it worse more than most. Do any of you go further and double up your gel insoles? refuse to wear RM shoes and have a wonderful pair of so and so brand? strap your feet or ankles up? or maybe you have the foot pain like me but just tolerate it?

Post by **Trail** » 20 Nov 2019, 17:43

norris9 wrote:Yo guys..

I constantly have pain in my feet area....

1. Achilles Tendon is fine when I am walking with shoes on, but if I don't have them on and I'm walking around the house or down stairs it is painful. Anyone else had this and how did you resolve this? do I need to strap it up?

2. The boney parts of the base of my feet, the heel and metatarsal areas, these are painful to walk on bare footed, but I do also feel pain when wearing shoes out on the round. I assume this pain is caused by the constant pounding against the ground. It feels as if the bones are bruised. I have RM shoes with gel pad insoles. Do I need to start looking for my own pair of shoes or maybe even buy some sort of gel strapping?
Did a quick google and it sounds like this is called: metatarsalgia

I bet most Posties here just wear ordinary socks, maybe have gel insoles and obviously shoes..... Maybe I feel it worse more than most. Do any of you go further and double up your gel insoles? refuse to wear RM shoes and have a wonderful pair of so and so brand? strap your feet or ankles up? or maybe you have the foot pain like me but just tolerate it?

You're pretty much doing a half marathon each day for 5/6 days a week. Can you imagine being told to wear Magnum or CATs or those other horrendous trainers RM give you for 13+miles a day?

No. I'm prepared to stomach £50 each six months to walk around in Nike trainers (running shoes), and if RM management pick you up on this tell them to try having a pop at doing a week or three in their s**t shoes. Saucony or NB are always worth a look too.

As for insoles, no, never worn them. Socks, no if I've got shorts on, if I'm wearing RM trousers then any socks are fine, the thinner the better.

I've never had any problems with my feet or knees, legs, anything, and I'm closer to 40 than 30.

Post by **woody38** » 20 Nov 2019, 18:42

U wait to u get into your 50s. I was fine till I reached my 50s

Post by **CPTNemoUK** » 20 Nov 2019, 18:50

I've got plantar fibroma in both my feet. Royal mail shoes are killing me so started wearing my own boots. They are better but the damage is already done so still in pain while walking. At the hospital on Wednesday so hopefully I can get them sorted.

Maxwell1979 · Post by **Maxwell1979** » 20 Nov 2019, 19:48

I use memory foam insoles from ebay haven't had a twinge since I started using these!!

Ali831 · Post by **Ali831** » 20 Nov 2019, 20:49

Started with merrells until the RM issued flexi trainers arrived. Tried to break them in gradually, calves ached, Achilles ached, back ached. Used padded trainer socks which are great & still use them. Flexi trainers still uncomfortable. Purchased a £20 pair of shock absorber insoles they made a big difference but still couldn't cope with the RM shoes. Went back to merrells all the aches disappeared. Replaced worn out merrells with a pair of curlew from mountain warehouse 2 weeks ago which are going back to the shop for a refund. utter rubbish hole in both heels already & only actually used them for about 9 days, 13 miles a day approx. When pressing their sole the tread is actually hollow so no wonder they have worn straight through. I now know to check all future soles before buying them. Got some sketchers now to try.

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 21 Nov 2019, 16:45

This subject is a regular favourite. I'm not complaining, it's what a Discussion Forum is all about. Better than discussing some "What if Royal Mail ...." Future Doom & Gloom scenario.

However I find it very disappointing that RM pay so little attention to something that obviously causes so much pain, and discomfort, to so many of it's staff.

It's a pity there's not one of these Footwear Manufacturers that could use us as a Trial Group to develop New Footwear. Nowadays we're probably covering more mileage Daily than your average Soldier.

I feel a lot of Outdoor Retailers just deal in "Trekking Chic", which is totally Un-Fit for purpose most of the time. Their stuff looks good when you're strolling through the Shopping Precinct, but it's Bugger All good when you're out and about in Bad Weather (A bit like a lot of our Uniform ... Remember those Artist's Impressions of our New RED Uniforms

)

Conclusion:

1) Most people with Major Feet/Knee/Hip problems appear to Favour their own Footwear (which they obviously have to pay for).

2)The Majority that do this seem to be aware they can get Re-Inbursed by RM for their Footwear (But need a Doctor's Letter).

3)The ammount that actually get this money back varies, depending on how Un-Informed, or Un-Helpful, their DOM is.

4)The Majority of Posties seem to feel that the choice of Footwear is Shite!

transporter03 · Post by **transporter03** » 21 Nov 2019, 17:59

Whilst we are on the general subject of foot problems has anyone else suffered with hammer/claw toe?.
I'm waiting on some insoles to be made (NHS) which hopefully will relieve some of the pain in the ball area of each foot due to the hammer toe.
Not sure whether to go down the surgery route to have the offending to straightened though. Any advice appreciated.
The footwear situation drives me up the wall. Insufficient reimbursement if you buy your own which always seems difficult to obtain.
Trying to get a new pair if you have gone over your allocation. Managers promising they will get them for you and then being left walking around in unsafe footwear.
So much for health + safety !. The list goes on.

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 21 Nov 2019, 18:27

transporter03 wrote:Whilst we are on the general subject of foot problems has anyone else suffered with hammer/claw toe?.
I'm waiting on some insoles to be made (NHS) which hopefully will relieve some of the pain in the ball area of each foot due to the hammer toe.
Not sure whether to go down the surgery route to have the offending to straightened though. Any advice appreciated.
The footwear situation drives me up the wall. Insufficient reimbursement if you buy your own which always seems difficult to obtain.
Trying to get a new pair if you have gone over your allocation. Managers promising they will get them for you and then being left walking around in unsafe footwear.
So much for health + safety !. The list goes on.

Put it writing and get the managers to order it if not they will hang themselves high esp with shoes and PPE it is yours as well as them to make sure that the stuff you use is fit for use and if not refuse to do so if it is not!

Post by **CPTNemoUK** » 27 Nov 2019, 15:23

Well just been to the hospital with my plantar fibroma. He took one look at it and told me that I need them removing. That will cheer the managers up tomorrow. I hope the date is before Christmas

. Will end up on a stage 2 though

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 27 Nov 2019, 17:13

CPTNemoUK wrote:Well just been to the hospital with my plantar fibroma. He took one look at it and told me that I need them removing. That will cheer the managers up tomorrow. I hope the date is before Christmas . Will end up on a stage 2 though

What are they planning on removing? I suffered from Plantars some time ago and thought it was a Tendon Running under the foot? Are they intending to remove them? Sounds a bit drastic .... Hope it alll works out mate.

norris9 · Post by **norris9** » 27 Nov 2019, 18:32

CPTNemoUK wrote:Well just been to the hospital with my plantar fibroma. He took one look at it and told me that I need them removing. That will cheer the managers up tomorrow. I hope the date is before Christmas . Will end up on a stage 2 though

You're having your feet amputated?

crimson king · Post by **crimson king** » 27 Nov 2019, 18:40

norris9 wrote:
CPTNemoUK wrote:Well just been to the hospital with my plantar fibroma. He took one look at it and told me that I need them removing. That will cheer the managers up tomorrow. I hope the date is before Christmas . Will end up on a stage 2 though
You're having your feet amputated?

Well, let's all hope the Doc was talking about his feet and not looking a little further up....

Post by **CPTNemoUK** » 27 Nov 2019, 23:45

norris9 wrote:
CPTNemoUK wrote:Well just been to the hospital with my plantar fibroma. He took one look at it and told me that I need them removing. That will cheer the managers up tomorrow. I hope the date is before Christmas . Will end up on a stage 2 though
You're having your feet amputated?

no just the lumps I should of said that in the original post

Hitcher · Post by **Hitcher** » 28 Nov 2019, 14:14

Dorset Plodder wrote:2)The Majority that do this seem to be aware they can get Re-Inbursed by RM for their Footwear (But need a Doctor's Letter).

Not completely true anymore as the shoes you buy have to be a certain ISO standard or you won't get reimbursed.

And even if you still wear your own shoes managers will use it against you if you have an accident at work by threatening to conduct code you if you want to report it.