3/10/2020 to 11/29/2020

On April 2020 I started having pain at the ball of my feet. I thought it started because I was standing on barefoot on hardwood floor 8 hours a day at a stand up computer station while working from home from 3/10/2020 to 4/23/2020. I wore high arched sandals (worked very well) to relieve the pressure at the ball of my feet to ease the pain, thinking it would go away with time (See Figure 1).

Certain things would trigger pain:

1. Such as jamming my feet into my shoes when slipping into my shoes every morning. The ball of my feet would hurt mildly for 2 hours after doing so.

2. July 2020 I started going back to the gym to do some rehab work on my back. I have a back strain that has been bothering me since 2017. I was have been diagnosed with myofascial pain syndrome a while back. I actually bought some metatarsal sleeves (did not provide relief) for my feet on 10/8/2020 because the ball of my feet was aggravated (See Figure 2).

3. Putting my toes in the extension position when kneeling down to build a Squat Rack on 11/28/2020. I think this was the day it went down hill. I was hurting but was so frustrated building it I became careless and continued to bend my feet and finish the project so I could get it over with. Consciously thinking that I was hurting but that it would get better in a few days.

Figure 1: OOFOS Recovery Sandals. This was a life saver

Figure 2: Metatarsal Sleeves. (these didn't provide any relief)

12/7/2020 to 12/18/2020

On Dec 7th 2020 after visiting my pediatrist about the pain at the ball of my feet, he diagnosed me with capsulitis of the metatarsal joint in both feet. Right now it affects the 2nd and 3rd toe (See Figure 1) he gave me some Hapad cushion inserts to relieve pressure from the ball of my feet. He noted that the outside of my pinky toe is pinkish (See Figure 2) and recommended I get wider shoes.

I immediately bought two pairs of Size 10 Asic Nimbus 22 size EE (Wide). Note that I got my feet scanned at FleetFeet and my shoe size should be approximately 8.9 and size E (See Figure 3). I usually wear size 9.5 regular width Asic Nimbus. I never had an issue with the width of my shoes before.

Between Dec 7th - Dec 18th I used the Hapads in my shoe when I need to walk around the house and go to work.

I went to work on site at my job on Dec 14, 15, and 17th. I began to have more foot pain. It’s affecting the 2nd to 5th toes on both feet at the metatarsal joint. Because the ball of feet hurts, I started to curl my toes to use them as claws to keep the pressure off the ball of my feet. Doing this for one day caused my toes to hurt really bad so I had to stop doing that. So instead I leaned my body back to distribute the pressure on my heels. After 1 hour of doing this, my heel starts to hurt A LOT so I also had to stop doing this also.

I took medical leave from work since Dec 18th and did not return to work since then because my feet just kept getting worse.

Figure 1: Pain in 2nd and 3rd metatarsal joint.

Figure 2: Redness at two areas

Figure 3: Feet scan at fleet feet.

Figure 3: Just a picture of my feet on Dec 7 2020

12/21/2020 to 12/23/2020

Dec 21st and 22nd 2020 I went out to get groceries, they were short trips. In my latest trip while waiting in line to pay for my groceries I was debating on leaving all my groceries at the line because it hurt so bad. The ball of feet and heel hurt, I hop off my feet and lay my body on top of the shopping cart so I can complete my purchase with as little weight-bearing on my feet. It felt like my feet had ran barefoot on a million miles of a pebble path.

On Dec 23 2020 I received a warm foot spa from my friends as a Christmas gift. Figures 4 - 7 are what my feet look like after using the warm foot spa. (Figures 1-3 are pictures of what my feet looked like before every using the warm foot spa.)

Figure 1: New area that hurts. It hurts where the bone is that I am pointing at. 12/22/2020

Figure 2: Just a picture of the underside of my foot on 12/23/2020 before I ever started doing warm foot spas.

Figure 3: The heel has a hint of dark blackish blue color. This was taken on 12/23/2020 before I ever started doing warm foot spas.

Figure 4: Taken on 12/23/2020 after warm foot bath.

Figure 5: Taken on 12/23/2020 after warm foot bath.

Figure 6: Taken on 12/23/2020 after warm foot bath.

Figure 7: Taken on 12/23/2020 after warm foot bath.