Foot pain...Any ideas?

[Darin]

I have an interesting problem. I have done a few searches and didn't come up with much.

It seems that I have pain in my feet (both) when diving. However, it's a bit odd, let me explain.

It occurs on the surface of the water, usually, kind of an achy, crampy pain that starts on the top, of my foot, towards the outside edge, sometimes going all the way through to the bottom. If I'm in a pool or shallow water, it doesn't seem to ever go away, until I get out of the water. But, if I make a deeper dive, say, over 30 feet, it will usually go away, but not always. If it's particularly bad, it will remain for an hour or so after I get out of the water, sometimes I get a tingling, sort of like if you foot has been "asleep", but it's localized in just that one area.

If I'm on the surface for an extended amount of time, say, during a briefing, it will progressively get worse.

It happens when I'm in booties and fins, or even fins and drysuit boots. Doesn't really seem to matter. I can put my booties on and have no problem walking around, putting my gear together and such, only in the water. I have even put the booties and fins on sitting in front of the TV. but never really got any pain, maybe a twinge...but nothing I could really notice. It seems to be a bootiy/fin/pressure thing....?

It's not an unmanageable pain, just uncomfortable. I think I would have a more enjoyable dive if I could figure out what’s causing it.

Now, I am using the same maker of fins, Tusa, but two types, the splits and non. Also, I have a wide foot, EE to EEE.

Anyway, anyone have any ideas or have the same problem? Anything help?

Help!

Darin

 

[Web Monkey]

It happens when I'm in booties and fins, or even fins and drysuit boots. Doesn't really seem to matter. I can put my booties on and have no problem walking around, putting my gear together and such, only in the water. I have even put the booties and fins on sitting in front of the TV. but never really got any pain, maybe a twinge...but nothing I could really notice. It seems to be a bootiy/fin/pressure thing....?

I'm not a doctor and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night, but it sounds like your fins are either too small or are shaped differently than your feet.

You might want to try bigger (or different) fins.

Terry

 

[Darin]

Thanks, That's something I might try.

It's an odd thing. Not a true cramp, I don't think. Once I get it, it's hard to get rid of, regardless of foot position or movement. I could be static at the surface, floating, and still get the pain.

Maybe I'll see if I can try out a different maker in the pool next time I'm there.


Darin

 

[Diver0001]

I agree with Terry. My first thought when I read your problem was that your flippers are either too tight or too small.

R..

 

[ClevelandDiver]

I am afflicted with overly wide feet as well. I use Turtles and XXL Jet Fins with my drysuit and XL Quatros with my wetsuit boots. The smaller XL Jet Fins are to narrow for me to use with my 5mil wetsuit boots without pain and impossible to get over my drysuit boots.

My drysuit is a Bare XCD2 tech and the boots are 7mil vulcanized neoprene, so they are pretty thick. However, the XL Quatros will still squeeze over them with effort and without pain while diving...... but getting them off is definitely a pain!

 

[Darin]

Thanks for the ideas.

At one time, i was using the XXL Tusa's but they felt too floppy and seemed like they wanted to fall off. I have since switched to spring straps and the proble stays the same.

I'm wondering if a wide-width booty is the answer. Anyone know if there is such a thing?

Darin

 

[mikerault]

I have a similar problem with only my left foot with cowboy boots. I used to wear the square toe roper type boots (with the strap up over the instep that goes to a ring at the ankle) but anymore about 10 minutes afer I put them on I get just the pain you talk about. There is a nerve junction (from what I understand) right where that bend is on the instep as it heads down towards the toes and that is where the strap puts pressure and I have to take the darn things off (anyone want a pair of $400.00 cowboy boots, size 10 wide hardly worn?).

Mike

 

[Diver0001]

Thanks for the ideas.

At one time, i was using the XXL Tusa's but they felt too floppy and seemed like they wanted to fall off. I have since switched to spring straps and the proble stays the same.

I'm wondering if a wide-width booty is the answer. Anyone know if there is such a thing?

Darin

How tight are your spring straps? It's not necessarily the foot pocket where the irritation originates. Spring straps, if they're too short, put a lot of pressure on your Achilles tendon and that could be causing (some of) the irritation.

R..

 

[Diver0001]

Another question:

Does the pain get worse if you swim a lot or is it present even if you're just bimbling around?

R..

 

[Darin]

Actually, I just shortened them up. They were too loose this past weekend and kept coming off my heel. Even that loose, still had the pain.

I think mikerault might be on to something. I assume most foot pockets on fins are somewhat wedge-shaped, like our feet, no doubt. I'm wondering if the fins/booties are squeezing the middle top and sides of my foot, causing the pain? The problem is, what to do about it? Maybe the reason it subsides somewhat at depth is that the neoprene is compressing, relieving some of the pressure?

Darin