6 years of arch pain - need advice please
I’m 25 and have had intermittent foot pain for around 6 years, but I never figured out what originally caused it.
The main problem is my arch (location shown in the image) I have flexible flat feet/overpronation and an ultrasound showed bursitis between my 3rd and 4th toes. My MRI and X-ray were clear. The consultants then brushed me off as nothing structurally was wrong.
The pain feels like a deep muscle fatigue/ache, and I sometimes get pulsing or cramping sensations there. It will also get really inflamed, and visibly red and hot during a flare up. It is made worse with activity and (this may be coincidental) but calf stretching and very simple foot-strengthening exercises sometimes seem to make things worse.
I do go through periods of being less symptomatic. Most recently wearing my Teva Hurricane sandals seemed to reduce my pain for around 6 weeks… but it’s back again.
I have tried custom orthotics but they made the pain worse. I tried Topo Aura and Altra Lone Peaks, which hurt. With the added issue of my bursitis, which means I need wide toe box shoes, nothing seems comfortable.
Has anyone experienced anything similar, particularly long-term arch pain? I’d really love to hear what helped people eventually rebuild their tolerance to walking/standing and footwear.