I saw a post a while back, can't find it now, claiming that the January or spring lineup will have wides for some shoes that never had wides before, even original footbed.
Anyone familiar with this? Is this just a rumor or a daydream I had?
I'd pay double for one of the rockered shoes (Via Olympus, FWD Via) that fits wide like the Torin 8 wide.
Please stop reading this if you're not in a good place.
I have been triggered by follow-up MRIs, conflicting opinions, being online too much, and my own spiraling. I am safe, I will not hurt myself, but I'm also at a breaking point. I don't know what breaking point means. Maybe it means I just push through pain and accept whatever comes next. Maybe it means I shut down and do what my doctor and PT say and get back to a point where I was a few weeks ago where I felt like maybe this is doable. I don't know.
Sometimes, I just freak out.
I'm doing something else, something unrelated, something mentally consuming, and my heart drops out of my butt and I remember. I am disabled. Right now, I am disabled. No one can tell me I will be OK. No one can tell me what my life looks like in 1, 5, 10 years. I am alone.
I'm not even in a lot of pain right now. I'm transitioning into shoes with a dancer pad, waiting to get orthotics. It's going OK, but it's not going as planned.
I work from a place of fear.
I stopped living in fear about 6-7 weeks ago, as I progressed in PT without pain during the exercises. I decided that the pain never increases, and it actually seems to decrease, and if it doesn't increase with more movemet, more exercises, maybe it's OK to not be afraid. So I walked in my boot. I lived life in my boot. I walked a couple blocks. I stood and watched my nephews hockey game. I took the stairs. I helped decorate for Halloween at work.
My recent MRI update shows significant progression from May. While I was trying to live a normal life, trying not to be afraid, was I ruining the rest of my life?
My PT seems really hesitant. He asked my doctor if he's "sure" PT that loads the forefoot in small, low increments is OK. My doctor keeps saying, "yes, there are a lot of changes to the sesamoids and joint on the MRI, but I see no fractures. This is not horrible. She needs to do PT. She needs to be in a shoe. She needs to strengthen everything." My PT says, OK! We do this. We try not to go over 3/10 pain.
And that answer feels wrong.
But stopping progressing feels wrong.
Could anyone give me an answer that is not wrong?
And then an AI tool tells me STOP! You have active bone marrow edema, worsening! Your bones are fragile! You're heading for danger! You need to do better! The past 5 months were a waste! You had pain 1-2/10, but you needed 0! Don't you know what a bone is?!
And I worry I fumbled the start. That my care hasn't been perfect. That my bone stress injury is really fractures. That fractures can only heal one way. That I am not doing that.
That my whole joint is bad. That I will have gone from an active, pain-free, successful, happy, in love 36 year old to a miserable person for the rest of my days.
Fat, sad, tired, everything falling apart because I can't exercise.
That I will be one of the few here who never recover AND aren't eligible for corrective surgery. Because guys, you have one bad sesamoid! You will be OK!
My fears about the future can be debilitating.
People mention a trip in a year and I think, "but I'm a disabled person. I can't do that."
I think about the career I've developed over the past 12 years, where I'm in leadership, and wonder when I disappear from promotions and cool projects because I have to work from home for life. Or be in a wheelchair.
I think all of this as I see your posts, I see how complex your imaging is, and mine is worse.
Or I find someone with similar imaging to me, and I think, maybe they did it! And I see they either were able to figure something out I haven't (they managed TOTAL offloading for months, in a boot, with padding that didn't give them horrible bursitis or neuroma) or they're still disabled, at home, scared and sad and talking to the void.
Maybe recent posts have been escalating in doom. Maybe this community focuses on the perfect healing and not the slow, possible healing people with bone injuries can have over time.
We are all here to help. We share our stories, our resources, we try to help each other feel less alone. And still some of us are more alone than others, without the options other people have, with rare versions of a rare injury.
I am in therapy. She says I need to learn to be OK with some pain. That I need pain reprocessing.
But pain is a warning.
What should my biggest fear be? Should it be that this is forever?
Or should it be that this will be hard, take a long time, take patience...
Sorry, everyone. I've been trying.
What I have tried yet for broad bone marrow edema + arthrosis with no real increase in pain but also IDK:
What I haven't tried yet for broad bone marrow edema + arthrosis but see such mixed results on that I ask why bother?
My pain has never been bad. It's the fear of it being bad and staying and bad and getting worse that keeps me stuck. Yes, I am aware I have entered into the phase of unwell. I feel like I'm in the middle of the traumatic event that gives someone PTSD. What if I don't get to leave it?
Hi everyone,
Anyone else dealt with sesamoid issues?
I suffered a big toe plantar plate tear a while back (rehabbed well) and now have chronic/severe sesamoiditis and arthritis in the form of bone marrow edema and cartilage wear in both sesamoids of the same foot.
Bonus for any DC-area climbers who have recs for sesamoid-related doctors, rehabs, etc. especially for return to sport!
Feeling overwhelmed and scared to walk again, much less climb! But want to get back to everything one day, trying to stay hopeful.
I know the dancer pad is the #1 tool, followed closely by cut out under the sesamoids.
My issue is seemingly stupidly complex. Has anyone gotten better without using dancer pad or cut out in your insole?
Has anyone gotten better with early offload, like boot or NWB, and then a good rocker shoe and tape or some other method?
I have sesamoiditis with bone marrow edema and no visible or suspected fractures, per both radiologist and orthopedic doctor. I am unable to get a shoe situation to work and worried that pain post-boot is going to mean I'll never get better.
I started having pain in the ball of my foot 3 months ago. I'm not unfamiliar with foot pain because I had a turf toe injury a year or so ago.
MRI showed bone marrow edema of both sesamoids and intermetatarsal bursitis.
I did a boot, which I am still in.
Pain went away and I got about 5 weeks of relief in boot.
Have done PT for about 4 weeks now. Increased PT (starting trying to really use the muscle or tendon along the inside of my arch to flex the big toe) and trialed Topo Atmos for a few mins a day and suddenly pain returned with a vengeance and is even there in boot some or much of the time. It has been painful intermittently (increasingly more often) in boot for about 1.5 weeks now.
I recently started noticing this swelling/edema pattern, which was not visible before.
Pain has always been concentrated sort of on the lateral edge of the big toe joint or somewhat between the toes.
The most pinpoint pain area is sort of in the center of the edema/swelling shown.
The pain isn't too bad.. like a burning bruise with a pinpoint pain spot and a more diffuse burning bruise pain when walking on it in the boot or putting foot on ground. When its not inflamed or whatever theres no pain.
Despite the MRI showing sesamoid bone marrow edema, I don't have much pain on the joint when pressing unless it's swollen then it feels more tight than swollen.
I'm really struggling to find shoes because of a foot condition (sesamoiditis). I need a shoe with a rocker and a very firm forefoot (minimal flex), but I also need plenty of room across the forefoot.
Currently wearing Hoka Bondi in wide. It's tight at the tapered front of the shoe and on the sides. But the wide Bondi insole is also wider at the spot I'll discuss below...
I have the Altra FWD Via (1st edition), which worked reasonably well before this injury, but was a little tight in what I'd call the "bunion-to-bunion" space of my foot. I also needed something higher stack while I wear a boot on one foot.
I'd heard the Via Olympus 2 had a roomier toe box, so I ordered a pair. The toe area does feel roomier, especially vertically. And I can shift my foot to the side and make a little room between my foot and the fabric of the side of the upper, which I couldn't do in the FWD Via because it's just tight vertically and from side to side.
But when I compare the insoles from the FWD Via and the Via Olympus 2, the FWD Via insole is actually a little wider across the widest part of the forefoot—that bunion-to-bunion area. The upper on the Via Olympus 2 feels roomy, but the platform underneath actually seems narrower. The ball of my big toe and the outer edge of the ball of my little toe both extend beyond the edge of the midsole/outsole, so part of my foot is essentially hanging over the side of the shoe. That leaves the edge of the platform pressing up from under and into the ball of my big toe (or so it looks and I assume might feel), which is exactly where my injury is.
Is it normal for part of your forefoot to extend past the edge of the shoe's platform like this? I'm concerned that having part of my forefoot hanging over the edge means the side of the platform is pressing into my foot instead of supporting it, but maybe not?
Can anyone give me any advice on whether this means Altra just doesn;t work for me or what they think? Has anyone else noticed this with the Via Olympus 2? Am I just too wide-footed for Altras, or is this model unusually narrow through the widest part of the forefoot despite the roomy toe box?
How my foot fits on the insole may show what happens in the shoe itself (since anything past the insole edges is also over the platform of the shoe):
EDIT: I just put a Sole wide insole into the Via Olympus and it also sticks out over the edge, but seems to support my big toe a bit like a platform off the side of the footbed of the shoe.. I wonder if this could work, but I also thought Sole wide was basically made for Altras. Photo shows how much wider the sole insole is: https://imgur.com/a/mCVD2qf
Has anyone tried Bridge Insoles? (https://prgear.com/products/bridgesoles ) If so, what insole did you combine them with? Did they help?
I came across in the Altra sub. The Altra founder makes them, and they're 3/4 insoles (you can put under another insole), and they start with a drop and meant to wear down to no drop.
The website specifically says they help with forefoot issues like sesamoiditis and neuroma because of the built in met pad, which is also designed to wear down. They're marketed as transitional insoles, meant to get you used to changes with moving to a zero drop, foot-shaped shoe and then the insoles sort of wear down
I'm ordering my first Via Olympus 2 and while I've never regularly worn super high drop shoes, I have always had 4mm+ (FWD Via, Birkenstock sneakers, etc) aside from flat Birks and other slides/sandals. I have started to develop some peroneal issues, so I don't know that I want to jump to zero drop.
Tried to search for these in the sub and didn't find any posts. Trying not to be redundant in my posting, so apologies if this has been discussed at length previously.
Mods, I haven't seen anything like this before, so please let me know if it's not allowed. Since we don't have a Wiki, I have assumed this kind of thing is not encouraged in the sub but maybe a shoe guide is different as it's not medical advice.
**This is inspired by this post: this thorough post where someone is struggling with finding their sesamoid ruby slipper (as am I!). I liked the metrics that user gave to ask for shoe recommendations based on their own needs and their suggestion to have a shoe guide, so...
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>Google Sheets - Sesamoid Shoe Comparison
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This may be a starting point for someone overwhelmed by shoe options. It tracks features of shoes and ratings for specific issues we often encounter. Since everyone's anatomy, root cause, type of injury is different, I thought this might help identify individual needs and line up some of the more popular shoe recommendations with what you need (cushion vs. firm; high vs. low heel drop; etc).
This is a work in progress. I wanted to post it here and get feedback (and know if this is allowed) before continuing to add/edit. I still need to double-confirm some of the stats since I used a basic search for what's there now, and I have a few shoes I want to add (Topo Phantom, Oofos, Hoka recovery slides, for example).
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If this is allowed, I'd also request a collaborator for double-checking some info (someone who is thorough and has time on their hands) and ask that this post be where people continuously add new shoe recommendations for the document via comments section. Or correct info/add notes they think I should add for a certain shoe after they trial it.
If this continues, I will also update this post periodically with a status update on the guide (like XYZ shoes or X column has been added since last update).
Looking for a running shoe for literal daily function, not running or high mileage.
I have issues with the sesamoid areas of my big toes (confirmed - not looking for med advice) and need a unicorn shoe that meets the following:
For my issues, it seems people who can make the Hoka Bondi work do really well because it still has room for orthotics or met pads. However, I can't because my feet push into the sides and over the edges. Extra wide is too wide in the heel and my heel slips out.
Others like the Altra Olympus, but I have some outer ankle/calf issues and tight calves and don't want to risk a secondary injury jumping to it's 0 drop. (Although an insole with some heel drop might help?)
I tried the Altra Via FWD and it was OK, but I still felt like my forefoot pushed out a bit against the fabric on the edges (where bunions would be), it's a little more flexible in the forefoot and can't fit a carbon fiber insert in the Altra Via FWD easily with cushioned insoles/met pads because my arch is quite high and the shoe is full.
I feel like I'm looking for a shoe unicorn. Basically a Hoka Bondi with less squishy cushion (feels unstable to me), same rigidity, more toe box room.
Topos seem like the closest thing but have not seen many recommendations for them in the r/sesamoid sub I frequent so I don't know.
Hi everyone,
I've BME in both sesamoids on my right foot, along with some chronic overload to the area (sclerosis, chondromalacia - aka arthritis at the sesamoids and not the big toe itself). Radiologist and ortho both say they do not think I have any fractures or stress fractures based on the MRI and how it's both, though I have seen some say their docs say you can't have one without the other.
While going non-weight-bearing with a scooter/crutches for the past 2.5 weeks + some limping before then, I now have some symptoms on my other foot. Hoping to keep this at bay, but feeling incredibly pessimistic. I am convinced I'm now destined for a lifetime of disability.
My mental health desperately needs success stories (even if success is just that you can do every day things but not run or jump) about the following:
While your experiences are super valid and I'm glad these stories have been shared elsewhere, please do not share about:
Thank you so much, and healing vibes to all.
Hello everyone,
I have a 1st MTP/interspace injury that requires the following in a shoe:
I have heard for similar issues that people have success with the FWD Via, the Olympus, and the Torin. I have only tried the FWD Via because I worried about going zero drop for some tight calf issues. it was fine but the heel wore out quickly so looking to replace it, but I need to add an arch support insert since I have high arches which also contribute to my issues.
I'm not sure if any other models might also fit the bill.
I'm currently wearing a Hoka Bondi wide for its excellent lack of forefoot bend but find that it's a bit narrow right at the widest part of my forefoot and makes my ankles sort of supinate out (maybe because of how cushioned it is or how the cushion is).
Or would Topo be better for me?
I'm convinced something is missing from my puzzle.
Three weeks in. Have been offloading as much as I can but still get pain when foot touches ground or when poking.
BUT I have NO PAIN when pressing on the actual sesamoid bones. Two doctors have really shoved up against them and couldn't recreate pain.
Initially, my pain was when walking, with a little sharp pinpoint pinch and no pain to touch. After I offloaded, it became more of a bruised feeling when there's light to moderate pressure underfoot but it's all in the soft tissues area. Where I have pain, it is soft, and I can press in hard and the pain sort of shifts. It's not quite between the two toes, but it's close. I have absolutely NO pain in the two little bones and never have.
My MRI shows swelling basically everywhere, with bone marrow edema, but again. No pain ON THE BONES.
I cannot see a single instance of anyone else with this issue on this sub. I see where maybe people have pain in the bone AND it extends, but not where the pain is only right off the bones.
It's making me really antsy about diagnosis. Were my sesamoid bones ticking time bombs but they're actually not painful right now?
Has anyone gotten diagnostic ultrasound to see what's really going on inside their foot? Where did you go?
I have bone marrow edema in both my sesamoids on the affected foot. However, no dancer pad or orthotic setup is useful because the pain I have is not on the sesamoid bones. My pain is just distal (toward the toes) and slightly even more lateral than the fibular sesamoid.
Imagine aligning a dancer pad to offload both sesamoids. The pain I have is on the edge of the pad. The pad initially seems to help for a while as I walk, but then the pressure pain I have there returns and is more swollen after wearing the pad. All the fluid is pushed up into the space, and it's angry. So ultimately area I actually have pain is actually worsened by the top edge of the pad, with the painful area shown when pad is placed exactly like in this photo:
I also tried to cut a hole in an insole, and in a shoe. I've tried a boot, but since the painful spot is either under a pad or directly on the boot, no bueno. Again, the space that DOES touch the insole, or the edge of the hole, is what hurts. And again, at first it may seem it's helping, but then the pain is worse later. This means I have no offloading option. Making a bigger hole to include outside of that area creates a complete dip into the hole, and the tibial sesamoid drops down (and I don't want to start having pain there, knowing it's got edema) in and my toe has to work really hard.
I want to see if main pain driver is something less sesamoid-y and something more sesamoid-adjacenty, like adventitial bursitis at or between the toes or scar tissue from one of my toe injuries in the past as thats the location of my pain at those times as well. My MRI shows a lot going on at this area, but no damage to the plantar plate itself.
I've seen two orthopedic surgeons who, upon determining it's on the lateral side at my first meeting with them, have said they'd remove the bone with the pain where it is, but that seems... very confident when neither sesamoid is painful. I'd like to get more exploratory info if I can, and looking for peoples' experiences with that.
Or if anyone else has any thoughts, I am open to them! Really frustrated with an inability to offload the very minor but very real pressure pain I have. Without getting the pain to stop on stepping, I don't think I'm healing anything but I'm just laying around. Willing to try things.
Howdy, folks.
Struggling to properly offload specific area where I have pain. I have circled it on the diagram.
Anyone else have pressure pain primarily here, not directly on the base of the sesamoid bones? MRI shows involvement of entire sesamoid articular complex (both sesamoids inflamed, subchondral changes) but this is where my pain appears. Doc still called it fibular sesamoiditis. Using a dancer pad helps for a while but kind of pushes all the tissue into the spot, and putting it further out toward the pinky toe doesn't offload anything. My issue is I can't really offload it in the boot or shoes because pad placement just isn't working.
Anything think I would be a better candidate for the hole in shoe/insole thing instead of dancer pad? Any suggestions on how to do that? Can't get custom orthotics for a while, because I can't drive and have no access to pedorthist right now. Looking for something in the meantime.
I assume a regular oval met pad behind that area would just put all the weight directly on the ball, huh?
**Bonus question - anyone have pain that improves when pressed into? When pressing lightly or walking, the spot hurts like a bruise. But I can press into it and make it go away, When I press on my painful spot, harder pressing helps, then it comes back (often worse later or next day because I angered it). Or maybe this is common?
