Author Topic: I keep getting painful corns on my toes from walking (Read 1213 times)

surfivor · « **on:** November 04, 2012, 08:00:45 AM »

I like to do alot of walking for exercise, but lately if I walk for several miles I have been getting corns on my toes. I do have some sort of solution from the drugstore that helps, but usually if I walk less it's not a problem and they go away.

Yesterday I went to martial arts class instead of doing the usual walks and I may need to do more surfing instead, but I don't understand why I get this corns when I didn't used to. I have tried different boots but it doesn't seem to matter.

It could also be from walking on pavement or flat gravel type trails perhaps.

Oil Lady · « **Reply #1 on:** November 04, 2012, 08:27:31 AM »

What kind of socks are you wearing? You need to prevent rubbing between your toes and your boots, and the socks provide that needing buffer against such rubbing. It doesn't sound like your socks are doing their job.

Frugal Upstate · « **Reply #2 on:** November 04, 2012, 08:48:02 AM »

Well I know my podiatrist would say that you need orthodics to align your feet better & prevent rubbing. Your feet can change over time. Of course-orthodics can be quite expensive--$400 or so--although I get mine through the VA for free.

Also at Walmart they have that thing you stand on now over by the orthodics that measures your foot pressure etc & recommends on of their premade ones (which run around $50).

surfivor · « **Reply #3 on:** November 04, 2012, 10:54:29 AM »

Quote from: Frugal Upstate on November 04, 2012, 08:48:02 AM

Well I know my podiatrist would say that you need orthodics to align your feet better & prevent rubbing. Your feet can change over time. Of course-orthodics can be quite expensive--$400 or so--although I get mine through the VA for free.

Also at Walmart they have that thing you stand on now over by the orthodics that measures your foot pressure etc & recommends on of their premade ones (which run around $50).

I have orthodics which are made by a guy who worked for the military I think it was in some sort of medical type work. He charges less than most people. I had bunions several years ago and he has been making me orthodics which solved that problem. The people affiliated with pharmacies seem to charge more. He has his own business and claims he trained alot of those people. It's Aries sport bracing in the Boston area .. He was in Natick but I think he works out of Danvers now.

surfivor · « **Reply #4 on:** November 04, 2012, 10:58:25 AM »

Quote from: Oil Lady on November 04, 2012, 08:27:31 AM

What kind of socks are you wearing? You need to prevent rubbing between your toes and your boots, and the socks provide that needing buffer against such rubbing. It doesn't sound like your socks are doing their job.

I either wear outdoor type sox or just your regular sox from a department store. Some of them can be cheaper outdoor sox from kittery trading post which are like $3.99 a pair. I like to have large sox collections so I don't get forced into doing laundry because I ran out of sox to wear. I just did a two hour walk on some conservation trails and my feet seem ok so far. I was wearing wicking type hiking sox. If I try to push it too much it can sometimes occur. I am going out for another short walk. Sometimes if I do enough of these walks back to back the problems occurs, but I am not totally sure which sox it could be related to. Several two hour walks over several days in a row seems like it can cause it ..

TexDaddy · « **Reply #5 on:** November 04, 2012, 10:03:24 PM »

Corns are caused by constant friction between the feet and shoe.

Better socks (like was mentioned) should help a lot. I don't do cheap socks. They are not worth the price.

surfivor · « **Reply #6 on:** November 05, 2012, 06:23:05 AM »

Quote from: TexDaddy on November 04, 2012, 10:03:24 PM

Corns are caused by constant friction between the feet and shoe.

Better socks (like was mentioned) should help a lot. I don't do cheap socks. They are not worth the price.

I guess I'll try the better socks for the longer walks .. I never had this problem before really so I am not sure why all of a sudden it is happening to me.

endurance · « **Reply #7 on:** November 05, 2012, 06:31:27 AM »

Try bigger shoes. Most people don't realize the foot spreads out over time and just because you were a size 9.5 in high school doesn't mean you'll be a size 9.5 at age 50. In fact, I went from a 9.5 in high school to an 11 for dress shoes, 11.5 for running shoes when I was 30.

flippydidit · « **Reply #8 on:** November 05, 2012, 06:36:10 AM »

If you're only having this problem with long walks, try wearing knee high panty hose between your feet and socks. This is what we use in the military for long marches. It almost completely removes sock rub.

surfivor · « **Reply #9 on:** November 05, 2012, 08:10:39 AM »

Quote from: flippydidit on November 05, 2012, 06:36:10 AM

If you're only having this problem with long walks, try wearing knee high panty hose between your feet and socks. This is what we use in the military for long marches. It almost completely removes sock rub.

Are there any other options or something very similar ? What if TSA questioning me as to why I have panty hose

That's interesting however ..

flippydidit · « **Reply #10 on:** November 05, 2012, 09:09:40 AM »

I find that to be an unlikely possibility. My guess is that they also wear pantyhose.....among other things....

surfivor · « **Reply #11 on:** November 05, 2012, 09:40:28 AM »

Quote from: flippydidit on November 05, 2012, 06:36:10 AM

If you're only having this problem with long walks, try wearing knee high panty hose between your feet and socks. This is what we use in the military for long marches. It almost completely removes sock rub.

Can you have circulation problems because what if they tend too be tight ? What holds them up so they don't fall down ?

flippydidit · « **Reply #12 on:** November 05, 2012, 09:57:21 AM »

Well I've never had the too tight problem. They stretch pretty well. To keep them from sliding down, I wear the knee high hose with knee high socks in combat boots. Once I've pulled the hose and socks all the way up, I fold some of the hose over the top of the sock.

surfivor · « **Reply #13 on:** November 05, 2012, 10:04:51 AM »

This is all interesting. A guy at the outdoor told me that the toes can rub together and that socks where important, but I don't really feel any rubbing or discomfort building up to before when the corns form it seems like.

I don't really notice any obvious huge difference in different socks either in the way they feel, except the wicking socks don't seem to absorb moisture.

TexDaddy · « **Reply #14 on:** November 05, 2012, 10:31:38 AM »

Quote from: endurance on November 05, 2012, 06:31:27 AM

Try bigger shoes. Most people don't realize the foot spreads out over time and just because you were a size 9.5 in high school doesn't mean you'll be a size 9.5 at age 50. In fact, I went from a 9.5 in high school to an 11 for dress shoes, 11.5 for running shoes when I was 30.

This is so very true. I went from wearing 10.5 for years to having to wear size 12.

LdMorgan · « **Reply #15 on:** November 05, 2012, 11:02:53 AM »

From a completely different angle...

People change as they get older. Frequently those changes are due to deficiencies in trace elements, vitamins, or other nutritional basics.

If you are having foot problems, you might want to try Hyaluronic Acid as a nutritional supplement.

I've used it for years, and it seems to make quite a difference in skin, eyes, and connective tissue generally.

One thing it apparently does is help cells avoid dehydration. So it's good for skin & skin-related problems.

It'll stop heel-cracking in a New York Minute. My wife says it turned her hair curly (go figure!).

surfivor · « **Reply #16 on:** November 10, 2012, 02:57:51 AM »

I think I have some decent wicking sox, but I just bought 6 pairs of EMS lightweight coolmax crew sox that are $13/pair but 25% off and I bought another pair of the same kind medium weight. They say on them for hiking, cycling, everyday and the girl that worked there recommended them to me after I explained I would like a decent wicking sox and the $20 smart wool ones seemed a bit pricy.

I like to have plenty of extras so I don't have to do laundry alot, and I like several of the same kind so matching them is less difficult.

I just put some of these new sox on and they feel comfortable. I'm getting ready for my late night stroll here at 4:00 AM. I like it when it's quiet out at this time of day and there are less cars on the road and of course I woke up and need the exercise and fresh air that I don't get at my desk job. I am hoping that the corn problem won't get in the way anymore.

nelson96 · « **Reply #17 on:** November 10, 2012, 11:11:18 AM »

Quote from: flippydidit on November 05, 2012, 09:57:21 AM

Well I've never had the too tight problem. They stretch pretty well. To keep them from sliding down, I wear the knee high hose with knee high socks in combat boots. Once I've pulled the hose and socks all the way up, I fold some of the hose over the top of the sock.

+1 Flippy that's a great idea.

@ surfivor
Besides flippy's idea (love it and will try it myself) you might want to invest in a better pair of shoes/boots. A pair too tight or a pair too loose can cause corns. Also, any boot that doesn't fit your foot right will have pressure points, pressure points can cause corns, so pay particular attention to this (choose the right width for your foot too).

If you're wearing an all leather boot . . . Fill the boot with hot to warm water. Let the water soak in real good and then go on a walk or hike that is long enough for the boot to dry out during this exercise (change socks often during this). This will make the leather shrink and fit to the contour of your foot as the leather dries. . . . It's an old logger trick.

Choose a boot designed for the temperature of the day. If it has too much insulating value for the temperature of the day your feet will over sweat and this will cause corns (cary extra socks).

Use only form fitting socks. Pay the money required to get a good pair, this will pay dividends at the end of the day and be worth way more than you paid for the socks. Good socks tend to last longer too.

ciaralawrence · « **Reply #18 on:** December 10, 2012, 03:18:31 AM »

Usually the pressure and increased friction due to wearing of shoes is the main reason for this problem. It skin thicken in response to the friction. Proper shoes and padding really helps.

RitaRose1945 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 13, 2012, 07:26:22 PM »

I walk all day for work (I read utility meters) and at one point was walking anywhere between 5 and 20 miles a day, 5 or 6 days a week. I've been doing it or more than 5 years now, so you do learn some tricks of the trade.

I normally wear a women's size 8 or 8.5 US, depending on the shoe. For my work boots (standard issue hiking boots from Big 5 - I catch them on sale for half price at $40) I buy a men's size 7.5 US, which translates to a women's 9.5 or 10 plus some additonal width. I honestly go that much bigger, and I've been doing it for years. I use standard athletic socks with the no-seam toe and it works great.

Being that they're high tops, you canget away with a little bigger without the heel sliding all over the place. The only problems I've had were when I tied them too tight, but that's a no brainer.

For men's shoes, see if you can go up a half size or even a full size, and/or maybe try a wider shoe. Your toes really do need to be able to wiggle around a bit. Just don't get them if they slip around on your heel. That's the fastest way to a nasty blister.

Perfesser · « **Reply #20 on:** December 20, 2012, 12:37:25 PM »

Doesn't anyone else douse their feet and shoes with baby powder?

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Author Topic: I keep getting painful corns on my toes from walking (Read 1213 times)