This is the boot unused, I liked it a lot (even though the air pump feature broke almost immediately). I’m also a dude in my 40s and 5’10 about 180 lbs, but looking at it I think it would work fine with any average size adult (maybe not someone who is very very petite or very large).
United Ortho Short Air Cam Walker... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006L8M2GA?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
You might think it’s gross, being a used foot ware product, but I’m done with it and will happily ship it to you if you want it.
Absolutely:
Toe socks toe spacers and the shoes I have are Altra Escalante (though there are other brands that do this style of shoe)
But don't forget about stretching also.
Premium Dancers Pads for Ball of feet Pain - Sesamoiditis Pads - 1/4" Thick Adhesive Skived Felt - 12 Pieces - Right Foot https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J21L5ZP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_Y53ZM1EHF6S0AJ3REMW9
Maybe try dancer pads? I used those for extra cushioning in the beginning along with taping. Super helpful.
Damn, sesamoid injuries suck. Hopefully it's something that will resolve itself quickly.
Good idea on the podiatrist.
If your sesamoid area hurts to put pressure on many people with sesamoid pain wear dancer pads like these until their symptoms improve: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015TKA1O/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
but you may want to wait until you see your doctor and have them advise you. Perhaps a walking boot or crutches could be useful until then. I find running shoes to be pretty comfy on my chronic sesamoid injury if you don't have the gear for a broken foot or don't suspect that.
These are the ones I use! I stick one right on the ball of my foot, so that there's more cushioning under where my sesamoids are. I also tried this reusable sleeve and while there was enough cushion, it didn't fit properly around my toes. It kept pulling up because it was too tight both around the top of my foot and between my first and second toes. I wear a US women's 10.5/US men's 9 in shoes so the sleeve might work for you if your feet are smaller than mine!
I broke my foot about three years ago and have since been dealing with sesamoiditis (I went through a couple cycles of wearing boots to heal the broken foot - my sesamoid never broke afaik, and then later I wore the dancer pad for several weeks.) Ultimately the dancer pad didn't feel good when I ran so I ditched it at some point. I wear Mizuno Wave Riders around which feel quite good on the sesamoids. I'm recently going back to dancer pads and a lot of icing to try and improve the situation.
Recently, I was going on runs (about 15 mi per week for months) in just the Wave Riders and my sesamoid did mostly ok. Most of the discomfort occurs when I'm barefoot. However, I don't want to manage pain, feel it when I'm barefoot, or change my gait to compensate. Thus, I'm trying the dancer pad and icing again for at least 2-3 weeks before I start running again.
I would say my situation has improved since the onset but I haven't been able to get rid of the ailment. I recently found some ice socks that are pretty cool. I would recommend them along with dancer pad or whatever orthotic your doctor gave you. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H29SKF9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
When I did a round of PT the therapist had me doing plenty of toe yoga as well as a lot of calf stretching. The toe yoga felt particularly good but it didn't really resolve my sesamoid pain. Also, I'm not sure I understand the toe separator. I'm using a dancer pad but I still go on walks but I wonder if I need to just become a potato for a few weeks (or maybe get my bike fixed up, perhaps that would be easier on my foot?).
Do you think the foot exercises may resolve your sesamoiditis? Sesamoiditis is the inflammation of muscle tendons in the foot, do you heal those by keeping them iced and lightly used for a while? I mean, I don't know how to heal them cause I haven't been able to yet so any info is great.
By the way, I got in my foot ice booties and they're great. As good as I imagined if you need something like that. Since there were two socks, I was able to ice multiple times last night - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H29SKF9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thanks for the information, I saw a bunch of reports of the toe pain and wanted to see if others just had pain at the sesamoid area itself.
I see. I'm starting a new icing strategy on my foot as well, I'm planning to hit the ailment hard with ice and dancer pads for a few weeks and seeing what happens. I found these ice pads that looked pretty convenient: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H29SKF9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Furthermore, altered walking could lead to other feet injuries with parts of your foot getting more weight. It happened to me with the outside of my foot b/c I was trying not to step on the ball of my foot.
All the podiatrists definitely told me to never go barefoot. I either wear my shoes or wear crocks in the shower while sitting on a chair.
Since the sesamoid is a bone surrounded by a ball of tendons and tissues, it is easy to piss the sesamoid off especially since every time you push off of the bone while walking, you transmit 3x your bodyweight into the pea sized bone.
Orthotics take forever to customize and your insurance might not cover it which is ass. I bought this foam off Amazon and made a built-up section of 2-3 layers so I would have an offset for my sesamoid to rest in. The foam is sticky but will compress over time.
Keep on Icing - I know it sucks. I bought these square ice cube molds for big pieces of ice since I iced a couple of times a day.
After not feeling my pain in my sesamoid area, as luck would have it, I started to feel a light throbbing there last night (1/10) just letting me know they are still there... 😮😞 So weird. Not sure if arthritic pain.
Try and keep off the foot, Keep Icing, and listen to that ortho! God speed and I'll be here on this subreddit.
You can buy medical grade felt on amazon! I’ve been using rolls of this and putting it directly on my foot. All the other pads are annoying and always end of compressing. This has been the easier solution and I just cut them in squares and then take a corner out to Mimick the pad. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0053D319Q/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_i_TS9dFb
Like the user above, I took to long to take care of it and have a bipartate bone. I’m in a walking boot until further notice as my doctor says she wants to avoid surgery and let my foot get “used” to having broken bones? Before she told me this, I was using medical grade felt from amazon and cut dancer pad type shapes and stuck then right on my foot. Nothing worked better for it because i could make them the shape for my foot. I also used store bought insoles in my everlane tread sneakers which were rigid enough.
Here’s the link to the felt: 900095 Padding Felt Adhesive White 1/4" Thick 6"x2.5yd Orthopedic Rl Part# 900095 by Aetna Felt Corporation Qty of 1 Roll https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0053D319Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_AUjtEb3P3JKGC