Adventures with an Accessory Navicular

I bought the vivobarefoot Ra formal shoes a couple of weeks ago. The heel area is very tight but I'm slowly loosening it.

Wore them out for a night out and am happy with them. Constant pressure and no support for the arch is working well. The supports still rapidly weaken the arch. It needs to be worked all the time!

I can stand on tip-toes finally! Today I even (lightly) ran down a Costco aisle and only experienced minor soreness.

This is great intro correct arch and foot position. I had an ortho in Florida tell the same stuff in a more technical manner. This video is better than me trying to sound like I understand the mechanics!

Hmm.. slightly suspicious of this diagnosis but I've been referred to a rheumatologist and a physio to remove inflammation and build strength in the tendon.

To be honest, I'm glad we're trying this and not surgery. the NHS is so LONG....

When I was first diagnosed I was told that they would have to cut out the bone and slice my heel to slide it over (to improve biomechanics). I was heavily inflamed and could barely walk without drugs. I couldn't lift my weight with the PTT (couldn't raise myself on my toes on the relevant foot).

I was told this after a year of taking drugs because the NHS wouldn't refer me. I had been to acupuncture which was pointless (a pun!) and to an osteopath who had been able to help by randomly massaging the foot. No-one new what was happening.

Finally the orthopaedic surgeon diagnosed me. No advice, no handling of the issue. He just said I may walk again but probably wouldn't be running. This was fairly traumatising. I was upset with the issue, my G.P., the surgeon, the cranks that took my money - everyone.

Since then I've had a second opinion (to be sure), complained about, annoyed and finally made friends with (kind of) the doctors.

I have tried the NHS insole (complete shite - just use a door stop instead) and bought expensive bespoke insoles (excellent results). I've bought special shoes and tried activity and no activity. I've taken so many NSAIDs I've become allergic to them and am now stuck with Co-codamol. I've had one steroid injection into the foot and can only have one more. And I'm seeing the physio's who are trying their best.

I began my own research and discovered the history of foot ailments, problems with shoe design, our real biomechanical potential and the magic of proprioception.

This has been the route to where I am. Wearing barefoots/fivefingers lets me avoid drugs and gives me a feedback system to know when there's been too much activity. I don't know if I'm healing but I'm managing with minimal painkillers.

I have no idea how this is going to work out. The ortho saw me last week and said the steroid injection is working so I should get physio and start building strength. Hmm..