Pain From New Shoes

[sartorialism]

Every time I get new shoes the back of my ankles kill. I guess the bone is very straight, while the backs of most shoes are round, and that causes scraping. What should I do? How can I break these shoes in to stop scraping the back of my calcaneus (I think that's what the bone is called, but if I'm wrong, disregard that, and just answer the question). Thanks!

 

[miurasv]

Are you perhaps buying them too small? Conscious of my big feet, I deluded myself for years that I was a size 10 and suffered with extremely painful corns. I've accepted I'm a size 11G now and no problems.

 

[sartorialism]

I think they fit... Is there a way to break them in?

 

[furo]

Throwing up the flag here, because if you are noticing this problem now, it won't be long until you develop a condition known as Haglund's Deformity (commonly called "pump bump" for women).

You can read about my problems with this here.

It only takes a day or two of that "scraping" to develop a long-lasting problem. Trust me.

 

[Cary Grant]

If it is just minor (say, the first few wears you risk a blister), try applying moleskin on the area it rubs... just stick it right to your foot.

If it is cranking down more than that, really pinching, then the fit probably isn't optimal.

 

[rmspawn]

Originally Posted by sartorialism

I think they fit... Is there a way to break them in?

If they fit, you probably would not have this problem. Are your shoes too loose? Get sized for shoes or visit a podiatrist if you're concerned.

 

[furo]

Originally Posted by Cary Grant

If it is just minor (say, the first few wears you risk a blister), try applying moleskin on the area it rubs... just stick it right to your foot.


The OP states that "Every time I get new shoes the back of my ankles kill."

This is a dead giveaway to a systemic foot problem that should be looked at by a podiatrist.

I don't know if he may or may not be developing Haglund's like I did, but the tell-tale signs are present for something more serious than a repeated case of shoes just needing to be "broken in."