The neverending foot saga

Lately my feet have been hurting. I wear my orthotics every single day, but I can't run more than 5 miles without pain, I can't even walk to work without pain these days. I wear my slippers in the office to try and minimise it.

My orthotics only fit in 2 pairs of shoes; my boots and my trainers. So I've only worn these for the last 6 months. Turns out there is no structure in my boots anymore - that's what wearing them every day for 6 months will do.

So I need new shoes. I've been worried for months about what I'm going to do in the summer when I can no longer wear my boots. Turns out I can no longer wear my boots now.

I need new shoes now that will help me wear my orthotics. Normal shoes don't cut it - so now I find myself spending days looking for wide shoes with removable soles. Sexy.

I finally bit the bullet and went to Hotter. I quite wrongly assumed they were all 'special shoes'. The sales assistant might just have been the nicest person I've ever met. She is also young and is hypermobile in her feet and it really felt like she understood me. So now I have a new pair of shoes - and another on order. They're not entirely fashionable and they're expensive, but they will help and they are cute so I'm happy.

I have also decided that enough is enough. These NHS orthotics are not helping me - running wise. I've tried them for 6 months and it's not working out. I'm off to the specialist sports podiatrist. It may end up costing me the earth (and I mean hundreds of pounds) for a proper pair of sports orthotics - but you know what? It'll be worth it. I've booked my appointment - roll on the 6th May!