sore feet

Question
I have recently started walking on my treadmill again after a 1 1/2 year absence.  I try to walk 7 miles a day, not necessarily in 1 shot.  My left foot (the ball of my foot) tends to hurt and burn after 45 min. to the point that I can't put weight on it.  My right foot is fine.  Since I started walking, every time I get up from sitting I can hardly walk due to the pain in both feet.  Would a foot massager or a good soak after walking alleviate this pain?  Before I go out and buy a foot massager, is there something I should do for my feet once I've finished walking for the day?  Thanks, Cindy

Answer
Make sure you have new, well-fitted shoes. Running shoes from a quality running specialty store are best. Also, be sure to stretch before and after walking.

It sounds a little like a neuroma (irritated nerve), but I can't give medical advice here. You might want to have a doctor look at it. I would suggest trying a good chiropractor first.

Finally, 7 miles a day sounds like quite a bit. Increasing your mileage too fast could be another contributing factor. Consider going back to very low mileage until the problem goes away. Then, increase your mileage by no more than 10% from one week to the next.