02/17/2025
For over 15 years, I lived with constant foot pain. I saw multiple podiatrists who offered different treatments, but nothing brought me lasting relief. Then, this past summer, I tore my hamstring, and that led me to Taylor Creek Physical Therapy. At first, I thought it was just another injury to deal with, but in hindsight, it was a blessing in disguise. Not only have I fully recovered from my hamstring injury, but my feet no longer hurt either.
If you had asked me about the pain in my feet before PT, I’d rate it a solid 7/10—sometimes more. I’d leave foot doctor consultations with options like injections, steroids, or surgery. None of those felt right for me. I wasn’t comfortable with medication or surgery, and I just wanted something that would work without the side effects.
Kristi at Taylor Creek suggested custom orthotics, and after she did the foot impressions, she recommended the best shoes for my foot type. That simple step made a huge difference—not just for my feet, but also for my hamstring recovery.
Through PT, I learned that my hips were incredibly weak, and how much that weakness impacted my ability to stand or walk for long periods. We focused a lot on strengthening each hip differently than the other, and it was eye-opening to see how those muscles directly affected my movement.
I’m a busy mom of four kids, so sitting down for a break is a luxury. I started my career as a veterinarian, which meant standing all day on concrete. Now, I’m an agriculture instructor at Lutheran High Northeast, where I often wear steel-toed boots that offer zero arch support. The orthotics fit like a dream in my boots. My Fitbit logs me at 12,000-20,000 steps a day, and I’m doing better than ever. In the past, if I walked 25-30,000 steps, my feet would throb for two days straight. Now, after a long day, I can put my feet up, and the next morning I don’t pay for it. I don’t have to push through the pain anymore.
There was a time when the foot pain was so bad that I would cry. I even told my husband I’d rather have Jesus come back and take me home than to keep enduring it. Every morning, stepping out of bed felt like a struggle. But today? I wake up without that dreaded pain. And I can’t even begin to explain how much of a difference that’s made in my life.
~ Dr. Amanda Hafer