Hello, Sorry to hear of this pain problem from foot peddles. My Mom used to make all my clothes when I was a kid. Hours and Hours worth.... What she did was take a section of peg board and screw a block of 2x4 to rest her heel and foot on. She wired the peddle to the peg board just in front of the block and just used her "ball of her toe" to operate the peddle. She then Tied the section of pegboard to the leg of the table to keep it from scooting I remember she had a hunk of old cloth to even pad the block a bit... My Hubby calls me a "RUBE GOLDBERGER" all the time but I INHERITED it from my Mom. What Ever It Takes to "GETTER DONE" NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION!!!!! GOD BLESS MY MOTHER she is an inspiration!