the Juki has a knee lever, but I never use it. I use to use my grandmother's treadle singer machine with a knee lever, but I prefer the foot pedal on my "modern machines".
The foot pain should go away if you rest it a day or so. When I was climbing up and down a hill, I ended up with shin splints and had to rest a few days. I wonder if you could duct tape the foot pedal to the inside of your machine cabinet or whatever, and then use it like a lever?