Try turning your pedal around so your sewing foot is facing down instead of up all the time. This might help.

Good luck.

Isn't there some kind of attachment that can be installed for a "left-footed" driver?

Are there still machines out there that you can operate with your knee? I remember those in school. A little lever hangs down from the machine and you push it with your knee. That would give everyone's feet a rest.I guess you would have to invest in an older machine tho. Just an idea!

Sorry about your pain. One problem I have found is, if I am wearing shoes with laces(I wear Keds). I have to be sure and not tie them too tight, or I will get ankle and upper shin and upper leg pain. It starts with a aching and goes to pain. It happens when I drive the car too. Sometimes it helps to sew in socks for a while without shoes. Can't do that in the car!!! lol

To keep my foot petal from moving I have attached some pads that you use to keep furniture from moving. to the bottom of it. Another thing that works is that waffle weave shelf liner.

I notice that I sometimes get pain when I arch my foot on the pedal - in effect pushing with the ball of my foot instead of my whole foot. When I flatten the foot out and use the whole thing, it goes away. I just arch my foot without thinking about it sometimes.

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?

My Janome machines have a start/stop button next to the needle, a foot pedal and knee lift so I can use whichever I prefer and I use them all depending on what I'm working.

dsb, what is "Goo' from Wal-Mart?

Nancy O, I think you hit the nail on the head. I had been having a vague ache in the foot for a while but seemed to get better when I'd rest it at night. Last Tues I went fabric shopping and lunch with my 'peeps' and I wore some lace up shoes that I had not worn in ages. By the end of our field trip, I was in a bad way and it's taken days to get better. I'm almost there. but now when I go back to sewing I am going to try all of the above pieces of advice. This board is so supportive. thanks everyone.

I use "Blue Emu" from Walmart in the arthritic rub area. It doesn't smell but sure works. It also is a great skin softener. I grew up sewing on an old White straight stitch with a knee lever and I wish my mom hadn't traded it in for my sister's machine. I'm now looking for either a machine with the knee lever or converting my 15-91 to a knee lever.

I mounted my machines in a cabinet and use a knee pedal, what a difference, no more foot pain, and no right side lock up either. There are vintage and used cabinets around and it might be worth looking into. Unless you have a lower table that is below 30 inches high then a portable puts the machine UP too tall for most of us to be comfortable, and that throws the entire right side of the body out. I have spent a lot of time at the osteopaths and am very aware of when I am stressing out my leg and back, so when it gets tired, I rest or do something else for a while.

Okay, this takes the cake... I just found out last week, after I hurt my foot last month, that my sewing machine Ive had for 20+ years has an option to use a button to start/ stop the sewing instead of using the pedal. Okay, my bad.

Something I have used is to rest my heel on a thick phone book and it has really helped. You could use any thick book. Then the ball of your foot on the pedal.

Leah Day says she puts her heel on a book and then uses the front of her foot and toes to press on the pedal. Keeps the angle of her foot less acute and could help reduce some of the pain. I never tried it myself.

By the way, how do you train yourself to use your left foot on the pedal so you can use your right knee on the lifter? I was having a terrible time trying to do it the other day. Just practice?