I did a search on foot pain and all I came up with are sewing machine 'feet'. I am experiencing pain on the upper side of my right (pedal) foot. All I can think of is that the Sunday/Monday sewathon did me in. Anyone else experience this type of foot pain. I can hardly bend my foot for the pain in that joint. I've tried icing it and arnica cream. I'm going to rest it again today and if it's not better, will have to go see the doc. I may have to learn to use the left foot (notice I'm not giving up sewing.) Driving a car is a different story.

I had to wear one of those "boots" for weeks on my Right foot. Putting it on and off for driving ect, well I just decided to drive with my left did it all winter long! Just go around the block a couple of times and you will be an expert in no time.

One time I spent a whole day at the sewing machine and the next day I couldn't move the whole right side of my body. I was in so much pain from the shoulder to my toes for days. I have learned if I turn my pedal sideways my foot doesn't ache or hurt at all.

How far in front of you is the pedal? Mine used to slowly push forward, and I had to pull it back closer to my body from time to time. Now that the box of batting is stored under that table, it can't go far.

When my foot hurts I use the cruise control. I need to set it slower than I usually sew, but I will not give it up either.

How did you have your foot resting on the pedal ? sometimes I get a cramp it only part of my foot is on the pedal, so I know to move my foot or the pedal for a better position, so that my whole foot rests on the pedal. I also move my foot and pedal from time-to-time so that it doesn't get stiff or sore .

Hope you are feeling better soon :thumbup:

Thanks everyone. Somehow it's better knowing that others have had this happen too! I have not found a sure fire way to keep the pedal from moving around. Now I have my hard plastic machine cover stopping it from moving farther than I can reach. I probably have to be more diligent about placement. In the meantime I will be using my left foot until that one goes too! LOL Maride, I thought you used cruise control on the freeway all the time! That would be treacherous for me in our congested freeways. I guess I would no longer have a problem with my right foot then, huh?

When my foot aches like that it's not actually my foot that's the problem. The problem is a pinched nerve in my lower back.

Being a Bernina owner with a knee lift I regularly use my left foot on the pedal. My serger requires the right. I have my pedal on a rubber mat to help keep it from sliding forward. I also have a plastic box the same height as the pedal that I rest my non sewing foot on. That allows me to keep my body equally aligned. Having arthritis in my back and having been a quilter and sewer for more than 50 years makes any little aid a real necessity.

You can use your hand or elbow on the foot pedal. Just rest it on the table and try. Nothing to lose. It is years since I did it.

My pedal in on a book off the floor that is level with the chair's wheel on which I rest my foot. Does that make sense to you? I was having the same pain and now I don't. I think it has to do w/ your knee position also.

where on the top of your foot is the pain? nearer the ankle? might be a little tendonitis, R-I-C-E ( rest, ice,confine( constrict?) exercise) should work, then some strenghtening exercises. And put your rubber gloves under your pedal to help keep it in one place on hard surfaces.

Sewathon? Sounds kind of like a bad case of sore muscles to me. Did it get worse and stiffer on the second day? That would be typical. :)

I'd give it a couple of days more before I go see a doc. Rest, gentle massage, gentle warmth and very gentle exercise (wriggling tenderly) help the muscles cope if that's all it is.

And just a suggestion for the future, I've see somewhere online it was recommended a phone book under the heel, to ease the muscle strain when sewing/quilting for long stretches. I do that now and find it much easier on my foot and shin muscles.

I am sorry you are having pain. I have noticed that pain in my ankle if I tip toe on the pedal. If my foot touches the floor and the pedal I do not get the pain.
This is shelf paper. I don't remember the brand but any would do. It is the kind that prevents sliding. We used it in the RV and it worked like a charm. It isn't expensive and a piece
of it on the floor under your presser foot would keep the foot from sliding. Hang it there. Oh, have you tried 'Goo'? Walmart has it in the pharmacy section. It is very good for the repetition pain we get from sewing. I keep it in my sewing room so I am tempted to use it when I feel the pain rather than waiting until later and forgetting to use it.
Good luck.

I was getting this pain recently also. I've noticed that it seems to occur mostly when my foot is in the "up" position for an extended length of time. Even if I'm not depressing the pedal, my foot is often still resting on the pedal. I now make sure to stretch my foot every 15-20 minutes or so. Very easy - I simply take my foot off the pedal and tuck it under my chair so the tops of my toes are on the floor. Hold it there for a short time. This gives a nice stretch to the top of the foot and has helped SO much.

To keep my pedal from moving around on the carpet, I put a silicone hotpad under it. It does a great job.

Good luck and I hope your pain is resolved soon!

thanks for all the good ideas. DSB, I actually have that material and have used it as shelf liner. I don;t know why it didn't occur to me to use as a mat for the pedal. As I've walked around on my foot today, it is actually feeling better, but these are all good ideas. Thanks all.

I sew with my foot pedal backwards. I step down on it with my heal instead of pushing it like the gas pedal in the car. I don't know why I have pretty much always sewn this way. But boy I can tell if I haven't sewn in a while. It gives your calf muscle a real workout! lol

hope you are feeling better

I have carpet under my sewing cabinet. so I used the stick on velco on the bottom of the pedal, loopy side. Helps a lot, but you need to use a needle once in awhile to clean out threads!

Yes, yes!! I have that pain, too. And I thought I was the only one. What a relief. I have switched to my left foot to sew and that helps. I even went to the chiropractor about this. Of course, that didn't help when I was still using my right foot.

I sew in my barefeet so I keep moving my foot around. Years ago when I started quilting everyone had fixed their ironing board next to the machine so they didn't have to get up but just turn their chair. I finally had the space to do this and found out that this is no longer appropriate !!!
After I had my carpul tunnel repaired the doc pried out of me about how often and how long I sewed. ONE HALF HOUR then get up and move around. Also he told to move the machine or chair at least every 6 months. I have tried to follow his instructions but there have been times when I just had to sew just a little bit longer.

I have had charley horses in my foot from too long of sewing marathons :roll: I have learned to slightly move the pedal when sewing for long periods of time now.

This really works. I cut a piece and used a rubber band to hold it right on the pedal. It also works good under your cutting mat keeps it from sliding on a slick table. :thumbup: :-P

1st. what type of shoe werer you wearing, 2nd where is your pain , is it on the arch or the bone of the great toe. you need to do some stretching of the calf muscles, your low back and your toes. (i'm a quilter that is also a physical therapist) put the front part of your foot on a book and step foward with your other leg while keeping your heel on the ground. this will stretch your calf and achellies muscle, next lay on the floor and pull left knee toward your left shoulder while breathing out repeat 10 times for each side. then for your foot cross your ankle over your knee and get a hold of your toes stretch them towards your knee. then push them down towards the bottom of your foot this stretches the tendons that attach to your toes. and lastly epson salts warm bath every other day for about a wk. good luck.

My mom uses her left foot for sewing because she has arthritis in her right foot.

salmonsweet, I have been experiencing some pain in my shins and never made the connection that it could be from sewing! I am grabbing the extra phone book and giving that a try today! Thanks for the tip!

Pain has been diminishing daily but not gone away completely. However, because I am compensating it's kind of travelled to my shin as well. If I'm not better Monday, I'll go see the doctor. Okay, the pain is on the top side of my foot, so if my lLeg is an "L", the pain is on the angle where the foot and leg meet. I just went online to look at foot bones and it looks like it is the Navicular, maybe the Talus. I can actually touch the spot that hurts and it is just in the very center. Will this p/t still work for this area?

a quilting doctor on an old quilt show said we should get up and move around for a couple of minutes every 20-30 minutes.

Thank you for the good solution to sliding foot pedal -- and to storage space for batting. Why didn't I think of that?

yes the stretches will work for the entire area, if you can take anti-inflamatories that would be good you can ice 15min 2x day also. and yes getting up and moving around every 20 to 30 min is the best for your back, knees, and ankles.

I can relate to the pain. I have tendonitis in my sewing shoulder, elbow and hand and have to get cortisone shots every three months. I refuse to stop quilting! Have you tried turning your pedal around and using it "backwards?" It works for me.

Thank you Johncy. When I get back to quilting I am going to have to set up a timer so I can get up at least every hour and walk the hill behind my house. It should be good to clear the mind too. Thanks everyone for your advice.

Annak- go to a chiropractor-I have a problem with my foot occassionaly and he explains what is happening and adjusts it. Ice it 30 min off and on. I have a problem with going to a reg. dr. because they don't always look at the joints. If your chiro can't help you, he will tell you who to go to (at least he should). Hope this helps.

Some years ago I was in a sewing class and the instructor suggested that we turn our foot pedal around and use our heel. Place it close to your chair so you have good posture. It really helped me. Hope it can help you also.

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!

I am sorry your hurt,. Rest and get better. God bless. Penny

I am sorry you experienced pain, especially after the fun of a sewathon.
I am unable to use a foot pedal at all and have always had to buy and use machines with start/stop buttons.
I know to stop for awhile when my finger starts to cramp though. lol
So rest and cut for awhile and then back into the saddle.

I took a 12x12 piece of that rubberized shelf liner stuff and put it under my peddle... no more roaming petal. :D Hope this helps.

To keep the pedal from moving away I glued some rubber shelf lining on the bottom. Pedal now stays in place. Second problem--not mine originally--read the suggestion to put a phone book or other book in front (or back-however you look at it)of the pedal. Rest your foot on the book and pedal and your foot will be level (straight) not on a slant with the pedal. It works--this may help with the foot pain.
prm

Who would ever think that sewing could be so painful! :evil:

When I first began to sew we had an old Singer in a cabinet and I could choose between using the pedal on the floor - or - leaving it hooked it up on the inside of the cabinet and use the knee bar instead. Because of having learned to use my knee to control the machine, I had a terrible time getting used to a foot pedal when I was able to buy my own "new style" machine.

IF someone is clever and can design such a contraption to hook the pedal to the side of the sewing desk and hook a knee bar to use, I would pay "big bucks" for one. My husband is a computer nerd and not the least bit "handy" otherwise. :roll: