I have tender feet too. Are you able to use something like the gelling foot inserts? I use them and these are wonderful. I don't know about doing yourself more damage. I believe that one needs to do gentle stretching and ROM-type exercises and keep moving a bit anyway. That's what my Rhuemy used to tell me, to keep moving.

Can you also ice the areas down for about 20 mins at a time?

{{{gentle hugs}}} :-)

It might be a good idea to see a licensed Podiatrist for some orthotics for your running shoes. If you've got feet issues now its best to manage them well right from the beggining. Some tips I can pass along are:

1. Always wear good quality, supportive, well cushioned shoes. No dress flats or heels or flip flops. Good Crocs (thick rubber soles) are okay for around the house but no regular slippers. ABSOLUTELY no bare feet at any time. If you walk around unsupported in bare feet you may actually be doing damage. Bare feet is the single most damaging thing you can do for bad feet.

2. Buy a urea cream to put on areas that start to calus. Hard caluses can actually aggravate the joints and contribute to inflamation. Better to stop them before they start and as they are really hard to get rid of later. I use Uremol lotion and creme.

3. Avoid standing for long periods of time especially on hard surfaces. Sit down every 20 min or so and rest. I had to buy a little rolling walker with a seat (Canadian Tire Sale - cheap) for shopping trips and places that don't offer much seating. Its cherry red so I don't feel to bad about being out in public with it. OR a cane can really help take a little load off the ole feet. They make some in niffy colors and patterns that won't make you feel like your using a "old" persons cane.

4. Voltaren gel (NSAID gel) will help a bit with the redness and superficial swelling on the feet and knees. It doesn't last that long though so often you need to put it on twice a day. Be sure you are getting regular blood tests (liver) when using any kind of NSAID product. I also found that Tea Tree Oil helped the redness and inflamation itch.

5. Luke warm epsom salt foot bath with a bit of Tea Tree in the water feels pretty good too. Warm and cold alternating baths can be good to stimulate circulation but be carefull sometimes the inflamation is too bad to tolerate it and it can hurt. Don't do it if it hurts.

6. Put your feet up and least twice a day for at least 20 min. When I mean up, I mean above your heart. Ankle and foot swelling can become real problem with RA so you need to get the blood back out of your feet regularily. Recliners are of course the best for this but lying down on a couch with three pillows under you knees,legs and feet will also do the trick. I'm actually seriously thinking of buy a recliner for work.

7. Loose socks. My local drug store carries a brand of socks for diabetics and has much looser elastics and will not pinch or dig in. I highly recomend that you check them out. Nothing worse than swollen ankles and socks that are too tight and digging in.

8. Very gentle surface skin massage. Not joint manipulation but just stimulating the soft issues and skin (impoves circulation). You will likely need someone to do this for you but make sure they understand they are not trying to make the joints move. I bought a bath mat thingy that is in the shape of two feet with soft plastic bristles. I sit on my shower seat (or the edge of tub) and rub my feet on it vigorusly every time I shower. it feels great, but of course not if the skin is so inflamed it feels bruised.

Hope this helps and good luck to you!