Cleat properly adjusted are the primary concern. Brand of pedal has less do to with it. Changing brands and find pain relief is just luck nothing else.
If you read this article. Scroll down to the cleat section I do not think you will find anything better on the internet for free http://bikefit.com/s-13-road-bikes.aspx
By the way I don’t think there is such a thing as the “default” position for cleats. If there is can you please define that for us?
Good luck