Orthotics - Do they do anything?

[chollyred]

I broke my heel a few months ago (technically a heel spur) and have been seeing a podiatrist for treatment. He put me in heel lifts for awhile to effectively shorten and reduce the stretch on the achilles tendon. That was about 3 months. Then he gave me a one-time shot if cortizone to help reduce inflammation. That seemed to help for about 3 weeks. Now, he wants me to invest in $400 orthotics.

I asked him what the orthotics would do that the lifts haven't. He only said that they were more rigid and wouldn't compress. For the life of me, I don't see how that will solve the problem. It just seems like a band-aid to me.

Should I try the orthotics? Or get a second opinion? My thinking is that if I'm eventually going to need surgery, then let's get it done and over with. I've already missed this year of tennis, and doing othern things I enjoy (coaching little league, etc.).

Can anybody give me any success stories of wearing orthotics?

[hollywood9826]

Some poeple swear by them. Others dont.

My mom said hers really support her foot way better than a store bought insole or regular shoe insole. She said it supports her arches and that makes her foot feel better.

Alot of insureance cinpaines will require the orthotics and rehab before they sign off on surgery as well. So you may be stuck in the orthotics for 6 motnhs. Ofr the Orthotics will solve your problem and you will be back it sooner than that.

[Fuji]

My Dad had to wear orthotics for a similar issue as to yours and he swore by them, he ended up not needing surgery so it was definitely a plus.

As already stated, check to see if your insurance company requires you to wear them prior to them helping with the surgery as well.

-Fuji

[TheCanadian]

I had custom made orthotics and over-the-counter Superfeet ones. Superfeet are much better for sports and I only wear the custom made ones at work.

[SharkysMV1]

Originally Posted by TheCanadian

I had custom made orthotics and over-the-counter Superfeet ones. Superfeet are much better for sports and I only wear the custom made ones at work.

I agree, highly recommend Superfeet for tennis

[TheCanadian]

There are different kinds, I have low arches but you can get ones for high and medium arches.

[Povl Carstensen]

Normally I would argue against orthodics, because they just take over the work that the feet should be doing, and in that way make them weaker. However with a specific injury I of course hesitate. But is heel spur really technically the same as something is broken?

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by TheCanadian

There are different kinds, I have low arches but you can get ones for high and medium arches.

Which ones are for high arches? I never could figure out the colour as all say medium?

-Fuji

[chollyred]

Originally Posted by Povl Carstensen

Normally I would argue against orthodics, because they just take over the work that the feet should be doing, and in that way make them weaker. However with a specific injury I of course hesitate. But is heel spur really technically the same as something is broken?

Yeah. Doc said I must've injured my foot sometime in the past that caused a spur to grow up over the back of the achilles. I then broke off part of the spur. Then everything was staying inflamed because of the broken bone. He says surgery will require opening the back of the heel, removing the achilles, removing the bone spur, and re-attaching the achilles.

I just don't see how an orthotic can fix that. <shrug>

[LeeD]

Orange are padded high arch.
Greens are unpadded high arch.
The other's are lower.
Yes, they are a quick fix. But I can't spend 1/2 hour a day, twice a day, 7 days a week, to fix my weak flat feet, so orthodics are the quick fix.

[Povl Carstensen]

With the procedure your doctor is talking about chollyred, I can certainly understand that you want to try other alternatives. But I am absolutely no expert on this.

[usta2050]

Originally Posted by TheCanadian

I had custom made orthotics and over-the-counter Superfeet ones. Superfeet are much better for sports and I only wear the custom made ones at work.

agree,, superfeet is very well made and are great for tennis

[dak95_00]

I have custom orthotics from a podiatrist/foot & ankle surgeon. They help.

I had also gotten them from a chiropractor who I knew and had gotten into the custom orthotics business too. The difference was a few hundred dollars and that has been it.

The chiropractor version was $15 for my copay and I received an adjustment and a 1/2 hour massage from the therapist in his office. The other custom orthotics were $200 after insurance covered some of the cost.

Either way, I'd try them before I went through surgery.

You can also find websites that'll do them for you. They'll mail you a foam box with instructions for placing your feet in them to form a mold. You mail the box back and they build the orthotics. It's a money saver and it is the same technique the doctors use to build orthotics too.

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Orange are padded high arch.
Greens are unpadded high arch.
The other's are lower.
Yes, they are a quick fix. But I can't spend 1/2 hour a day, twice a day, 7 days a week, to fix my weak flat feet, so orthodics are the quick fix.

Thanks LeeD, looks like I need to get me some orange feet!

Having very high arches is awful sometimes.

-Fuji

[GuyClinch]

I spent alot of money on custom orthics. I found they were inferior to off the shelf superfeet for me. But YMMV.

Having recovered (Some) from plantar fascitis the real key is to stretch the entire posterior chain - hips, ankles, calves, hamstrings - while eliminating the offending activity (so you can heal).

It sucks if you are an active player - but that's what seems to work.