Shoe Inserts do they really work

[Breedlove]

The last couple years I have had genuine foot pain from the heel and side of the ankle . I used to play volleyball often so I did suffer quite a few sprains . A couple weeks ago we did our trip to Key West and marched in two parades . My ankle hurt real bad . I usually walk 12 miles a week but the pain comes and goes away.
I decided to go to an Orthopedic doctor , the doc says I have arthritis in the ankle and it gets enflamed . The result when I walk I wear an ankle brace and now they want me to go to orthopedic inserts. The ankle brace seems to have made the pain go away ....but are these inserts good or are they snake oil ( 238.00 ) for the inserts seem like a lot .

 

[Meadbh]

The last couple years I have had genuine foot pain from the heel and side of the ankle . I used to play volleyball often so I did suffer quite a few sprains . A couple weeks ago we did our trip to Key West and marched in two parades . My ankle hurt real bad . I usually walk 12 miles a week but the pain comes and goes away.
I decided to go to an Orthopedic doctor , the doc says I have arthritis in the ankle and it gets enflamed . The result when I walk I wear an ankle brace and now they want me to go to orthopedic inserts. The ankle brace seems to have made the pain go away ....but are these inserts good or are they snake oil ( 238.00 ) for the inserts seem like a lot .

How would I know? I’m not an orthopaedic doctor!

 

[MRG]

Different condition, DW has bunions, made all the difference in the world. Yes they're pricey, not sure we dropped that much but it could have been.

For her, they were life changing. She couldn't walk a mile prior, and now she does whatever she wants.

 

[braumeister]

Some shoe inserts will work wonders for some people and be worthless for others. They are very much an individual thing and the only way to tell if something will do you a lot of good is to try it for a while.

That said, those are the most expensive inserts I've ever heard of.

 

[RunningBum]

I don't think they are snake oil, but they may not be necessary. $238 is not out of line, btw, for true custom inserts.

I wear custom orthotics for running. The main reason is that I need a metatarsal pad to keep Morton's neuroma from flaring up. If not for that I probably wouldn't do it, because I don't really think I have other troubles. I don't wear them for anything but running, and 4-10 miles walks are not rare for me. If you were still having trouble, I'd say try them, but if you can live with the ankle brace, I'd probably stick with that.

Another cheaper option is a "custom" off the shelf orthotic: https://www.drscholls.com/products/pain-relief/custom-fit-orthotic-inserts/ You go to one of their kiosk, which I think is in most walmarts (search for one in that page), put your feet on it, and it recommends a model. I predicted which it should recommend for me based on what I knew about my feet--and I had studied a lot as a non-expert because of my runner--and it suggested the one I thought it would. I can't guarantee this would work as well as custom orthotics though.

 

[Red Badger]

Different here as well. Planner Fascietes. Bought expensive inserts, that are now delaminating (over ten years usage). Have supplemented them with Planner insoles from Amazon at $12 a pair that work jest as well.

I would spend the dough.

Best wishes in getting resolved.

 

[Breedlove]

Spend the dough , the brace has made a difference . Prevented ankle flop , I notice I have a real problem walking on uneven pavement and this seems to make the arthritis flare up . I will try the inserts , although the next pair might be off the shelf rather then the custom ones.!

 

[pb4uski]

Different here as well. Planner Fascietes. Bought expensive inserts, that are now delaminating (over ten years usage). Have supplemented them with Planner insoles from Amazon at $12 a pair that work jest as well.

I would spend the dough.

Best wishes in getting resolved.

Similar story for DW... she has planter fasciitis and got expensive custom inserts and they worked wonders.

 

[RunningBum]

You should be able to get 5-10 years with the custom inserts. You can move them between shoes in most cases. I'm around 10 years with mine. Tried replacing them but the new ones are too hard, so I'm back to the old ones.

 

[hesperus]

I have custom made footbeds, which cost a pretty penny, but they have absolutely been worth it. I was having a problem with chronic achilles tendonitis, from hiking many miles over many years. During/after a hike achilles would be too tender to even touch. Would last for days. Calves would also be as tight as a drum. Doc looked at my stride and saw that I was severely pronating. He recommended custom inserts. and although they were 400 bucks to fit and make, I went for it. The feeling inside the boot now is one that is so much more comfortable, and most importantly, they are giving support where it is needed and I'm not pronating anymore. It takes awhile for the inflammation to go away, but it is and I am back in business. I also have them for my ski boots, and the increase in control of my ski edges is way better. I'd do it.

 

[Revlefty]

Didn't help me

I have Morton's Neuroma, Neuropathy, Arthritis and flat feet. I've tried the pad for The Morton's Neuroma--if helped for a little while. I tried $75 gel insoles that were almost impossible to get used to. They helped for a little while. I tried the $300 inserts made by the Podiatrist with maybe a little more success, but not long term. I've tried memory foam inserts-- same results.

In short, try whatever you want and maybe you'll find something that works for you.

The one thing that makes my feet feel better are flip-flops! Most podiatrists will tell you they are the worst thing you can wear, but even he said, "If it makes you feel better, go for it."

 

[woodguy00]

I have a set of custom$300 footbeds that work great for arch support and have metatarsal pads to prevent flare up of Morton's neuroma. I've also made up three sets of insoles with Amazon products for about $30 each that work just as well.

 

[Ronstar]

I got custom orthotics about 10 years ago to prevent pain from Morton’s neuroma. Since then, I’ve developed neuropathy in the same foot and a sometimes painful bunion on the other foot. None of these ailments bother me much when I’m wearing orthotics. But I do have some pain when I forget to wear them.

 

[Montecfo]

The last couple years I have had genuine foot pain from the heel and side of the ankle . I used to play volleyball often so I did suffer quite a few sprains . A couple weeks ago we did our trip to Key West and marched in two parades . My ankle hurt real bad . I usually walk 12 miles a week but the pain comes and goes away.
I decided to go to an Orthopedic doctor , the doc says I have arthritis in the ankle and it gets enflamed . The result when I walk I wear an ankle brace and now they want me to go to orthopedic inserts. The ankle brace seems to have made the pain go away ....but are these inserts good or are they snake oil ( 238.00 ) for the inserts seem like a lot .

Breedlove,

I also have serious ankle arthritis (lots and lots of basketball). I wear a brace when I go on long walks or hiking, and when I have pain. Helps immensely.

I have been to two ankle specialist orthopedists. They are talking ankle replacement or fusion. I am hoping to avoid.

One tip I picked up: wear an elevated heel. This allows your foot to "clear" any scar tissue or bone spurs where your fibula and talus meet.

So I picked up some heel inserts at walmart-for maybe 6-$10 a pair. I wear them in my daily shoes and especially hiking. I would try that, depending on what the orthotics are supposed to do.

Let us know what you end up doing.

cheers!

 

[Hillbilly]

RE: "....are these inserts good or are they snake oil ( 238.00 ) for the inserts seem like a lot."

I wear them daily. I wish I'd paid $238 for mine.

 

[travelover]

How would I know? I’m not an orthopaedic doctor!

For sure! The nerve of that guy asking!

 

[Marita40]

For me they were worthless. I have an arthritic big toe and was told they would work wonders. $600 later (yes, six hundred dollars) and I found they didn't help at all. Talk about feeling like a chump!! My advice would be to invest in a variety of Walgreen/Dr. Scholl type cheap inserts and see what works best for you longer before you spring for custom.

 

[Gotadimple]

Breedlove,
If these are custom made orthotics, then $238 is an excellent price. I wear custom orthotics and they were $250 each. I also wear a nylon brace when I do a lot of walking. Between them I have no foot/ankle pain.

I did move away from the custom orthotics when they were worn out, and substituted Superfeet (over the counter) at $50 per pair. I began to have ankle pain which turned out to be posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (the tendon that runs from the inside of the ankle up the calf muscle is stretched/torn).

I'm not sure it wouldn't have happened anyway, but I do remember getting A LOT of relief going back to custom orthotics, and the ankle brace allowed the tendonitis to resolve with time and a few good stretches every day.

So I'm stable now with orthotics and a brace I can buy on Amazon at a reasonable price.

- Rita

 

[Aerides]

I have PF but use OTC inserts for my running shoes. I also use arch-support-specific slippers for around the house, and arch-support-sandals instead of flip flops. Basically I never take more than 20 steps without an arch support.

With them, it's like I don't have PF. Without them? I remember I do at about the 21st step. But PF is a very specific issue that's basically generic, so generic solutions work (for me).

If you're not gung ho on the custom ($) orthotics, try a $10 pair for a week and see if those help before you cave?

Personally, given the pain you describe, it sounds like a good plan to go for it.

 

[jazz4cash]

I have a pair that I'm sure cost me way more than 238. They worked wonders for me. I haven't needed them for years but occaisonally I will put them in a pair of shoes that are otherwise uncomfortable and they feel great. I might try the Dr Scholls custom process which wasn't an option back then.

 

[Bamaman]

Orthotics are them first thing doctors.prescribe for serious foot.pain. It is in their protocol. They essentially take the bend out and/or move the weight around.

You are smart to address foot pain quickly. My wife was walking well. 2 months later, mid foot arthritis on the tops of both feet put her in the bed. She has no cartridge in the joints. Surgery is screws and plates fusing the foot--which means she would walk funny. She is trying to live the pain with smearing Volteran gel and over the counter lydacane lotion on her feet

Take care of your feet. One problem often leads to another problem.

 

[OnIslandTime]

I have flat feet, I tend to suffer with planter fasciitis, and I have two small bunions. Most everything stems from the flat feet and the over pronation that goes with it.

I have always suffered with achy feet and years ago figured out that I must have good shoes. (I must have a heel cup, padding on the forefoot and arch support.)

This past summer I visited a podiatrist for the first time. I had pain (vs just achy). She told me, in my case, support and padding are key; so she sold me Foot Steps Off-the-Shelf orthotics ($25/pair) and Pedifix arch bands ($10/pair). The orthotics are not actually available off the shelf, only doctors carry them, but the arch bands are available lots of places. I have since purchased Dr. Scholl's gel inserts with stiff arch support because I got tired of moving orthotics around in various shoes. The orthotics help a lot...and I already had pretty good shoes.

I would ask if there is a commercially available orthotic that would do the job. I've run across doctors that get so used to people having insurance that they just suggest the $$$ solution when something much less expensive might do the job.

Bottom line, they'll probably help, but you might be able to sub something less expensive depending on your particular situation.

Good luck. Foot and ankle issues are no fun, tend to get worse without attention and can be debilitating.

 

[trirod]

I have Plantar Fasciitis and have an expensive pair of orthotics. They help but not any more than the OTC ones I got from Amazon for $30 or $40 (I got the Powerstep Pinnacle ones). When I was researching my PF condition I found scientific research that indicated that orthotics helped but that the custom ones were no better than the OTC ones., which was also my experience.

 

[24601NoMore]

What a timely thread..just was fitted for custom orthotics today to address pronating and a twisted right foot that's probably a stretched or (hopefully not) torn tendon. Paid $295 for the pair, which were made after a foot 'scan' (very cool machine that pushes up a bunch of soft pegs into your foot to get the geometry of it, then feeds that into a CAD system that drives a custom mill - right in shop).

Place I went to is the only one in Michigan (maybe the Midwest) that has this setup. Lots of sports celebs apparently go there - the guy had a gazillion signed jerseys, footballs, you name it - all over the wall with thank yous from the players saying how much the custom orthotics helped them. Could be bunk but seemed legit and he's been around for 20+ years in the same location..

Will see how they work. Am still on day 1 of my break-in period..

 

[Koolau]

The "prescription" (aka expensive) inserts I wear for PF have been a real Godsend. For years, walking was painful and now it is not. The first time I inserted the orthotics and walked, it was like heaven. DW was not so fortunate. She tried orthotics and got no apparent relief. YMMV