Flat Feet

something_girl

Both my daughters have flat feet, the 15 year old more so, we did the old standing in a bucket of water and stepping on a piece of paper test the other day and her foot is entirely flat.

I had her to doctors and specialists about 5 -8 years ago and she had some hard plastic insoles made, but eventually after follow up appts the specialist made her walk on her tip toes across his office, which she did and he said, there's nothing wrong with this child and discharged us. So we basically just forgot about it and she got on with her life.

She is now complaining of pain in her knees and feet as she has had to walk about a mile to school every day with a heavy school bag and says she feels pain when she runs. I have made an appointment with the doc, who will no doubt refer us to specialist again with long waiting lists etc.... does anyone have any experience of perhaps gaining a prescription for generic insoles, obtained from chemist? Am sure that is all that can be done to help now, there are no ops or anything suitable.

I saw some insoles in Boots the other day, but they were about £25 - £30 and would be great to get them on free child prescription, obviously!

Cheers

achtunglady

I have flat feet as well and was referred to see a podiatrist. I suffered terrible hip pain and after seeing the podiatrist I got some custom made insoles which were like the foamy insoles you put in shoes but with harder plastic pieces stuck in where i needed the support, as opposed to those ones you have seen in Boots (Orthaheel). I was going to buy the Orthaheel ones but my problem was that I suffer from sweaty feet as well, so they would soon get distorted by being so wet all the time, the ones i got made can be hand washed with soapy water, They were done on the NHS.
Its like learning to walk again wearing them but because my joints are in alignment there is no pain, and because the soles arent solid they can fit into slimmer shoes as well as wider shoes such as trainers.

something_girl

Thanks for your reply

I suspect it may be quite a common problem... I have an exceptionally high arch, so it's really odd where my girls got their flipper feet from!

TangledMemories_2

You are much better off getting insoles made to fit your feet properly rather than buying over the counter ones.

My nan was the area manager for Scholl footcare and is a qualified chiropodist so we always had it drummed into us how to keep an eye on our arches and not to wear stupid shoes! Maybe worthwhile trying scholl - they can do the pedograph to see exactly where all the pressue is aligned and make some insoles made-to-measure.

Otherwise, ask to be referred by the NHS.
My OH has psoriatic arthritis and due to the NHS taking so long to diagnose, the bones in the toes on his left foot are fused and will not bend. He has made-to-measure insoles designed especially for him and they help him walk a little better.

something_girl

THanks for all replies. Appt made for doc on 4th June 2008, see if they will do anything!

tomstickland

I used to have flat feet and they seem to have fixed themselves. What's the problem with it anyway?

anm_2

Your daughter needs to be referred to a podiatrist...

my son had years and years of suffering with pains in his knees even to the point where the doctor thought he had athritis. After seeing lots of specialists and being fobbed off that there was nothing wrong with him and being discharged, my GP eventually sent him to a physio who picked up that he had flat feet, he referred him to a podiatrist where he now has regular check ups and the insoles have really helped him he even wears them in his rugby boots lol, and if it was picked up earlier it would have saved him 5 years of suffering

something_girl

yeh, I think I will just TELL the doctor that is what I want to happen.

After seeing a specialist every 6 months from around age 8 - 10, a new one decided to discharge her because she found it possible to walk on her tip toes, so she MUST be ok :mad:

anm_2

something_girl wrote: »

yeh, I think I will just TELL the doctor that is what I want to happen.

After seeing a specialist every 6 months from around age 8 - 10, a new one decided to discharge her because she found it possible to walk on her tip toes, so she MUST be ok :mad:

mmmm yes i have had similar but it was he can bend his knee so nothing wrong, it beggers beleif when a physio diagnosis his problem within minutes of meeting him, ironicaly just by getting him to stand bare foot so he could look at his knees.

and you are right tell the doctor that tis is what you want

ailuro2

I have flat feet / fallen arches/ plantar fasciitis (sp?), the stabbing pain up your heel after standing or walking too long.

There is a genetic tendency, I think, or maybe it's just really common!

What has really helped me has been not walking around barefoot, wearing sandals with support around the house, and now I've found them,slippers with arch support built in, this stops my foot flattening and seems to prevent a lot of the pain.

When my DH went to the physio he was given insoles, and exercises that were basically clawing/dragging a towel towards him using his toes,keeping his heel on the ground.

Hope this is of some use until you can get to the Drs next week.

something_girl

ailuro2 wrote: »

I have flat feet / fallen arches/ plantar fasciitis (sp?), the stabbing pain up your heel after standing or walking too long.

There is a genetic tendency, I think, or maybe it's just really common!

What has really helped me has been not walking around barefoot, wearing sandals with support around the house, and now I've found them,slippers with arch support built in, this stops my foot flattening and seems to prevent a lot of the pain.

When my DH went to the physio he was given insoles, and exercises that were basically clawing/dragging a towel towards him using his toes,keeping his heel on the ground.

Hope this is of some use until you can get to the Drs next week.

Thanks for that.

Where did you get the slippers with arch support? That sounds good, cos my daughter always walks around barefoot.