Orthotic shoes

[ejr]

If your not a Chiropractor you should be. Excellent advice!

I'm more of a do it yourselfer.
I used to not be a big believer in Chiropractic, as it all seemed too simplistic compared to modern surgery and meds.
The older I get the more I realize how other branches of medicine ignore basic alignment and massage, as well as preventive techniques.
I have always used osteopathic manipulation on myself, much to the chagrin of the pros, but feel very healthy, balanced, and grounded as a result.
I also imbibe in prescription meds for things that I feel require that type of intervention.
I think alot of M.D.s and D.O.s fail to refer to Naturopaths, Chiropractors, and Homeopaths when it is indeed indicated, and some Chiropractors have gotten a bad rap for failure to refer problems beyond their scope of treatment as well.
Too much turf protection going on.

I guess the philosophy of Chiropractors is Chiropractic first, drugs second, and surgery last.
Since the Podiatrists never seem to recommend stretching and ice before trying orthotics to relieve heel pain, I hope the Chiropractic community presents that option to their patients in addition to the casting for the supports.
In answer to the question "So would you re-build your own fuel injection system, pull rivits and re-rivit chains, fly in a plane you built yourself, or drill and fill your own teeth", why yes, yes yes and yes

Curiously, it was a chiropractor who first suggested that I might need orthotics to help correct problems all the way up my spine. The chiropractor was treating me for TMJ-totally the other end of the body. And the orthotics have definitely affected my neck and jaw!

[creeky]

I have a blister ....... on my other foot from my new shoes now

[ejr]

I have a blister ....... on my other foot from my new shoes now

Two thoughts-maybe the shoes were not fit properly for your feet.

If you have any tendancy towards blisters, get socks that are made with a double layer of coolmax fabric. When I first started on the treadmill, I got lots of blisters and a shoe store recommended these socks and I have never had a blister since.

But it sounds more like the first issue.

[Patriotic Phlocker]

If your not a Chiropractor you should be. Excellent advice!

I'm more of a do it yourselfer.
I used to not be a big believer in Chiropractic, as it all seemed too simplistic compared to modern surgery and meds.
The older I get the more I realize how other branches of medicine ignore basic alignment and massage, as well as preventive techniques.
I have always used osteopathic manipulation on myself, much to the chagrin of the pros, but feel very healthy, balanced, and grounded as a result.
I also imbibe in prescription meds for things that I feel require that type of intervention.
I think alot of M.D.s and D.O.s fail to refer to Naturopaths, Chiropractors, and Homeopaths when it is indeed indicated, and some Chiropractors have gotten a bad rap for failure to refer problems beyond their scope of treatment as well.
Too much turf protection going on.

I guess the philosophy of Chiropractors is Chiropractic first, drugs second, and surgery last.
Since the Podiatrists never seem to recommend stretching and ice before trying orthotics to relieve heel pain, I hope the Chiropractic community presents that option to their patients in addition to the casting for the supports.
In answer to the question "So would you re-build your own fuel injection system, pull rivits and re-rivit chains, fly in a plane you built yourself, or drill and fill your own teeth", why yes, yes yes and yes

Way to go. I, as a Chiropractor, wish more people would realize that there is a time and place for each profession. I have fixed many things that has been referred for surgery, yet I have also referred people to get the help that they need. No adjustment will fix an abdominal aneurysm.

Remember, we are born perfect and spend our lives screwing ourselves up!

[Longboardn' ASEL&S]

I have a blister ....... on my other foot from my new shoes now

The majority of foot problems are caused by shoe wearing.
Ellen's advice on blister prevention is spot on.
Again, both of you will have to deal with how to make enclosed shoe wearing tolerable and preventing it's downfalls, including moisture management.
The concept that our group :

http://www.barefooters.org

is trying to get across is that shoes are not a "neccesary evil" for most people.
It is only societal norms that cause healthy people to become perpetualy shod, requiring them to also have to deal with the consequences.
It is very well documented that walking barefoot results in less injury than walking in flip-flops.
In recent years many track coaches have resorted to having their runners train barefoot.
Americans have adjusted in this millenium to tolerating flip-flops as acceptable dress in many places that would not have allowed it the past, but not equally with respect to gender.
Flips have resulted in a tremendous reduction in shoe related abnormalities, but are responsible for an increase in slip and fall injuries.
If Americans could take the next step and learn to accept bare feet as an acceptable form of dress, the increase in puncture wounds, lacerations, and abrasions would be tremendously offset by the overall improvement in foot, ankle, knee, hip, back, neck, and jaw health.
A minority of people require the support of shoes and orthotics.
Unfortunatly, a majority of people have problems that are actually caused by eccesive shoe wearing.
My advice to people that are having problems is to first try stretching, ice, rest, and excercise.
Then, orthotics.
To those that have no problems, and are living in their flips, I highly recommend ditching them a bit at a time while walking to properly excercise the muscles, tendons, ligaments, etc., and to make up for the unnatural motions the flips are causing to occur.

[creeky]

I have a blister ....... on my other foot from my new shoes now

Two thoughts-maybe the shoes were not fit properly for your feet.

If you have any tendancy towards blisters, get socks that are made with a double layer of coolmax fabric. When I first started on the treadmill, I got lots of blisters and a shoe store recommended these socks and I have never had a blister since.

But it sounds more like the first issue.

I had the shoes professionally fitted. . but I think it might be more that I wore the orthotics for too many hours that day .... I am supposed to be doing a gradual build up of time - as the orthotics I have a really high in the heel (in my podiatrists words - the most agressive you can get) - but I kinda forgot to take them out and change shoes

[ejr]

I have a blister ....... on my other foot from my new shoes now

Two thoughts-maybe the shoes were not fit properly for your feet.

If you have any tendancy towards blisters, get socks that are made with a double layer of coolmax fabric. When I first started on the treadmill, I got lots of blisters and a shoe store recommended these socks and I have never had a blister since.

But it sounds more like the first issue.

I had the shoes professionally fitted. . but I think it might be more that I wore the orthotics for too many hours that day .... I am supposed to be doing a gradual build up of time - as the orthotics I have a really high in the heel (in my podiatrists words - the most agressive you can get) - but I kinda forgot to take them out and change shoes

I was told to start out with having them on for an hour the first day--no more, and then to gradually increase so that by 2-3 weeks, I could be in them full-time. I was fortunate that I made the adjustment in 3 days which shocked my orthotist, but you do need to take it gradually. And my adjustment for pronating is at least 8% when 4% apparently is the standard.

And, if the blister problems continue, I would go back to the shoe place and talk to them. I also really recommend the socks-they are great!

[creeky]

I am back to the podiatrist this afternoon.

The pain hurts in that foot in my New Balance runners as well - so I think it has to be filed down a little .... the heel is sitting a little too high I think ....

Well that is enough of my self diagnosis

[ejr]

I am back to the podiatrist this afternoon.

The pain hurts in that foot in my New Balance runners as well - so I think it has to be filed down a little .... the heel is sitting a little too high I think ....

Well that is enough of my self diagnosis

Jenny-my orthotics were adjusted several times early on, and I go in once or twice a year and have them make some slight adjustments to them even now, years later.

Discomfort in adjusting to them is not unusual. Pain is.

[creeky]

I am back to the podiatrist this afternoon.

The pain hurts in that foot in my New Balance runners as well - so I think it has to be filed down a little .... the heel is sitting a little too high I think ....

Well that is enough of my self diagnosis

Jenny-my orthotics were adjusted several times early on, and I go in once or twice a year and have them make some slight adjustments to them even now, years later.

Discomfort in adjusting to them is not unusual. Pain is.

ok .. he filed it down a little ... and put a dressing on the blister .... but the GOOD NEWS is that I have had no PAIN in my bad foot today

[ejr]

I am back to the podiatrist this afternoon.

The pain hurts in that foot in my New Balance runners as well - so I think it has to be filed down a little .... the heel is sitting a little too high I think ....

Well that is enough of my self diagnosis

Jenny-my orthotics were adjusted several times early on, and I go in once or twice a year and have them make some slight adjustments to them even now, years later.

Discomfort in adjusting to them is not unusual. Pain is.

ok .. he filed it down a little ... and put a dressing on the blister .... but the GOOD NEWS is that I have had no PAIN in my bad foot today

Hope this is the start of lots of improvement, and no more pain!!!

[Longboardn' ASEL&S]

In this weekends newspaper suppliment magazine "USA Weekend",
Dr. Tedd Mitchell writes a two page article on plantar fasciitis.
Nothing new, but he does make a point of explaining how important proper stretching is for it's prevention.
Interestingly, he says it's one of the most common foot problems he encounters in his sports medicine practice.

Not sure if it is available on-line, but the Magazines website is usaweekend.com

Edit-Hey, why no real link?

[ejr]

In this weekends newspaper suppliment magazine "USA Weekend",
Dr. Tedd Mitchell writes a two page article on plantar fasciitis.
Nothing new, but he does make a point of explaining how important proper stretching is for it's prevention.
Interestingly, he says it's one of the most common foot problems he encounters in his sports medicine practice.

Not sure if it is available on-line, but the Magazines website is usaweekend.com

Edit-Hey, why no real link?

Maybe because you did not include the www.usaweekend.com.

My orthotist has told me that if you do your exercise program responsibly, your stretching is as important if not more important than the exercise, and should take a fair amount of time. As you know, many people refer to heel spurs when plantar fasciitis is the real culprit. And the first symptom for many is heel pain when you first get up in the morning. I often tell friends who experience this that they should stretch (Point and flex) their feet before they ever hit the floor.

[Longboardn' ASEL&S]

Maybe because you did not include the www.usaweekend.com.
That would make sense!

My orthotist has told me that if you do your exercise program responsibly, your stretching is as important if not more important than the exercise, and should take a fair amount of time. As you know, many people refer to heel spurs when plantar fasciitis is the real culprit. And the first symptom for many is heel pain when you first get up in the morning. I often tell friends who experience this that they should stretch (Point and flex) their feet before they ever hit the floor.

I'm doing the baseball plantar fascia stretch as I write this.
Have'nt missed a day in 3 years now.
My morning E-mail reading is always done standing up with the baseballs.
We got screwed again! It was supposed to be sunny and it was when I got up. I was gonna skip BN and be outside by now. Oh well.
How was the wedding? You were up late writing, must not have been too wasted away

[ejr]

Maybe because you did not include the www.usaweekend.com.
That would make sense!

My orthotist has told me that if you do your exercise program responsibly, your stretching is as important if not more important than the exercise, and should take a fair amount of time. As you know, many people refer to heel spurs when plantar fasciitis is the real culprit. And the first symptom for many is heel pain when you first get up in the morning. I often tell friends who experience this that they should stretch (Point and flex) their feet before they ever hit the floor.

I'm doing the baseball plantar fascia stretch as I write this.
Have'nt missed a day in 3 years now.
My morning E-mail reading is always done standing up with the baseballs.
We got screwed again! It was supposed to be sunny and it was when I got up. I was gonna skip BN and be outside by now. Oh well.
How was the wedding? You were up late writing, must not have been too wasted away

The wedding was wonderful! No, wasn't wasted away at all, but did not expect to be. And the weather was absolutely perfect (though the temperature dropped dramatically overnight)

Saw the article in the paper this morning. Very good advice.