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susan828
USA
291 Posts |
 Posted - 01/25/2011 : 16:01:10
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Art, if you are reading this, you made mention of orthotics a few days ago and implied that our feet were designed to work without them. I have had foot pain for a long time, comes and goes. The orthotics helped and I still have the same pair (put together with masking tape now because I can't afford another $500 :-)
I like New Balance shoes and have tried wearing them without the orthotics just to see what would happen. I seemed to be okay but felt that my feet are so used to the shape of the orthotics that I better go back. Have you seen people toss them and do okay? Do you think they're useless and have you not known people who benefited by them? |
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heelsdown
USA
49 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2011 : 16:30:29
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Hi Susan,
I hope you don't mind if I answer this. I am the queen of foot pain and can tell you first hand that you don't need the orthotics! I went through the getting rid of them process, plus much, much more.
I had foot pain for 2 years that was blamed on flat feet and over pronation. I had many different pairs of orthotics throughout that time. 3 different custom ones! I would go to a new podiatrist, they would look at my old orthotics and say, "who made these? these are no good, you need a new pair!" For $300. haha.
They all seemed to help- a little. Or for a little bit. But I still had activity limiting pain. SO, I had surgery to insert "screw" like devices into my ankles. These acted like an internal orthotic and stopped the overpronation from the inside. Well, guess what. I still had the same pain. And still wore my orthotics as well!
So, I had external and internal orthotics. Stumbled upon tms in september. Shortly after I was brave enough and my pain had lessened enough to ditch the orthotics. Four weeks ago I had surgery to remove the stupid screws. I did not even think about putting the orthotics back in my shoes.
So, four weeks after surgery I am orthotic-less, inside and out. I still have flat feet and overpronate. I was able to work a 13-hour day last week, mostly on my feet. I am back up to running about 2.5 miles. I also started running in "minimalist" shoes, without any cushioning, arch support, or pronation control.
I do still have some pain... but it is obviously tms as it comes on when I am stressed. And I am no longer limited or scared of it. I am about 90% better than I was this time last year when I was wearing my orthotics and hardly doing any activity.
So, I hope that account helps you! It will be a personal decision whether you lose the orthotics or not, but I would venture to say you don't need them. I have far from perfect feet and I let mine go. |
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susan828
USA
291 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2011 : 16:45:07
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Hi heels, of course I don't mind you answering, I just saw Art make that comment but your input is very much appreciated! Well, I have a problem with one foot, a bunion that was operated about 30 years ago that came back and worse, consequently, a hammertoe next to it from the toe pressing on it. I heard that the recovery from hammertoe surgery is really painful so haven't done it. I can't wear normal shoes, as the toe box pressed on the hammertoe and hurts. Forget about dress heels.
If I could take the time off from work and had the money, I'd possibly get the surgery. The orthotics seem to have helped the bunion pain. But you know how ungainly New Balance or any athletic shoe is on women. I'd like to wear pretty shoes for once. I can get away with boots which looks kind of sharp with jeans...so for style and vanity, I'd like to have that corrected.
But for now, for everyday stuff, maybe I'll just try ditching the orthotics and see what happens. I have actually "made" my own by stuffing tissue into my sneakers to take the pressure off certain parts. Beats $500 (where I live, everything costs a fortune). Gosh, sorry what you've gone through, I didn't know they put screws in your feet for pronation. Glad they're out of you and I wish you continuing success and no pain! Thanks again for the quick reply! |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2011 : 18:43:55
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Hi Susan,
I don't pretend to be any kind of expert. I'm a runner, got expensive orthotics along the way pre-tms, and used them for years. I was convinced I couldn't do without them. At some point I got sick of shelling out all that dough and tossed them in the trash. I've been running without problems ever since.
If you really think you need them for some reason you can get Dr.Scholls at the drugstore for a couple of dollars, much better than $300. I saw a study that concluded the cheap ones from the pharmacy worked as well or better than the fancy, fitted variety.
For what it's worth, I don't think the vast majority don't need them. Dr. Sarno believes plantar fasciitis is often TMS.
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Edited by - art on 01/25/2011 18:44:32 |
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susan828
USA
291 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2011 : 22:38:23
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| Art, I have experimented with Scholls but I don't see how they can target our particular problem because they're just generic. They don't necessarily put the foot in the position that would correct our problem. I do have the soft Scholl inserts on top of the orthotics, just to feel a cushion rather than the hard leather. I have had virtually no foot pain and for now, I think I'll just keep using them since my shoes are large enough to accomodate them. However, I will try with nothing...NB shoes come with a soft insert. I'll see what happens just as a test. I actually have and my feet didn't hurt but the darn bunion acts up. I want to add that this is not so bad for me and not the focus of my TMS. I can deal with this pain, it doesn't worry me. The facial pain, vibration groin (which has stopped, thank goodness), tooth pain, TMJ, scary things are what freak me out. Thanks for the reply. I also run but it's freezing here now with incessant snow so not for a while. |
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marjrc
Canada
19 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2011 : 14:19:24
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'heelsdown', I am very interested in your story as I also have a lot of foot pain. I am considering orthotics even though I am "against them" and think that they end up being a crutch, rather than a real solution. I've had pairs in the past and ended up not using them for long.
I have paralysis in part of my foot and can't lift myself up on my toes, exc. for the big toe. Because I've been like this since last May, my big toe is now deforming and the big bunion already there is huge and very painful. I have pain throughout the foot and ankle that is limiting many times.
Almost all my other pain symptoms have responded well with TMS/PPD work and thinking, with psychotherapy, self-talk and some journaling, but this foot.... arrrgghh! I am fed up of the pain and the limping, not to mention having to wear boxy, comfortable shoes as Susan has mentioned. |
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Forfeet
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2011 : 14:54:35
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From my original thread of a few months ago, I described my foot pain in some detail. I have worn a few different orthotics, both custom and over the counter and have alternated shoes quite a bit as well. I work on my feet and do a lot of heavy lifting, squatting, bending, etc. For me, using these things is a way of managing symptoms while I continue to work on the more permanent TMS cure.
I'm not crazy about the use of orthotics, particularly the hard prescriptive ones, one pair of which I do use, because I feel they may weaken the arches. However, from the number of people here who say they got rid of them and are doing just fine, it would seem the foot can bounce back from the dependence on them if there is any. I try to alternate as I said, to avoid dependency on any one.
Its unfortunate that there are virtually no DPMs who have adopted the TMS philosophy into their practices. There is a husband/wife team of DPMs in Pennsylvania who practice TMS but they are the only ones I know of. So we have to forge on without much TMS medical expertise with regard to foot care.
I have managed for the most part to rid myself of a number of TMS symptoms just by becoming more aware of the syndrome and the mind's effect on these things, except for the feet (and a recent outbreak of seborrheic dermatitis). I haven't done much journaling and am hoping to find a therapist to help me work out some things which may make the more resistant symptoms abate.
By the way, in response to the OP, for a couple of years I wore arch supports and never thought I could do without them and got rid of them. Although it took a while to get used to not having them, I did and have not gone back to that particular pair. Although as I mentioned, after a few months of not using any I did start using different ones and varying their use for symptom management but have not gone back to the original pair. |
Edited by - Forfeet on 01/26/2011 15:00:34 |
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heelsdown
USA
49 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2011 : 20:40:27
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marjrc,
I don't have experience with bunions, so I can't give you much input there. I'm sorry. But I know how frustrating and debilitating foot pain is. And believe me, there was a point where I could not stand for even a minute without pain. And it didn't make sense. I'm 25, far from overweight, active and otherwise healthy. My only problems have ever been mental ones!
So, two years after the pain started I had gone through at least 6 doctors, probably at least 10 different types of arch supports, physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, stretching, taping, heat, cold, resting, strengthening. I could go on and on. And surgery!
But I still had pain. I was diagnosed with plantar fascitis, tendonitis, and tarsal tunnel by different doctors. My pain varied from sharp to tearing to burning to tingling to aching.
I did the endless internet searching of symptoms and treatments. And finally, last september, something good came of my searching and I found tms. It immediately made sense.
I am a lot better now. I am not scared of the pain. It doesn't limit me. But I do still get some, probably because I am definately a bit messed up emotionally and always seem to need some sort of distraction. And I still go in to "doubting tms mode" now and then, which does not help!
But the point of that long post was that I have experienced tms foot pain. I know what you are going through. And I hope you keep working at it and find relief. |
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marjrc
Canada
19 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2011 : 15:42:07
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| Thank you both for your posts! I find it encouraging and appreciate you taking the time to share your stories. Foot pain is terrible, as is any other pain and when it just won't go away, even when you think you're doing o.k. TMS-wise, it's annoying and the self-doubts creep in! lol |
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Orthotics Question
