By Jane on Monday, October 30, 2000 - 07:11 pm:

I'm used to dislocations in my shoulders and hips, but lately the big ball joint of the big toe on my left foot has been slipping out of place and causing all kinds of trouble. My whole foot will be inflamed for days, and when I walk I move irregularly which messes up my knee and hip. I know almost nothing about that area of my body, and I'm at college where the doctors are just useless. They tell me to wrap the ankle, and that nothing shows up on the x-ray. Nothing EVER shows up on the x-ray. Until I'm able to get home to a real doctor who might help, does anyone have any suggestions/similar experiences/help??? I'm so tired of people getting annoyed with me because I have to move slowly, have to budget my walking time for the entire day. Sigh.

By Eppie on Tuesday, October 31, 2000 - 07:30 am:

Have you tried over-the-counter orthotics for your shoes? You can get good ones at Lady Foot Locker, or decent ones at any store (and they're not too expensive). Also, wearing good shoes makes a HUGE difference. I've found Dansko clogs to be the best things since sliced bread (and they're

By Gwen on Tuesday, October 31, 2000 - 11:59 am:

When I had my orthotics made the podiatrist added an extension that ran the length of my big toe. Instead of being the hard plastic that is used to manufacture the orthotic this is like a firm leather. It holds everything together nicely but has the disadvantage that I can only use my orthotics in sports shoes or lace-ups

By Patrina on Sunday, November 05, 2000 - 08:07 pm:

Orthotics recommendations? What brand(s) have you found helpful/useless?

I have my first appt with a podiatrist on Wednesday.

My feet have always tended to curve excessively when I stand on them, and my sister just told me that when I was an infant, the doctor instructed my mother to put the left shoe on my right foot & vice versa. Then later I was in corrective shoes until maybe 3rd grade. I eventually refused to wear them because they were so not pretty.

Pretty stupid, in retrospect, but I was a kid, what did I know?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

By Gwen on Monday, November 06, 2000 - 10:32 am:

If you are seeing a podiatrist he will most likely make a pair of orthotics especially for you. We all have differently shaped feet (and do some of us hypermobile folks have differently shaped feet!!)and wearing ready mades can be as injurious as wearing poorly fitting shoes. Be guided by what the podiatrist says and don't be surprised if you need another pair made a year or so down the track as your foot shape will possibly have altered by then.
Another things you will probably find is that your feet, legs and hips may all be very sore for the first couple of weeks until your muscles and joints cope with your altered balance.