By Paul on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 12:58 pm:

And do you or do you not wear orthotics/otc
arch supports. I have some pains in my feet and
knees and have absolutely NO arch. I'm wondering
if I should consider them. If you do wear orth.
what all does it entail to get them? Would plain
over counter "arch supports" help, or will they
just hurt my feet?
Thanks

By Sue on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 12:59 pm:

I've always had flat feet -- even on my birth certificate I don't have an arch.

I've gotten mixed messages from the medical community:
- from podiatrist: don't worry about it; use over the counter full-length arch support if it bothers you
- from ortho: it'll screw up the alignment of your knees, hips, back
- from PT: try some hard rubber chunks in your shoes for a weekend (hurt like &^^#$)
- from current PT last week: get something gradual from a podiatrist

So... it's another medical mystery, along with HMS, EDS, etc.

Personally, I got a little help from over the counter, 3/4 to full-foot size arch supports, though not enough to wear on a regular basis. I also found an Ace bandage
intended for the ankle (about $5-10 each) pulls the arch up nicely during intensive walking and relieves soreness and/or foot cramping.

By Paula on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 01:00 pm:

Sue, thanks for the info. Sounds like maybe I
could try some OTC arch supports and see if it
makes a difference. Personally I would think
that these supports have an arch curve and would
be rather uncomfortable to my extremely flat
"as in a board" feet. But maybe I need something
to lift my arch up...if I have one..I'd rather try
this than pay for a podiatrist right now. If that
doens't work I'll take Gwens advise. Thanks Gwen.

By Gwen on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 01:00 pm:

Paula, you should see a podiatrist. Everyone has differently shaped feet. A well made pair of orthotics should make a big difference to both your feet and knee
problems.

By Jerry on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 01:01 pm:

After 2 prescribed $300 orthotics that helped, but still had foot pain, I found simple 3/4 length of shoe inserts with smooth leather covering worked best after 15 yrs
of trying. "Surefit" is company name of insert bought at shoe repair shop. No major arch to them like some discount store models. In fact, I taped a quarter on
underneath side of insert at "the spot" where it hurts. Made lots of difference at end of the day! I also use foot cream at night that makes a difference on my feet the
next morning available at www.itsabird.com. Don't you just hate that suction "squawk" sound flat feet make on smooth floors?

By Gwen on Saturday, June 03, 2000 - 01:01 pm:

Thanks for advising about the inserts. I shall investigate if these are available in New Zealand. The only commercial inserts I've found here have been diabolical. One
of my feet has a 2" pin in it to hold it in alignment after a horse flattened it and gets very irritable if it isn't "just so".Hence my need for special orthotics. What you
said about taping a coin underneath sounds very sensible. You've given me lots of food for thought and experimentation.

By Sheena Jones on Friday, June 30, 2000 - 02:54 am:

At the age of 50 I have just been diagnosed with HMS because of back pains.

From my teens I had pains in my feet. It started in the long arch when playing hockey in the old-fashioned canvas boots. Then I developed a painful spot in one metatarsal arch, which I treated by sticking chiropodist's felt under the spot. This worked for a while. The pain recurred if I wore flat shoes for a few weeks, so I learned to avoid them.

After my first baby, when I was 32, both feet got so bad I could hardly walk, and I was referred to a podiatrist. He told me I had a Morton's neuroma. He took impressions of my feet (like the dentist does) and made custom arch supports. Over a few years this seemed to cure the problem, and I even went back to wearing flat shoes.

7 years later it was bad again, and the podiatrist made me new arch supports. 11 years on, so long as I wear the supports, I can walk all day. If I leave them out for long (because of course some shoes won't accomodate them) my feet and legs ache and I feel exhausted. I only wear flat shoes if I can't avoid it (eg when I need walking boots), and I use the orthotics in them too.

I would DEFINITELY recommend custom orthotics.

By Michelle on Friday, June 30, 2000 - 10:35 pm:

I have high arches, but my arches completely collapse when I walk. I have custom orthotics, which really help, but don't fit well in all of my shoes. I find flat shoes really bother me- a bit of an elevation helps, but then I have to watch my back and hips.
I think a podiatrist or orthotist could help answer your question.

By Ruth on Wednesday, August 02, 2000 - 07:00 am:

I take a length of adhesive tape about one inch wide that is flexible, (not the hard stuff) and carefully and NOT tightly wrap it around my foot twice while my foot sets on the floor, not expanded. I place the tape just behind the ball of my foot so it actually is not where the arch is (or in my case is not) and I get tremendous support for the day. The key is to not make it too tight or you will suffer. It seems to keep my feet from splaying out as I step. I recommend it for a try. But NOT TIGHT.

By Barbar on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 07:05 pm:

Pes Planus "Flat Feet" is a common symptom of EDS. Sometimes it means that the ankle are pronated (rotated inward). It is best to see a podiatrist to treat foot pain associated with Pes Planus

By jane on Monday, January 22, 2001 - 01:43 pm:

I have no arch at all and never have. They put me
in "corrective shoes" from the get-go which did
nothing but make me feel like a freak in my saddle
oxford orthotic shoes when the rest of the kids
were in Nikes.

Anyway, arch supports cause me huge foot pain.
I've found I'm better with flat soled shoes and
only use supports (and, of course, ankle braces)
when jogging so as to protect my knees from the
impact.

By Brenda on Friday, October 05, 2001 - 01:40 am:

I have been told to have HMS 3 months ago. I have Orthotics for 2 months now, and I don't have any pain in my feed now I have them.