Inward roll of the feet as dd walks, I think is causing ankle pain. HELP

[lexcat]

A few years back a shoe shop noticed she had a inwards roll and they put her in shoes that stop her rolling to much.

Then today I went to the clarks and noticed before she even walked to a pair of shoes she was trying the foot really was turning inwards. Anyway the sales assistant then tried some sandals. DD walked and their was no roll. Mentioned this to the assistant and he told we he had noticed a inward roll of the foot with the right been the worst. Hadn't like to say anything as he once did with a customer and it had not been taken kindly.

Anyway we got into talking and from his experience it wasn't uncommon and for most child it didn't cause any problems. Worst he knew of was sore ankles or knees.

At this alarm bells rang as dd had sore ankles last summer. Got better in the winter (had ankle boots) but has been complaining about a sore right ankle on and off a little while.

Is their any thing I can do except buy better fitting shoes or should I get her seen by the doctor?

[thisisyesterday]

i would take her to see GP.
I have this too, and suffered a lot from ankle pain as a child.
was seen by various doctors and consultants and stuff. I think (can't remember all the ins and outs as was quite young) that they said they could operate to fix stuff but that it might not work and it could make it worse.
so my mum chose not to, but it did mean that I couldn't take part in lots of sports at school.

[Sidge]

It's called overpronation.

It can be corrected with insoles moulded and fitted by a paediatric podiatrist. My DD2 has them as she overpronates due to hypotonia (low tone) and we get moulded insoles to put in her shoes which really help.

I would recommend you see your GP and get her checked, and maybe referred to a paediatric podiatrist for insoles.

[Wallace]

GP will probablyrefer you to physio to strengthen up her ankles.

[smartiejake]

Both of my DDs suffer with this and have both at one time or another suffered with ankle/ feet/ knee pain.

I took them to a podiatrist (recommended by the GP) and he took a special gait analysis scan of their feet and had some special othotics made that go in their shoes. They cost an arm and a leg but are very rigid and slim so they will fit in most of the sorts of shoes they like to wear. Neither of them seem to suffer with foot pain any more.Ballet seems to help too.

[Polgara2]

Yes dd2 has othotic insoles for her overpronated feet. She was referred by GP (reluctantly) for back pain initially and because we were sure she had leg length discrepancy as well.

[lexcat]

Thanks just look up overpronation on google and found some picture. Yes I think your right looks just like dd when she's standing.

You say the insoles are expensive, do you not get them on nhs or is it because you went for the better ones. Plus what happens when their feet grow to you have to get new ones.

[Sidge]

We get DD3s on the NHS and she is measured for new ones regularly.

[lexcat]

I've just put get an appointment with doctor on my list of things to do to tomorrow afternoon.

In the mean time what's the best thing to do if her ankle start playing up again as she did say it was sore after getting her sandals. Think it might have been the fact we were talking about it.

Her school shoes are not great but the new sandals are much better but won't be aloud at school. Can talk to teacher but it's the other teacher's who will question her plus her peer group.

[Polgara2]

Sidge - how often do you get new ones and do you ever have more than one pair? DD2 is being measured for new ones tomorrow and I would really like 2 pairs but am not sure if that is the done thing?

Thanks and sorry for hijack lexcat!

[lexcat]

Hijack away these all question I could be soon to ask.

[Sidge]

Polgara we have only ever had one pair at a time, we just swap them between shoes/boots.

She hasn't had new ones since ? October time (I forget exactly) as hers are not the full length of her foot, so only need replacing when her feet have grown significantly. She's only gone from a 10 to an 11 since then so no need for new ones.

We used to have regular appointments with the podiatrist but now we just phone when we think we need to be seen and they slot us in. We check her feet for redness or rubbing from the insoles, if there is marking we know it's time to be seen again.

[EvenBetaDad]

lexcat - I had it when young and it caused knee pain later in life. Still have it when it is cold.

Those wedge things they put in shoes were a big help but I got them too late and my knees and legs are noticeably bent inwards towards each other. I only had one pair I moved from shoe to shoe.

Playing lots of sport made the knee pain worse when I as a teenager.

That said, our GP advised us to always get stiff leather shoes for DS1 (never sandels) as he has the same problem. He told us that we should get new shoes and change them regularly so the soles/heels do not get too worn down on the inside. He did not think the shoe wedges were useful. TBH I think DS1 has got better by having good stiff shoes and good trainers and changing them so they do not get worn down too much.

Your DS seems to respond by having good stiff boots in winter and gets worse with sandels in summer. So perhaps our GP might well have been talking some sense.

[Elibean]

dd2 has very rolly ankles, am taking on board all the experience and advice here. She was checked at just under 2 by ortho team/physios who looked at her hips (fine) and said she may need insoles, but not until she reaches school age. Apparently they just watch and wait until then...not sure why, suppose in the hope the child will grow out of it.

dh had the same thing as a child, and only got supports as an adult - they did help, but the best help for him, as others are saying, has been good shoes/trainers and, funnily enough, exercise. He's also been to a good osteopath a few times who worked on his ankle, which was the sore place for him - with great results.

[lexcat]

Talked to my mother last night and discovered she had has the same problem. She had insoles as a child, as an adult she still had trouble which she thinks is linked with her knee problems. Amazing I never knew that about my mother.

My mother wears the inside heel down, with dd looking at her old shoes, the heels are fine but the inside ball of the foot is the worst place. On the last pair we had to replace them after 1 1/2 term because she went though them at the ball of the foot. My sister use to do the same with her shoes.

[cory]

once the doctor has recommended footwear- and it may be that he has to refer you to the orthopaedic clinic- you write a letter to the school explaining that your dc now has to wear whatever it is

my ds wears orthopaedic boots and the school is fine with them

[cory]

once the doctor has recommended footwear- and it may be that he has to refer you to the orthopaedic clinic- you write a letter to the school explaining that your dc now has to wear whatever it is

my ds wears orthopaedic boots and the school is fine with them

[Sidge]

Agree with cory - once you have seen a doc and had the need for supportive footwear or insoles confirmed then the school should give you some leeway with footwear.

My DD has to wear proper boots to give her support and contain her insoles, therefore our choices are limited to what they have in stock in her size and what is suitable. For example she currently has dark purple boots, which aren't exactly regulation school black!

DD also can't go barefoot in PE as she overpronates so much, so has permission to wear her trainers (with insoles) indoors even when the other children are barefoot. The school have to accommodate the child's medical needs.

[lexcat]

Thanks for all your help. When I was talking about shoe was thinking short term, not that it really matters now as got her an appointment for this afternoon with doc. School will be fine if it's a medical thing I think I was just worried more about her peers.

Also was kind of wondering what to do in the short term if she needs insoles it may take some time from what you all say to get them and what she's best to wear.

[lexcat]

Help what do we do next?

Been to the doctor and he told me their was no problem. I just need to get her well fitted shoes. Did explain that her every day shoes are fitted. Said I need to experiment with different styles.

As for the pains in her ankle didn't get any help.

[EvenBetaDad]

lexcat - sounds similar to what our GP said about DS1.

Getting solid lace up shoes with a proper arch and a reasonably high cut upper that reaches all the way up to just below the ankle bone should do it.

It will not be popular with DD I suspect who will think they look like boys shoes. She may well soon want more 'fashionable' more 'feminine' and lighter less supportive shoes.

[lexcat]

Thanks she's been wearing her new sandals for the last couple of hours and say her ankle feels much better(was complaining after school).

Her school shoes are cut low with very little support but the sandals are a much highter cut with a good broad strap. Just got to clear it with school now. Not the time of year to buying new school shoes.

[smartiejake]

The ones we had were private, not NHS. The first pair cost a lot but if we need to get them replaced, the next pair are much cheaper. DD1 has had a pair for 2 years now and they are still fine size wise. (but she is 10 and feet don't seem to grow that fast now.)

The reason we went privately is that we were seen much more quickly (9 month waiting list on NHS round here) and also several of DDs friends had orthotics made on the NHS and they were really big and clumpy which makes choice of shoes rather limited.

[Sidge]

Lexcat I'm sorry your GP hasn't been much help.

I found Clarks shoes crap for DD2, support-wise. Nothing fitted her or gave her enough support even before her insoles were fitted!

We now go to an independent shoe shop and she usually gets Ricosta or Start-Rite shoes, they seem to provide more support for her feet and ankles. Might be worth a try? (but I know they're not the cheapest option)

[cory]

IME GPs do not know about these things. What you need the GP for is a referral to the orthopaedic department. You could either try the GP again, or ask to see a different GP. In the meantime, the sandals sound good.

[lucysmum]

would second start rite - much more traditional styles that seem more supportive and 'stiffer' than Clarks. They rarely change the styles much - assistant told me it was because they know what is hard wearing and good for kids' feet.