Which Healthcare professional should I consult?

[Viviennethebeautiful]

I am pigeon toed and walk with more weight on the inside of one of my feet. Just turned 60 and up til now it hasn’t really caused me too many problems. My hobbies have been swimming and walking so reasonable shape for my age.should have sorted it years ago but with kids, jobs etc it never seemed a priority.

A few weeks ago I walked quite a few miles, unexpectedly. My shoes were flat but no cushioning. For a while after I really suffered with leg, back and hip pain. That has largely resolved but if I do too much or walk my body really reacts badly. I describe it as my body screaming at me because it really does stop me doing anything.

heard of Chiropractors, Podiatrists, Osteopath etc, but don’t know enough to know which one to go to. Happy to pay

thanks

Physio who specialises in feet/gait.

I use one due to having dropped metatarsal heads/metatarsalagia/ Morton's neuroma.

A good one will have digital pressure pads for you to walk over to get an average recording of how you load your feet, that can then send these recordings off for custom insoles of necessary (3D printed).

Physio will also be able to give you stretches for the rest of your body.

If you happen to be in North Wales or the North West then I highly recommend Conwy physio clinic.

Thank you so much. That is exactly the sort of thing I was looking for. It really is debilitating and as someone who has been very lucky health wise to this date it’s a real shock. Feel so sorry for people who suffer with such pain from a young age.
i am in Birmingham but happy to travel. Does anyone have any recommendations in the Midlands?

Meant to add this link yesterday

Good instructional video on foot exercises/ stretches from a physio/pilates instructor.

I see an orthotics every year at the hospital for some new insoles moulded to my feet to prevent this kind of pain. I first saw a podiatrist via GP referral when i was about 20 and then a few years later they suggested orthotics was a better department. I work with community physios and they call it the biomechanics department where I am.

Found a clinic locally just waiting for a call back.

coukd I have the name of theYoutube video please. Stupidly can’t get it to play back from link.

Also can I ask do orthotics limit what shoes you can wear. Never worn high heels but I do like pretty low shoes.

thanks for all the help

They do to some extent. But they usually shape them a bit so they're quite low profile. You can imagine as a 20 year old student I wasn't exactly impressed with the prospect of insoles! I tend not to wear them if I'm going 'out' like weddings or evening things as I want to wear different shoes but as long as I'm not walking miles on a regular basis it's still OK.

The insoles will only go in shoes with removable insoles. So not open toed sandals, and be aware that some shoe makers unnecessarily glue the insoles in.

As well as the metatarsalagia, I also have an old injury (very bad fractured tib/fib) which means one leg is 1.5cm shorter, so my orthotics are also designed to reduce this difference, and thus lifts me up and out of very low backed shoes on one foot.

The biggest limiting factor is the cost. Approx £350 for consultations plus one pair of custom orthotics. Therefore I have to swap them round to wear different shoes which tends to make me stick with a handful of pairs of shoes. I have got my previous pair of well worn (layered foam) orthotics in my work boots, so I don't have to start messing around with them at 6am before work, and will do the same next year when I get assessed again for a new pair (I tend to go every 2 or 3 years).

I would see a podiatrist for a proper assessment in the first instance. When I saw one she was very knowledgeable and had an extensive look at my gait, how my feet situate when I stand vs no weight, wheteher there was too much flexibility (or lack thereof) in the ankle and calf that was directing my movement and also went into a discussion of the lower back and hips.

I was given some simple exercises, some things to bear in mind when it came to how I naturally bear weight when I walk, advice on footwear (eg what shape it should ideally be, heel types and sizes, what to avoid and provided with some insoles which I got used to very quickly.

Ultimately the shows that properly support the foot/leg/back are not likely to ever be what we might want them to be looks-wise. I try to just wear trainers with my insoles in whenever I know I'll be properly walking, and they're also fine in my boots for winter.