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Children's health

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Original poster

Can anyone advise me about my daughters feet?

27 replies

mummyloveslucy · 20/02/2013 10:15

Hi, my daughter is nearly 8 and has severe learning difficulties. Her co-ordination isn't great and she can't ride a bike, struggles like mad even with a balance bike or 3 wheel schooter. Her walking is fine, she can run but doesn't choose too. She complains of knee and back pain if she walks too far.

One of her feet is a whole size bigger than the other, and the smaller foot is the one that is starting to roll out. She is walking more on the outer side of that foot, and wearing down her shoes on that side. She's always had her feet measured and we buy either Start-rite or Clarks as she has wide feet.

My DH's feet are the same, he walks on the out sides of his feet and he has distorted the shape of both feet. He also suffers with back ache and knee problems. I don't want my daughters feet to go the same way.
I thought that if I saw an expert now and got her inserts or something, that would correct it early on. The shoe fitting lady said that they won't do anything, as her feet are still growing.

Would it be worth us seing a professional? I don't really want to wast the money on an appointment, just to be told to come back when her feet have stopped growing.

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ThreeBeeOneGee · 20/02/2013 10:16

Has she been to orthotics? There are inserts she could wear inside her shoes that might help.

ThreeBeeOneGee · 20/02/2013 10:18

We were initially offered orthotics for DD on the NHS, but the problem resolved itself before we got an appointment through. I don't think you'd have to pay, but you might have a wait.

marriednotdead · 20/02/2013 10:34

You would be doing no harm if you were to ask your GP for a referral to a podiatrist. Joint pain at such a young age should surely not be ignored.

Original poster

mummyloveslucy · 20/02/2013 10:35

Thank you. I'll see the doc first then and go from there.

OP posts:

Original poster

mummyloveslucy · 20/02/2013 10:37

I know. She does have poor muscle tone, and has to do excersises, which she hates. I did put it down to that, her muscles not supporting her joints well enough. It difinatly needs to be checked out though.

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StuntNun · 20/02/2013 10:42

Yes see a podiatrist. My DS1 complained whenever he had to walk anywhere, turns out his calf muscles weren't developing properly. Two or three years wearing orthotic inserts and he is now fine. It was a really simple fix.

sausagesandwich34 · 20/02/2013 10:42

My niece got shoe inserts for back pain aged 10

Think it was a bit of a faff at the time because she went to physio first, they decided it was her gait and sent her back to gp for referral to orthopods

Worth pursuing though

Bunbaker · 20/02/2013 10:42

Definitely insist on a podiatrist referral. It sounds like support insoles will help. DD has flat feet and has insoles to support her feet. When she walks around in flip flops or bare feet for a long time her knees hurt so the insoles make a huge difference.

kelda · 20/02/2013 10:52

I would ask the GP for an orthopeadic surgeon. It's best to try and do something about this problem before the feet stop growing.

kelda · 20/02/2013 10:52

Has she seen a physiotherapist?

Bunbaker · 20/02/2013 10:53

I have just reread your post. You talk about wasting money on an appointment. Are you not in the UK?

Startail · 20/02/2013 11:15

Talk to your GP and get a physio referral.

Ours were great at giving my DD help and exercises that have stopped her turning her ankle.

DeWe · 20/02/2013 16:01

You can ask for referal. However my db was referred for throwing his ankle badly. Chap took look at his feet, asked dm to take her shoes off. proclaimed "Genetic deformity" and said nothing could be done.
I also have this deformity, and at least one of my dc has also inherited it. but no one else has thrown their ankles like db did.

pollypandemonium · 20/02/2013 16:09

It's likely that she will need boots rather than shoes - sounds like she has hyper-extensible joints and this will mean that her muscles need extra strength to keep balanced.

Best thing to do is to keep nagging the doctors and if at all possible get GP to refer you to Great Ormond Street.

Does she have a general diagnosis?

Original poster

mummyloveslucy · 20/02/2013 18:59

Oh no! I hope it's not just a genetic deformity. Perhaps something could be done as her feet are still growing. How old was your DB? Was this as an adult?

I don't mind her having boots, but she'll hate it. Lol She's a very girly girl.

I'll definatly push for that referal. I thought going private would reduce the waiting list, but if she needs inserts or even boots, it could cost a fortune.

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Bunbaker · 20/02/2013 19:29

"I thought going private would reduce the waiting list"

You really don't need to go private for this.

beautifulgirls · 20/02/2013 19:41

Orthotics have some great shoes on offer and will be the most useful here, but maybe also get occupational therapy involved too.

showtunesgirl · 20/02/2013 19:47

I have flat feet and was referred to podiatry and had special inserts made.

I was told that podiatry is undersubscribed as opposed to ENT so I really wouldn't bother going private.

pollypandemonium · 21/02/2013 08:42

The nhs should be able to provide what you need. You have to remind them of it though!

IDontDoIroning · 21/02/2013 08:56

Get a referral to a podiatrist. Also check your local unis to see if they run the dregree course. I'm in Wales and my colleague took his child to the uni clinic - he saw students but also saw a few professors and the students were always supervised.

Original poster

mummyloveslucy · 21/02/2013 18:47

Thanks. I've been to the docs and she has been refered to a podiatrist.

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kelda · 21/02/2013 19:10

Glad you've got the ball rolling

Original poster

mummyloveslucy · 21/02/2013 20:32

I noticed today while looking at her soes that she's worn a whole under each big toe. In the linning of her shoes. This has happened before on one foot, but now it's both. When it happened the first time, Start-rite replaced them saying it must've been a fault. Now I think it's more likely to be her, gripping with her big toes.
Something else tp mention to the Podietrist.

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frazzledbutcalm · 21/02/2013 21:51

I pay privately for my children to have orthotics. They cost £75 for each set of insoles and are worth every single penny. NHS one's have just been complete rubbish for us.
Btw, there's no such thing as flat feet ... it's problems with your pelvis,hips, knees or ankles rotating that cause the feet to fall inover therefore looking flat.
I'd definitely get referral from GP and take it from there.

showtunesgirl · 21/02/2013 22:23

Er, no there IS such a thing as a flat foot. I basically don't have any arches in my feet. You can have functioning flat feet but mine stopped functioning properly and I started to get Plantar fasciitis.

To correct my problems, I had to have insoles which basically over the years gently coaxed an arch into my feet. My first pair weren't brilliant but the second pair I've had for years and have been brilliant. They were on the NHS and done by a specialist Irish company called Firefly. The bottom is made of graphite and I just have to send them to be re-upholstored every now and again.

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