Orthotic shoe inserts / shoes

[jdgirl]

Has anyone tried these and do they work?
I suffer from painful knees and lower back . Is there any other footwear that you have tried that works for you ?
Most days I feel ready for the knackers yard.

Hi all.

NHS Biomechanics in Norwich helped me with knee and foot ache / pain / difficulty walking in the morning. My GP referred me to a specialists within 4 weeks who instantly diagnosed that my right leg was 6mm shorter than my right. Within 5 minutes, the doctor constructed 2 insoles for my walking trainers. the left insole addressed the height difference, and the right insole dealt with mis-balance (as my body has been trying to compensate for over 50 years). Within 2 weeks, I noticed a significant reduction in pain / ache / balance. Within 4 weeks, I experienced 80-90% success.

NHS give the 1st pair of prescription insoles free (and replace after 12 months if worn). Subsequent prescription insoles cost £45 per pair.
Private companies charge anything between £99 and £299

My DH has had problems with his legs, one specifically called venous insufficiency. He had some veins stripped and at least the swelling in the leg has gone down enormously but he still has problems walking as he has fallen arches. He's seen an Orthotist on the NHS who said his shoes were ideal for orthotics as you could take the insole out so he'd get a better fit. He has found insoles really helpful and in fact we are awaiting another pair on the NHS so feel very lucky. He has Josef Seibel shoes which seem to suit him with a velcro closure.