Will orthotics change my life?

[Otins]

For the last few years I have had painful knees. I've had some physio on and off, but for some reason I just cannot motivate myself to do the exercises.

As my knees hurt I am aware I have stopped using them and am amending my movements...causing aches everywhere, and weakening muscles through lack of use. I am 48 and feel my movement is now restricted to a noticeable degree, I feel stiff a lot of the time and am very wary on stairs etc.

I had a physio appt today and she mentioned my feet are very flat and my ankles overpronate a lot, and this could also be causing the knee pain so she has mentioned orthotics. (This has been mentioned before, it isn't a new thing)

Have you been recommended orthotics and did they help? (Or am I just hoping something might help that doesn't involve me actually doing any exercise!) Thanks

Yes they will. My mum is very arthritic and has had her knee replaced. Also has problems with her ankles and hips. Having the orthotics (she has shoes made for her) have made walking much more comfortable

Not with this specific issue but with others, yes.

It sounds like it could definitely help you. I have one very low arch and now have a very expensive pair of orthotics of which I can only wear the one for the low arch and I have less pain, but not life-changing less!

Combined with exercise and maintaining a healthy weight then yes. I have arthritis in my knees and leg and hip strengthening exercises plus yoga has really helped. Still working on my weight!

100% yes

I was in your place 12 years ago with so much pain in my knees that I could barely walk or use the stairs. The lesser I walked the weaker my muscles became - vicious cycle of deterioration!
I started using custom orthotics and started swimming regularly. I was pain free within 1 year and now I barely remember that version of me - I can walk/run/jump.
But I wear custom orthotics in all my outdoor footwear and I keep up with swimming/weights etc, I'm fully aware that if I stop this my pain could come back as the tissue damage is already done.

I think they might just change your life.

I had foot and hip pain and was waiting for surgery on my feet and a painful hip. Walking was difficult and exhausting and I felt about 90 when I'm only in my 50s. Someone suggested I saw a podiatrist so I did. She filmed me walking, examined my feet and shoes and then made me orthotics. I put them in my shoes and she filmed me walking again.....well the effect was incredible. I walked tall and straight, so different from before. It was so much easier to walk that I have to be honest I cried. It was like turning the clock back ten years. The pain in my feet and hip went almost immediately because the orthotics corrected my gait which had been throwing my entire body out of line. This was about a year ago and because I can move easier I enjoying walking again and have lost a stone and a half. I cancelled the surgery as the need just went away. The podiatrist cost about £120 including the orthotics and it was possibly the best money I ever spent. Try it...I hope it helps you.

I have made-to-measure NHS orthotics. Sadly, not much help at all. I’ve pretty much given up on them.

Exercises to strengthen the muscles which support the knee are slightly helpful but not much cop for a good walk in the countryside or shopping in town for a couple hours. Pain soon takes over. Physio did recommend a knee brace. I’ve yet to try it. As above, I might try swimming but hate that activity, water up my nose, in ears etc. Ugh!!

Im currently awaiting my appt to see a surgeon for TKR. I’ve jumped all the hoops; physio ++ , medication, steroid injection but nothing works. It’s taken 12 years to get the referral…. at last. My other knee was replaced 12 years ago but then the other knee started to play up!
Rubbish innit?

Thanks for the replies. It sounds like they definitely could help and it is worth a shot. I’ll book in with a podiatrist just as soon as I’ve shifted this Covid that struck on Tuesday.

@Windingdown Can I ask how you managed to get such cheap orthotics? Were they custom made? I've been quoted £470 and am a bit scared of spending that money in case it makes no difference.

I had custom-made orthotics for plantar fasciitis. They weren't cheap but the worked like magic. Definitely worth the investment.

@garlictwist I was Windingdown but have since name changed. The podiatrist made the orthotics for me then and there. She's since made me another identical pair that are a bit longer lasting and they cost just over £100. She did say that you can get super dooper ones made that cost about £400 but that most people use the cheaper ones and that they last for years, mine are over a year old now and both pairs are just as good as new. Here are the people I went to https://www.footandgaitclinic.co.uk/. I saw Marion and she was utterly brilliant. Hope this helps.

@BunnyBettChetwynd thank you! The guy I saw said the orthotics would be made in a lab so I guess they'd be the super duper ones. I would rather pay less though! Thanks for the link. I'm in North Yorkshire so a bit far for me to travel. Although as I've struggled to see any decent podiatrists locally it's getting tempting to go further afield.