Keley: At age 36, I bit the bullet and had bunions on both feet removed. As a follow-up to the surgery, I had hard plastic orthotics made to prevent (or at least slow down) bunions from reforming. Now, at age 44, I am still using the same orthotics and am injury free -- and bunion-free. I experienced few injuries pre-orthotics, but I did have difficulty finding shoes that fit width-wise. Sans bunions, that is not a problem. I have never had a problem finding shoes in which the orthotics fit.
Anonymous: I had started walking with a friend in Feb. 1995. It was cool down here so we started out fast and furious and I probably didn't have the best shoes at the time. Within four months, I realized that every morning and anytime I had my feet up and then would get up to walk I had very bad heel pain. It progressively got worse and over the last few years I have tried everything. In July 1996 I bought some very thin arch supports. I think it is thin leather over metal. I didn't wear them regularly and just put them in my drawer. Six months ago I took them out and started wearing them all the time even in my tennis shoes. Wow! what a difference. My heel pain has now gone completely and I can even walk barefoot sometimes, which I could never do before! It has made a huge difference. Now, I am trying to find more of those arch supports because they work great for me!!!
Carolyn: I tried running the Houston Marathon for 3 years. I'm not a runner. Last year I joined the USAFit Houston Fit walkers group and walked the marathon in 7 hours. During the 6 month training period there are 3 warm-up runs (walks) 20K-25K-30K. I have had problems with my left ankle for years and have gone to several sports doctors. Last year I went to an orthopedic surgeon specializing in ankles/feet after the 20K. Due to having flat feet my ligaments were stretched and causing my ankle to swell and be very sore due to fallen arches. My doctor prescribed an orthopedic insole (specially made-$250) for arch support. I can't live without the arch support insoles. When I did the 25K and 30K warm-up my ankle did not swell, nor did it swell/hurt after the marathon.
MJB: I've been fitness walking for about 8 yrs. About 5 yrs ago, I began to have burning, numbness in outer toes and lots of pain as my walk sped up. The podiatrist diagnosed Mortons Neuroma bilaterally. He rigged up a felt pad and placed in under the metatarsal arches and it worked great. When I got his bill of well over $300 I was horrifed to think about having to get custom orthotics...just couldn't afford it. So I kept the pads and have been rigging up my own ever since. I now get an Arch-Mate insole and cut the heel out, add a little extra padding underneath, tape to the underside of the shoes insole (currently Reebok Mens running shoe--wider to allow all the extra stuff) and it works fine. When I get new shoes, sometimes takes several walks to get it positioned just right, but it has been well worth it to avoid hundreds of dollars in podiatrist bills.
Anonymous: I've had orthodics for 5 years now but the biggest improvement I have had is when I switched to New Balance tennis and running shoes. No more knee problems.
