[Don_S]

As if I am not short enough, one of my legs actually has the nerve to be shorter than the other.     It is causing me to have knee pain.  My GP recommended orthopedics inserts and referred me to a local specialist.   

While not covered by my insurance, they are affordable.  But I always look before I leap (or commit to spending significant funds). I would appreciate personal experience in the efficacy of wearing orthotics.  I also have questions about whether or not special or different shoes are required.

I have different shoes for different occasions including hiking.  Are the devices portable from shoe to shoe?  I also have a high instep which prevents me from putting pads under the entire length of my foot.  There is not enough room in my shoes for my feet and padding that goes too far forward.

Thanks for any feedback.

[Devil Doc]

I got some fitted a couple of years ago for shin splints and some other foot pain. They work. They take some getting used to. You need to break in your feet by wearing them only a few hours a day. My insurance covered the podiatrist visits but not the orthotics themselves. It was only  a couple of hundred dollars. They do make you taller. They don't fit with some shoes, especially dress shoes. You'll have to bring them with you when buying new shoes.

Doc

[Doublej]

A couple of things.

Are you 100% sure that one leg is shorter than the other. The reason for asking is I have a friend who said after he had one leg shorter than the other due to a break in it decades ago. He went to a massage therapist who said that one leg was not shorter than the other. Rather he had alignment issues on the shorter side. A bunch of massage sessions later all was good.

Regarding orthotics, they work really well for me. They have some give to them which for me is critical for comfort. In the past I have had hard orthotics and have not been that happy with them.

Generally speaking if the shoe has a removable insert of any significant size you can wear the shoe with your orthotic by removing the insert and inserting the orthotic.

Ping me if you are in the Boston area and want a recommendation. I know a great physical therapist that makes them for a very reasonable price...and I know a podiatrist to stay far away from.

[ctviggen]

I found them not to be as portable as you'd like them to be.  If you fit them into one shoe, they might not fit into another.

[thunderbrick]

I've been using orthotics for 15+ years.  Love 'em.

Mine move from shoe pair to shoe pair, even construction boots without an issue.  I'm heavy and extremely active so mine have to be "retreaded" about every 2-3 years. $50 for new tops  but I have to send them off.  They always come back before I develop a problem.