Jeanne from Washington
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances April 2020
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Before you start going down the road of changing shoes and orthotics, have you tried different sock combinations? It may be that the bulk of the orthotics means you need thinner socks, or fewer layers of socks. Might be the easy answer - hope so for your sake. Good luck.
ItI wear iniji trail socks. Not one blister with hundreds of miles walking. I've also done marathons. I truly do not want to change socks. With what I've invested in socks, it will be cheaper to buy new shoes.
Hi Jeanne,
My husband takes his orthotics with him when he tries on shoes for this same reason. Did you get your shoes at REI? You can take them back for a larger size if you did or you may want to use the REI approach in the future since their return policy is good. If you bought them at a specialty store you might see if they will accept a return since you were fitted there. He has also taken his orthotics back to the clinic to see if they can be made thinner. I would not "shave" them yourself.
Janet
Yes, I did buy my shoes at REI. I can return my boots, but my trailrunners have too many miles on them.
So it's normal to have to buy larger shoes with orthotics? I'm so surprised I have to have them. No one has ever told me I have high arches and I've never had foot pain before.
Had the same problem last year that my orthotics did not really fit well in my trailers. I had them shaved off by an orthopaedic technician and it worked out perfectly. Walked the Camino with no pain or blisters.I called the store (another store in the same chain, store was closed due to snow) and they said I needed different shoes or to shave off the orthotics. I just know shaving off the orthotics is wrong. Please help with your experiences. Thanks.
I'll post a follow up.While my podiatrist says that the orthotic shouldn't change the shoe size, I think that is a bit of an optimistic generalization. Orthotics change the way your foot behaves, so some change in the fitting seems very likely. For example, if you are borderline between one size and another, the orthotic might push you into the larger size. With the arch support, your foot might need more "volume" in the shoe. A larger shoe will provide it.
As far as altering the orthotic goes... if it is just trimming around the edge of the soft part to fit in the bed of the shoes, maybe. But shaving any of the support areas could defeat the purpose, so you should consult with the podiatrist (as @sugargypsy has just suggested). There are 2 possible situations: (1) whether the orthotic sits correctly within the shoes, and (2) whether your foot then has enough room. If #2, I think you should get new shoes.
I am interested to know how your foot pain is, after you've worn the new orthotics and shoes for a couple of weeks.
A few weeks ago, I started to have foot pain. I'm sure it was from overtraining. Regardless, I went to the podiatrist and she recommended orthotics.
I was fitted for orthotics at the specialty store. I brought along both my trailrunners and boots. I've done two training walks in the trailrunners. They are too tight with the orthotics in place after an hour. Today I did incline training and I felt like I was getting hotspots.
Do I need new orthotics, larger shoes, or different shoes? I called the store (another store in the same chain, store was closed due to snow) and they said I needed different shoes or to shave off the orthotics. I just know shaving off the orthotics is wrong. Please help with your experiences. Thanks.
I have been wearing my trailrunners for months with a few hundred miles on them. I developed foot pain on the middle of the outside of my foot a few weeks ago. The rest of the pain I had in my feet was kind of phantom pain. It would come and go in other parts. It wasn't anything constant or that bothersome. When I went to the podiatrist she said I had very high arches and prescribed orthotics.It depends. When I was doing a preceptorship with a Podiatrist who had specialized specifically in sports and athletics (part of my clinicals during university), she scoffed at how frequently orthotics are prescribed. Her take was that general specialty Podiatrists rely on referrals and prescriptions for orthotics too much as an income source.
That said, she was quite frank about how she goes about the process of carefully assessing and diagnosing who would benefit from orthotics. . AND under what conditions and types of activities a person is involved in. In her view, orthotics are actually needed less than 10% of the time that they are prescribed.
So that can be considered or set aside because no one here can say whether or not you actually need orthotics. What I can say, is that for sporting and recreational issues, I would make sure that the foot doctor specializes in athletes and athletics. General practice podiatrists may or may not have the same equivalent knowledge and training in that area.
As far as the fit of the shoe, I am unclear. . . in what order were the purchases of the orthotics made in relationship to the shoes? Are you trying to use the same size shoe that you had PRIOR to your new orthotics? Or did you actually wear the new orthotics as you were fitted for your new shoes?
I'm wearing the new orthotics in my existing trailrunners.It depends. When I was doing a preceptorship with a Podiatrist who had specialized specifically in sports and athletics (part of my clinicals during university), she scoffed at how frequently orthotics are prescribed. Her take was that general specialty Podiatrists rely on referrals and prescriptions for orthotics too much as an income source.
That said, she was quite frank about how she goes about the process of carefully assessing and diagnosing who would benefit from orthotics. . AND under what conditions and types of activities a person is involved in. In her view, orthotics are actually needed less than 10% of the time that they are prescribed.
So that can be considered or set aside because no one here can say whether or not you actually need orthotics. What I can say, is that for sporting and recreational issues, I would make sure that the foot doctor specializes in athletes and athletics. General practice podiatrists may or may not have the same equivalent knowledge and training in that area.
As far as the fit of the shoe, I am unclear. . . in what order were the purchases of the orthotics made in relationship to the shoes? Are you trying to use the same size shoe that you had PRIOR to your new orthotics? Or did you actually wear the new orthotics as you were fitted for your new shoes?
I start physical therapy next week.Phil just finished a physical therapy regimen for a foot pain injury he got this summer on the Camino. His PT had him doing a variety of exercises and they were very helpful with the pain.
I'm wearing the new orthotics in my existing trailrunners.
I had this exact same experience. Took the orthotics in and had them shaved. Took the boots back and exchanged them for 1/2 size bigger. Do it!A few weeks ago, I started to have foot pain. I'm sure it was from overtraining. Regardless, I went to the podiatrist and she recommended orthotics.
I was fitted for orthotics at the specialty store. I brought along both my trailrunners and boots. I've done two training walks in the trailrunners. They are too tight with the orthotics in place after an hour. Today I did incline training and I felt like I was getting hotspots.
Do I need new orthotics, larger shoes, or different shoes? I called the store (another store in the same chain, store was closed due to snow) and they said I needed different shoes or to shave off the orthotics. I just know shaving off the orthotics is wrong. Please help with your experiences. Thanks.
I have removed the existing inserts. The orthotics fit when I first put the shoes on. They don't after walking a few miles in them. Especially when I walked on an incline. My foot swells and the shoe no longer fits. I think my mistake was not getting the inserts after a long walk.Is it possible for you to remove the inserts (i.e., that came in the shoes when you bought them) in your trail runners before replacing them with your orthotics? Both my husband and I do this whenever we are walking a Camino. It has meant no foot pains for either of us, which could have been an issue especially with the added weight of our packs.
Thank you. This is what I will do.I had this exact same experience. Took the orthotics in and had them shaved. Took the boots back and exchanged them for 1/2 size bigger. Do it!
I was wearing the orthotics without the original insole in place.Were the orthotics designed to be worn with the original insoles in place? If so, take them back to the podiatrist for shaving and/or adjustment. If not, take the original insoles out and see if that helps the fit of the orthotics.
I was wearing the orthotics without the original insole in place.
Remove the insoles from the shoes. Ive been doing this for years. Adjust how you lace your shoes.A few weeks ago, I started to have foot pain. I'm sure it was from overtraining. Regardless, I went to the podiatrist and she recommended orthotics.
I was fitted for orthotics at the specialty store. I brought along both my trailrunners and boots. I've done two training walks in the trailrunners. They are too tight with the orthotics in place after an hour. Today I did incline training and I felt like I was getting hotspots.
Do I need new orthotics, larger shoes, or different shoes? I called the store (another store in the same chain, store was closed due to snow) and they said I needed different shoes or to shave off the orthotics. I just know shaving off the orthotics is wrong. Please help with your experiences. Thanks.
Remove the insoles from the shoes. Ive been doing this for years. Adjust how you lace your shoes.
When I refer to custom orthotics, I am talking about inserts that are made according to a plaster cast of my foot, when my foot is in a relaxed non-weight-bearing position. Each foot is different, as @Linda Fantillo points out. You can't go into a store, pick up a pair of custom orthotics, and walk out with them. I have to go back a week or so later, as they are made to fit the cast of my foot.I was fitted for orthotics at the specialty store.
I wonder if we are talking about the same things.
When I refer to custom orthotics, I am talking about inserts that are made according to a plaster cast of my foot, when my foot is in a relaxed non-weight-bearing position. Each foot is different, as @Linda Fantillo points out. As far as I know, you can't go into a store, pick up a pair of custom orthotics, and walk out with them. I have to go back a week or so later, as they are made to fit the cast of my foot.
I wonder if you have bought one of the over-the-counter inserts that other people have recommended. These are fine for many people, but they are not really "custom orthotics" that you would get from a podiatrist.
The orthotics need to fit inside your shoe without puckering or big gaps. If they are too wide or long, they need to be trimmed. They don't stop fitting when your foot swells after walking. Your shoes might become too tight and you need a larger pair but the orthotics are not the problem. The thickness of your inner sole/ insert/ orthotic may slightly affect the fit of your shoe, which seems to be your problem.
The orthotics support the bottom and arch of your foot, and help your foot roll properly as you walk. This does not change when your foot swells.
I think the mistake was not having the inserts in the shoes when you bought the shoes.
Ah, that makes sense, then! Thanks for clarifying - I missed that.I did not get custom orthotics.
This is where I learn something new every day. How do orthotic inserts in your shoes help with your hearing? I can sort of see (in another thread) how they might help with knee problems. But helping with ear problems sounds like a real miracle to me.I am a somewhat disabled US Veteran, I have a problem with hearing. The VA provides me with custom orthotic inserts which are great. To get them I wear whatever I will be walking in with the same Marino wool socks that I hike with. The results are great. It usually takes a few weeks to get the orthotics.
The VA works in mysterious ways. Once any disability is diagnosed, and agreed to, they do many odd/extra things. Everything is always done their way.This is where I learn something new every day. How do orthotic inserts in your shoes help with your hearing? I can sort of see (in another thread) how they might help with knee problems. But helping with ear problems sounds like a real miracle to me.
LOL...yes, I was wondering what the correlation was as well. My father goes to the VA for his hearing aids and it is a separate clinic there just for that. I think their podiatry is on another floor of the building.This is where I learn something new every day. How do orthotic inserts in your shoes help with your hearing? I can sort of see (in another thread) how they might help with knee problems. But helping with ear problems sounds like a real miracle to me.
I'm in the same boat with regard to a service-related hearing deficit but I didn't know that the VA provides orthotic services as well. I've got plenty flat feet which have plagued me on log hikes. What did you tell them when you sought help?I am a somewhat disabled US Veteran, I have a problem with hearing. The VA provides me with custom orthotic inserts which are great. To get them I wear whatever I will be walking in with the same Marino wool socks that I hike with. The results are great. It usually takes a few weeks to get the orthotics.
I cheated a bit with that being my only problem. I also broke my ankle in a parachute accident. It still is painful. I tried to get compensation but they said that I was "making too much money" and they denied my request. Since then they have decided to provide to provided the boot incerts only. Somewhere I mentioned that the VA has to also agree about the disability to have if be real.I'm in the same boat with regard to a service-related hearing deficit but I didn't know that the VA provides orthotic services as well. I've got plenty flat feet which have plagued me on log hikes. What did you tell them when you sought help?
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