aveggiegirl
Cathlete
I am going to the podiatrist for the first time. My feet are flat and kill me during workouts such as Insanity and Hiit. What should I expect from this visit?
First visit to Podiatrist - What should I expect?
- Thread starter aveggiegirl
- Start date
Liann
Cathlete
He'll probably look at your feet. 
Seriously though, that's what the doctor will do. Take a good look at your feet when you are standing, maybe even have you walk and if he decides on inserts, he might even do an imprint of your feet that day - just presses them into this foam type stuff. My DH has really bad flat feet. About all they can do to treat it is give you orthotics (shoe inserts) or perform a procedure where they insert this little "thing" into your foot that helps "create" an arch. Not sure what that procedure is called, but DH has seriously been considering it. There are also special socks you can wear that are supposed to give additional support to the arch, but I'm not sure how effective they really are.
Seriously though, that's what the doctor will do. Take a good look at your feet when you are standing, maybe even have you walk and if he decides on inserts, he might even do an imprint of your feet that day - just presses them into this foam type stuff. My DH has really bad flat feet. About all they can do to treat it is give you orthotics (shoe inserts) or perform a procedure where they insert this little "thing" into your foot that helps "create" an arch. Not sure what that procedure is called, but DH has seriously been considering it. There are also special socks you can wear that are supposed to give additional support to the arch, but I'm not sure how effective they really are.
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lina9496
Cathlete
Funny you should ask. I just took my 15 year old daughter yesterday. Sounds like she has the same issues as you do with your feet. She's a volleyball player . . . lots of jumps and quick movements.
So, the podiatrist took a quick history of complaint. Diagnosed her within 3 seconds plantar fasciitis, the constant jumping puts downward pressure on the insole. He made a mold of her feet (took about 6 minutes) and we pick up her orothotics next week. The cost for us was $400, not covered by insurance.
Good Luck . . . let us know how you make out.
So, the podiatrist took a quick history of complaint. Diagnosed her within 3 seconds plantar fasciitis, the constant jumping puts downward pressure on the insole. He made a mold of her feet (took about 6 minutes) and we pick up her orothotics next week. The cost for us was $400, not covered by insurance.
Good Luck . . . let us know how you make out.
Beavs
Cathlete
Yet strangely enough most insurance seems to cover Viagra. Booooooing!
Melclear
Cathlete
I had the surgical procedure that one of the earlier posters mentioned, and can't say enough good things about it. I had really flat feet, inserts didn't help that much, and I had a lot of foot and back pain. The surgery is an out-patient procedure, where a small pin is inserted into a hole between bones that already exists towards the outside of the ankle. The pin prevents the foot from pronating too much. I had it done in 2 stages (each foot separately). The procedure took a morning, I was on crutches for a few days afterwards, a walking cast for a few more days, and was walking on my own (very slowly) by 10 days after the surgery. At that point, my physical therapy was water aerobics, and within a few weeks, I was back to Cathe. Then a few months later, I did it all over with the other foot. I have not had any foot or back issues since (that was almost 5 years ago). If the inserts don't work for you, I recommend asking your podiatrist about this procedure. Good luck!
spicegirl
Cathlete
Wow.....things with insurance companies have not changed! I used to work for a Podiatrist (over 15 years ago), I was his medical transcriptionist. I recall that insurance companies would pay for surgery in a second.....but not orthotics! I always thought that was so insane. Spendy little things, but they do work and should give a comfort your looking for. I can almost guarentee you'll be getting orthodics.......oh and by the way.....orthodics are a podiatrists bread & bread!!!!
Stebby
Cathlete
It should be possible to inject liquid Viagra directly into the soles of the feet to lift the arches. That, I would think, should be covered by insurance.
Stebby
Liann
Cathlete
Liann
Cathlete
Thanks for sharing that. I'm going to pass that on to my DH. He has been really nervous about doing it.
aveggiegirl
Cathlete
Thanks everyone! I do appreciate all of the responses.
I really doubt that my insurance will cover the orthotics but my feet have been hurting for sooooo long.
Spicegirl, thanks for letting me know that the orthotics do work. I can't tell you how many different kinds of inserts I've tried....They all felt pretty good at first but didn't last more than a few weeks. Please tell me the ones from the podiatrist work better!! They HAVE to last longer than the ones I bought from Amazon. At $400 a pop, they must be made out of ???!!!!! I don't know.
Melclear, I'm so glad you had a good experience with your procedure. Thank you for sharing this...it's giving me something to think about in case orthodics don't work.
Lina9496, it's too bad that your daughter is having problems with her feet at such a young age. Hopefully her feet will be feeling better and she'll be jumping better than ever once she gets her orthotics.
Thanks again everyone.
I really doubt that my insurance will cover the orthotics
but my feet have been hurting for sooooo long. Spicegirl, thanks for letting me know that the orthotics do work. I can't tell you how many different kinds of inserts I've tried....They all felt pretty good at first but didn't last more than a few weeks. Please tell me the ones from the podiatrist work better!! They HAVE to last longer than the ones I bought from Amazon. At $400 a pop, they must be made out of ???!!!!! I don't know.
Melclear, I'm so glad you had a good experience with your procedure. Thank you for sharing this...it's giving me something to think about in case orthodics don't work.
Lina9496, it's too bad that your daughter is having problems with her feet at such a young age. Hopefully her feet will be feeling better and she'll be jumping better than ever once she gets her orthotics.
Thanks again everyone.
Orthotics do work! I got my first pair about 12 years ago because of plantar fascitis caused by heel spurs and they made the pain go away completely until recently, so on Tuesday I got my second pair because the first pair had worn out. I'm expecting this pair to work just as well. Also my podiatrist stresses wearing supportive shoes and replacing them often as soon as they start to wear out. My insurance paid for my first pair of orthotics, but the podiatrist office doesn't think they'll pay this time. They're billing them just in case though. The cost is $325 if they don't pay.
spicegirl
Cathlete
From what I recall....orthodics are usually made from a high quality leather....and should last quite a while depending on how often you wear them. Just remember to break them in slowly......it takes some time (1 week or 2) before they feel really good. Once your pain free.....they are definitely worth the big bucks.
Aveggiegirl....let us all know how your visit at the Podiatrist went. and if your insurance will cover the cost?!!!!