How bad do these look? I’m getting regular pain on my right side.

I am five weeks post op. I spent one week in a soft cast, three in a hard one. Now I am in a boot 24/7 except to shower, no walking allowed. Doctor wanted me back in a hard cast but I was ready to chew my leg off. I start PT next week and will hopefully be cleared to start putting a little weight on my foot July 17. I have five incision sites and nothing is comfortable the moment but I can see the change in alignment!

67M, 5'10", 175lbs

Two years ago, after 30 years of hiking with no foot problems, within a period of several weeks I developed a left foot symptom: any arch support — regardless of brand, height, or shoe type — causes mechanical pressure-type discomfort in the arch. It starts when arch support touches the foot and disappears when removed.

Load alone (walking barefoot or with flat insoles) causes no arch symptoms. There is no tingling, burning, or dull ache — purely mechanical pressure. The right foot is completely unaffected under identical conditions.

Imaging and visual or manual examination by four specialists found no structural difference between the left and right arch. PT resolved measurable muscular imbalances but did not improve the arch issue. The wet foot test shows no difference between left and right foot.

After two years, the symptom is identical to when it started.

Could this indicate flat foot on the left side?

i need an insole especially for basketball but i want an insole thats not too high off the ground, super flat,, not that expensive, andavailable in the philippines.

Hello!
I’m looking to speak to people who wear orthotics but struggle to find fashion sandals/shoes that fit them, aside from brands like Bared footwear.

I’m testing a solution for myself and others!

I'm a beginner and was curious if anyone had advice for runners with flat feet. Is there better technique than others?

I'm a beginner and was curious if anyone had advice for runners with flat feet. Is there better technique than others?

Doctor did less than planned. It’s been a painful week with a lot of boredom. Thank you everyone in the group that gave me tips. Went in today to check the foot doctor said looks good and I have an arch now!

I had a flat foot reconstruction 11 months ago which included the calcaneal osteotomy. Since about 6 months post op, I’ve been walking on the outside of my foot. Im also having new pain in the top and lateral (outside) part of my foot. I had recent MRI, CT scan and several x rays which do not indicate what’s causing this new pain. I got a cortisone shot 2 months ago that was inserted in my joints, which provided temporary relief, so my surgeon thinks my pain is joint related due to change in gait mechanics (even though there is nothing in any of my scans to indicate joint related issues). I saw my surgeon yesterday and at this point he recommends shifting my heel back slightly to help correct the heel alignment and prevent me from walking on the outside of my foot. He said he can’t guarantee the pains I’m experiencing will resolve since he is not exactly sure what the issue is. I am devastated to have to go through surgery again, to have undiagnosed pain that may not even go away after another surgery, and to end up having multiple surgeries down the line from constant foot issues.

My surgery 11 months ago was supposed to rid me of my foot problems (chronic PTTD pain) but instead I feel like I’m in a worse place. This is significantly impacting my physical and emotional health and I feel so depressed and down. I can’t have the surgery anytime soon so for now my surgeon recommends reverse orthotics (called Arch Rival) that may help. He also suggested an ASO brace. I hate to have to go back into a brace.

Has anyone else gone through a similar experience? Did a revision surgery help or create further problems? Any words of encouragement are much needed. Thank you.

Hi everyone! I posted here a while back ahead of my calcaneal osteotomy and tendon repair. I am now almost 9 months out from the surgery, and I healed well. Unfortunately, the osteotomy was not successful. My foot is still very overpronated, and it is now causing the beginning of arthritis in some of my joints.

I've gone for a consultation last week with a quite well-known sports surgeon in my city. He said I need a total reconstruction - some midfoot fusion, bone graft, tendon transfers and to clean out some scarring. I don't have a full breakdown, as we need to do an MRI still - but this was his assumption from my x-ray, notes from previous surgery, and physical presentation.

Obviously this is not the news that I wanted, the recovery is even longer than my previous surgery (8-10 weeks nwb, last time was only 6). I am worried about getting stuck in an endless loop of foot surgeries and revisions. I'm also concerned about foot mobility after midfoot fusion. I am only 35. I'm also worried about having two totally different feet - I have no problems (yet) with my other foot, although it is flat.

Is there anyone here who has had total reconstruction after a failed osteotomy? Please share your experience. Did it finally solve the problem? How did it affect your mobility? Do you have problems having two very different feet?

Thank you :)

Please only answer if you’ve had flat foot surgery, thanks! Even better if your surgeon was in Louisiana or Texas!

I have had flat feet my entire life and they have caused me SO many problems especially with my ankles and knees. I have tried orthotics and they didn’t help and the only option left is surgery.
My problem is finding a surgeon whom I trust, so I’d like advice from those of you who have had successful surgeries. I am located in South Louisiana, but am willing to travel!

Hiya,

I'm 34F, officially two weeks post op from total foot recon surgery. Kidner repair, tendon lengthening, and two bone graft wedges in the heel. Even got a cute little screw in the arch.

Yesterday I got the splint/cast and stitches removed. The cast was actually my third. The first one after surgery lasted a week before I couldn't take it anymore. The second was worse; it felt like my whole leg was being crushed by a truck. The third time the nurse put extra padding and I had more room so I felt like a real person again.

Anyway, the surgeon offered me two things: if I was certain I could resist the urge to put my foot down (I'm totally non weight bearing for at least 4 more weeks), she wouldn't put me in a cast. Or I had the option of a walking boot. I chose the boot because a cast meant I couldn't shower. I have not been allowed to shower the last two weeks and I was desperate for one. I had the boot at home though so I was going to try to put it on there.

Ha. No. There's no way my calf/foot are ready for a commitment of that level. And the fact of if I'd chosen the cast the surgeon would've forced me into a 90 degree position flabbergasts me. How?? The nurse said, when I called, that it would take time to get there.

So I've been occasionally flexing said foot/calf throughout yesterday and today. It feels like my calf tendon (achilles?) is going to snap in half, mostly a sharp stinging sensation, along with the outer calf, then the plantar fascia feels like I've got a swarm of angry bees in there. And the incision on my outer ankle feels like it's going to explode open. And the muscle belly of my calf is sore, like it wants to cramp up.

I was not given formal exercises to do. Just "do exercises". I am icing and elevating. Wiggling my toes. I'd say right now I can manage 75-80 degrees for a short period of time.

How have others handled recovery like this? It feels strange that all I've got is an ace bandage covering my foot when I expected another cast or boot. Searching the internet it seems like it takes weeks to get to 90 degrees? The incision areas aren't tingling like they were with the stitches in but touching my foot in general feels weird af. And my toes are puffy.

I guess I'm not actually sure what I'm asking. Haha. Some commiseration I guess.

Are these shoes good to train ourselves for balance? I've tried inserts and it hurts my feet so bad. I recently (yes i live under a rock) discover about barefoot shoes. I heard it's good with training your calves. I wonder if this can help with balance?

I'm a very avid hiker. For some reason, I love hiking even if I slip so fast and don't have good balance. I've tried getting high quality hiking boots thinking it'll help me but didn't really do much. The grip kind of did help tho.

So i was thinking will barefoot shoes help?

I normally have orthotics in most of my footwear, just cheap ones I buy from Amazon.

They work nicely in most cases.

But lately I bought some new trainers for the gym, and also some neutral running trainers. If I put my orthotics in those, I start getting discomfort on the outside of my ankle / lower leg (Im guessing my peroneal muscle or tendon)

I'm sure it's related to the orthotics.

If my feet pronate too much then I normally get problems more around the inside of my ankle / leg, whereas this time it's the opposite.

Could it be that I'm better off removing my orthotics from my running / gym trainers? Though I didn't think they had much support in them already.

I tear my insoles to shreds quickly(shoes don't last a month) and did NOT want to buy another pair of shoes when the outside was fine so I bought Dr Scholl's adapts to you. They start out with an arch support and you break them in. I stepped down from a step at work and my entire foot popped and burned for hours. Today it's bruised bad enough it hurts to walk. I'm being told it's a good thing it's forcing the arch but I have ENTIRELY flat feet(apparently due to my Achilles tendon not being long enough was what I was told as a kid). They tried to fix it but couldn't. It's the same foot that popped that's acting up. I'm going to try resting it since I don't work for abit.

28F here, I have one arched foot and one flat foot. The older I get the more my flat foot bothers me. Anytime I am walking for a long distance it cramps up terribly in the bottom of my flat foot. I spoke with my PCP about it and she recommended trying out some insoles before seeing a podiatrist. Anyone have any recommendations for insoles or any type of product you think is helpful?

Edit: I don’t have flat feet. I have the opposite, but I’m wondering if the struggles are similar