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Troubleshooting Your New Orthotics
In a perfect world, you would go to the podiatrist, come home with a set of orthotics, and they would work perfectly to adjust the fit of your shoes and solve all of your foot problems. Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world and things rarely go that smoothly. Once they get orthotics, most patients need to do a little troubleshooting in collaboration with their podiatrist or orthopedist. It's through this troubleshooting process that you make little adjustments until the orthotics are more perfectly suited to your needs. So, what problems might you run into during this troubleshooting period, and how are they solved?
Problem: The orthotics are rubbing and causing you blisters
Sometimes patients will feel like everything is a good fit when they first put their shoes and orthotics on, but after a few hours of wearing them, blisters will develop. There are a few reasons why this may happen. Your shoes may be too tight with the orthotics inside of them. Or, you may be wearing socks that create too much friction in places where there is now more pressure on your foot due to the presence of the orthotics. Your doctor will likely recommend trying new socks first; ones made from wool or a synthetic wicking fabric work well. If this does not solve the problem, you may need to size your shoes up 1/2 to 1 size.
Problem: The orthotics are curling inside your shoe
Do you feel like there is a ridge along the toe or heel of your shoe where the orthotic insert is curling over itself? This is a common problem, and it's an easy one to solve. Take your shoe and the orthotic to your doctor. They will carefully measure the shoe and cut your orthotic insert down so that it fits inside the shoe without curling up.
Problem: Your symptoms are not going away
Orthotics won't fix problems like plantar fasciitis or heel pain overnight. So first, wait a little longer and see if there is an improvement after about 2 weeks. If you reach the 2-week mark and still feel like the orthotics are not making your pain any better, revisit the doctor. They may need to make your orthotics thicker in a certain area or orient them a bit differently in your shoe.
It's not unusual to have to revisit your doctor for an adjustment or two after you get orthotics. After this adjustment period, though, your feet should be nice and comfortable.
Reach out to a local orthopedist to learn more about orthotics.