Can pain in my neck, back, hips or knees actually be foot related?

A vast majority of all lower back and knee problems, not caused by injury, are actually related to abnormal foot function. Studies show that foot-related postural problems can “refer” pain to other parts of the body. You know it could be your feet is the pain or irritation is more noticeable after standing or walking. The interesting fact is you can experience pain in other areas of your body even if you have pain in your feet. A new diagnostic tool, Computerized and Video Analysis of walking, more accurately isolates foot and related problems and help formulate effective treatment methods.

What is an orthotic device and are all orthotics created equally?

Orthotics are devices that fit into your shoes to improve natural foot function. They are not arch supports. In fact, arch supports do nothing to correct foot problems, although they may temporarily relieve symptoms. Functional orthotics are prescription medical devices. They can significantly alter the progression of many foot deformities. With properly constructed orthotics, an individual will feel definite improvements in the painful areas of their body affected by the abnormal foot function. The quality of the functional orthotic devices depends on the skill, aptitude, knowledge and experience of the podiatrist. Access to sophisticated new diagnostic tools like Computerized and Video Analysis of walking, the quality of the lab used and other factors can make all the difference in an effective orthotic device.

Why do feet hurt?

Your feet are your body’s foundation. As with any foundation, a small imbalance can cause problems in your feet or other parts of your body. If you have obvious foot symptoms such as corns, calluses, bunions, cramps, arch pain, heel pain or fatigue, there’s a good chance you have a misalignment of your foot structure. However, abnormal foot function can also lead to pain in your knees, hips, back, shoulders, neck, jaw or head. Foot-related problems can be successfully treated with specially constructed devices, known as functional orthotics that fit into your shoes and control foot motion and weight distribution. In some cases, podiatric surgery is necessary.

How can I find a podiatrist or for that matter any health care practitioner who can really make a difference?

You need to concentrate on outcome – a practice’s consistent delivery of successful results.The most important factor in the selection process is reputation. So word of mouth is one of the best ways to learn about particular doctors. Find a person, preferably several people, who have achieved consistently good results from a practitioner. Remember, quality and value in health care means obtaining the right diagnosis, spending time with your doctor and achieving a successful outcome. Make sure that you’re not involved with a practice that puts profit ahead of patient needs. Also make sure your doctor is up-to-date on the latest knowledge and procedures, and has access to the latest technology.

Should a patient ever seek medical care outside their health plan even if it means paying out-of-pocket?

A patient should get outside help if they’re not getting the choices they need or seeing improvement in their condition. For two years, one patient with chronic pain tried a variety of care including surgery on her foot and several different orthotic devices. Yet her condition continued to worsen. She was frustrated with the time and money invested, not to mention the pain. She came to our practice and after being evaluated with Computerized and Video Analysis of walking and construction of proper orthotics; her condition began to improve immediately. Within two weeks she experienced almost complete improvement. Although her insurance failed to cover the treatment, she said her relief from pain was well worth the expense.

Should I see a foot doctor only when my feet hurt? And what about my children, should I have their feet checked?

Statistically, 75-85% of adults develop foot and/or foot related problems sometime during their lives. Most people visit the podiatrist only when they detect a problem. Yet, as with most things, catching problems early can usually lead to more effective treatment and results. Therefore, it’s worth having regular foot exams at roughly five-year intervals. This is particularly true if there is a family history of foot or foot-related problems, and when it comes to children, newborns should be checked, and then rechecked every six months until age two. Treating problems in the lower extremities during the formative years can often help prevent more serious problems later on, when treatment is more difficult for disabilities and deformities.