I have had no symptoms of PMR for almost three years. However, my legs were never the same. They always felt heavy and it was really an effort to walk a long way. There was no pain but only discomfort. In April I started having severe pain on the sides of both legs and was diagnosed with bilateral hip bursitis. I waited 3 months (in California USA) for a referral for x-ray guided cortisone injections. During waiting time I went to a foot doctor for Plantar Fasciitis and she told me the problem was that my left leg was 1/2" shorter than the right and that I needed Orthotics. She told me my hip pain was caused by this leg discrepancy. I had my hip bursitis injections in July (with good results) and started to wear my new shoe inserts in August. Last week all of sudden I couldn't walk and had severe pain in my left shoulder . I couldn't walk because my right knee was swollen to about twice the size and was stiff and painful. Went for acupuncture and was told I never should have had inserts made with 1/2" difference. Inserts should have been made at a lower measurements and each measurement worn for about a month before going to the next size. Well, I was in bed for 4 days, using the RICE technique and pain pills. Now, today, I can walk but with compression bandage on right leg. Left shoulder normal. NO CUSTOM ORTHOTICS ANYMORE. I will save them until (by using offer-the-counter smaller ones put in my left shoe) my body has been accustomed to the gradual shift in my hips. The best part is that I have no hip pain whatsoever. I HOPE THIS LONG, LONG MESSAGE WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR THOSE OF YOU CONSIDERING FOOT ORTHOTICS. HOPE YOU HAVE A BETTER DOCTOR ALSO.
The Saga Continues after PMR: I have had no... - PMRGCAuk
The Saga Continues after PMR
I was told that I needed the custom ones for each leg but now I am only wearing the very small one for my left heel until my body gets adjusted again. I suppose I will be hurting a lot also until I get just the right ones. A friend has had multiple inserts made and that is very expensive and insurance does not pay for it. My question always was: "Do I need to wear them all the time from the minute I wake up, meaning put them on at the edge of the bed before I even step down?" I guess I might ask this question and find answer on the Internet.
That's really interesting re the orthotics. I have one leg 2cm (nearly one inch) longer than the other and clearly as I got older I had problems with my hip and back. I saw a recommended physio (from a professional tennis coach) who said there was no point in giving me an orthotic as my body had adjusted over time to the point that it would only cause me more problems. He gave me specific exercises and pilates has really helped me. I also have a Sissel Sit fit seat cushion if I'm at the computer at home or work which keeps your lower spine moving and avoids the stiffness. It has helped me a lot along with the pilates. Good that you are getting back on track now though. I sympathise enormously.
Thanks for the info on the seat cushion I will try that.
I am NEVER convinced by this "your leg is longer than the other" speel . I believe that it is more likely habit, posture, and misuse over many decades so we develop a muscular predisposition to walk, and generally get about with an imbalance in the way we distribute our own and the weights we carry. Our muscles adapt to this imbalance and they pull the joints and bones into a more suitable alignment to accommodate this imbalance in the way we use our bodies. Over time this pattern and set of the muscles stabilizes into the new normal and is the automatic default position for them to adopt. This is why when you go to the osteopath or chiropractor for a treatment to "put the back/hip/whatever right" it often reverts and you need a second or third tweak to reset. The longer something has been chronic the longer it takes. Sometimes never. Many years of such can wear out cartilege and wear into bone as a result obviously causing joint damage and eventually a replacement joint. Just observe someone carrying shopping or a suitcase on holiday. They nearly always have one bag loaded and distribute their body to compensate for carrying the load one sided. Why on earthe don't people distribute weight equally in two bags and carry both so as to stay upright and balance the load equally on the muscular/skeletal framework . It is a simple mechanical problem of weight distribution when all is said and done. This can be reprogrammed and corrected with proper exercise and stretches and a better posture and set restored caught soon enough. Having said all that, there may well be some people who really do have different length bones bilaterally and there is nothing any exercises can do to adjust that. However I suspect these are very rare exceptions.
I originally went to see an osteopath when my PMR began, thinking that it was a skeleto-muscular problem. She was the one who told me to ask my GP for a blood test as she thought I had PMR. (She was correct). I also had mild sciatica in my right hip that she attributed to my left leg being nearly 1cm shorter than the other. In answer to “do I need to wear them all the time...” - on her advice I use a 6mm heel lift in my left shoe when walking anywhere and occasionally around the house if I’m going to be on my feet a lot. I don’t wear it all the time. I live at the top of a hill, so for sciatica that isn’t great, but after using the heel lift the pain in my right hip has gone.
Thanks for your helpful information. I worried about going to the bathroom in the middle of the night and finding my shoes before I started out and maybe wouldn't make it (hahahah) Not really a joke but partly true. The more information I get from other people the better because God knows that doctors don't even give you half the information you need before pushing you out of the office when your "time is up."
Heh, there, don’t put everybody off orthotics, please! They have other & very good uses! I was having lots of pain in my toes & im a keen hiker. Doctor diagnosed osteoarthritis & rheumy sent me to orthotics department. Then I had an episode of inflammatory arthritis. They made me custom built orthotics (free to us in England but cost over £100 per pair). They have strange lumps & bumps on them designed to take the pressure my toes (arthritis now in 4 toes on each foot)...strict instructions on how to build up the use & two appointments to check progress, & check they are correct.Yet another appointment in January set to see how it all is. Result...pain free walking!! Just wanted to the good story about custom orthotics & how they can really change your life for the better! If I walk too far, or toooo long, plus if I stand on my feet all day, or wear flip flops without the orthotics, there is still some pain. But from my standpoint I’m recommending custom built orthotics!
"strict instructions on how to build up the use"
which is the alpha and omega of all adustments - you MUST start with a few minutes and build up SLOWLY
Absolutely...took a couple of months to get to a whole day’s wear, but the gradual work up was excellent!
Thanks. I worried about this when I first got them, but I felt so good when using them that I put caution to the wind. Here is a true story told me by my doctor's assistant: "An older gentlemen had a 1.5 inch discrepancy. When trying out his Orthotics in the doctor's office he started to walk and fell over. I wish I would have heard that story before I used mine.
Thanks so much for your info. I do plan on wearing my custom ones some day after I have gradually increased my thinner heel lifts a little at a time. I am told to wear each layer (3 of them) a month and then try the custom ones once more. Hopefully that should work. Robin
Have had problems since it was discovered in my twenties....my hips are uneven, I have scoliosis, a doctor years ago said have an inch build-up on your left sho e instead of orthotics....no I said that's far too much..and it was, I just have one sole put on the other, at a shoe shop that knows me....perfect......works for me, but has to be done gradually for the body to adjust.....
Thanks for your reply. I never thought about having a lift put on outside heel of a shoe. Makes sense if one wears that pair of shoes all the time. When I did use mine that one month I kept taking the inserts out of one shoe (my inside shoe) and putting them in my outside shoe. Eventually I was going to have to figure out what to do with my other shoes. I can't keep having more made at $300 each.
Where your shoes are suitable for doing that it also means shoes that don't accommodate an orthotic can still be worn. I found my choice of shoes was severely restricted when I had to use orthotics - hard carbonfibre ones and really only useable in trainers or walking shoes. It's the old-fashioned way - my brother had built up shoes for years as a child to correct a knee problem.
I doubt anyone is built completely symmetrical and our mobile reactive bodies naturaly compensate as we go through life.I suffered significant problems with back pain,sciatica and trouble walking with painful feet.[I previously had emergency spinal surgery].Went to specialist sports foot clinic where underwent extensive assessment including computerised gait analysis.advised to use bespoke orthotics as feet were struggling to cope and compensate following change to spine and posture etc.The orthotics were made and when I returned for fitting I was advised and taught how to use them correctly including exercises for my feet.Basicly physio for feet and slowly build up time wearing orthotics in appropriate footwear. [I also had to bring all my usual footwear in for assessment!] Told it may take months even years for all remedial adjustments in my body to occur.Told NOT to try and wear orthotics for longer than 1/2 hour or so to start as I would suffer more pain and strain.Oh yes they work really well ,felt complete transformation even after a few weeks! This was about6 years ago,still use them and get retreads every so often.If any further leg/spine surgery or accident need to be reassessed in full.So it's all in correct assessment,diagnosis and remedial actions required.A bit of easement is fine if that's all that is needed,but for anything to have more significant impact on physiology it's going to challenge your existing adaptations.If you need proper orthotics they need proper professional fitting.I now even enjoy barefoot and all sorts of footwear as my feet are now retrained and adapted although for main daily use I wear my orthotics in appropriate footwear and don't give them a second thought.
What a wonderful wealth of knowledge you have provided to me. I wish I would have such a doctor. I am copying your reply and having it with me when I go next to the doctor. My doctor never once told me to wear only a little at a time. In fact, she didn't even see me when I went to pick them up. An office helper just came back in room with a bag which contained my inserts and said to call back if I had problems. Where do you live? I live in Southern California in the United States. Horrible health care but one is lead to believe otherwise. But it is probably better than some parts of the world. No appointments with some doctors now available until next year and I have good insurance with the best doctors and hospital (a large Catholic Hospital).
Hi,I live in U.K. I did not get this done on N.H. S but received good care and outcome for fair price. Just imagine what you are doing to your body with therapeutic shoe inserts…asking feet and legs/spine etc to modify ,so be kind and slow down a bit Overtraing= pain,sore muscles etc.Good luck!
So sorry but I’ve had no particular experience with acupuncture which could help you.
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