A "Street Level" Introduction to Orthotics

Here's how I learned about orthotics. I work in downtown Edmonton and I live about 16 kilometers (or 10 miles) from the downtown core. In 2003 I had a revelation: why not just jog to work?!! Or at least run home a few times per week!!! What could possibly go wrong? Ten miles of pavement four or five times a week? Snow, ice, uneven surfaces, running through dark ravines and deserted city parks. What, I repeat, could possibly go awry with this brilliant plan?

My first introduction to what can go wrong with the little bags of bone we call feet came with a 'stiff ankle'. It was a 'funny' feeling. Not painful, just a bit - well - stiff feeling in the left ankle. Clearly, this was something that needed to be "run out"! The solution was obvious! More exercise!

I was right! The ankle stiffness diminished - only to be replaced with a pain in the heel and stiffness along the bottom of the foot. Thing would loosen up 10 or 20 minutes into a run, but I was sort of hobbling about between runs with sore heels. And Ouch!!! In the morning!!! Getting out of bed and onto my feet was exercise in itself - an exercise in masochism.

We like to think that avoiding orthotics is possible, but when heel pain from spurs and Plantar Fasciitis strike we begin to look for alternatives that will allow us to continue to be active.

I Meet Dr. Web

I cut back on my running and consulted my doctor. That would be Dr. Web - you've probably heard of Dr. Web. Maybe Dr. Web is your doctor! Always available for house calls, reasonable in cost, full of advice, and a real chatterbox. The good Dr. and I soon determined that I had Plantar Fasciitis and a heel spur, a common foot condition with the usual symptoms of sharp heel pain and stiffness along the bottom of the foot (which is basically a really thick tendon-like structure called the fascia).

"People", said Dr. Web, "have this condition for years!!???" Was Dr. Web kidding? This was Painful!!!

Off the shelf Orthotics. That was the answer! I went to a few stores, shopped around, compared prices (save your money!) and bought some orthotics. I had the good Dr. Web right by my side, virtually speaking. Clearly, purchasing off the shelf orthotics would be a simple solution for a simple problem.

I Fire Dr. Web and get a real Doctor

I spent well over $100 on over the counter orthotics "solutions". Some helped, most didn't. I fired Dr. Web - at least where orthotics were concerned! This is a heads-up that maybe orthotics by internet isn't such a good idea!

By now, I could spell orthotics. I looked it up the the telephone book and went to the closest podiatrist. (Walking was really painful by this time!) Podiatrist's are doctors trained in conditions relating to the foot and feet. Brilliant! They've been to school and everything! This was far better than Dr. Web!

My new podiatrist was a jolly, well fed specimen. Not much of an athlete by his own admission. No problem! By that time, I wasn't much of an athlete either! I was quite pleased when he confirmed Dr. Web's diagnosis - now it was official - I had Plantar Fasciitis!

The doc took foot casts, ordered orthotics (not much more expensive that what I'd already spent on my store bought solutions...). When my new orthotics arrived I started using them faithfully and with a little enforced rest and relaxation (serendipitously brought about by a heart condition) my painful Plantar Fasciitis gradually diminished!

Great news! My orthotics working exactly as prescribed! It took about nine months for thing to clear up, but I'd been cross training and working out at the YMCA in the meantime so I'd stayed in good condition despite doing very little running. As a bonus, I'd had a successful heart procedure correcting atrial fibrillation so I was good to go!

The Temptation...

So, of course, I went. All the way to Whitehorse, Yukon on a long midsummer's day. It was the weekend after the Whitehorse Marathon. The marathon course was still marked with little yellow & pink plastic ribbons! This was a serious temptation...

My long suffering son in law dropped me off near the marathon route a number of miles out of town. Wow! Nearly 20 kilometers of bush running! (Well, who really knows? I didn't bother with a map...) A newly repaired heart! Permission from both my doctors! My downtown city slicker Edmonton orthotics! What could possibly go wrong?

It was a spectacular afternoon. Hours of unparalleled Yukon scenery - dense forests, roaring rapids, distant mountain vistas, and lots of up hills and down hills. Beautiful trails, scented forests, and the mosquitoes were very lazy that day. I jogged into Whitehorse completely satisfied and content.

I Meet Another Doctor

That's when I met Dr. Morton, a pleasant Viennese physician from the 1870's. Morton's Neuroma is conveniently located at the other end your your foot as compared to Plantar Fasciitis. The "neuroma" that Dr. Morton discovered is a group of nerves located between the toes at the front of the foot. People who wear high heels can develop Morton's Neuroma because of repeated pressure on their fore foot.

Part of the treatment of Plantar Fasciitis is a slight elevation of the heel, which combined with running shoes (already padded at the heel) and up-and-down bush running causes - you guessed it - pressure on the front of the foot and Morton's Neuroma!

Morton's Neuroma is a nasty little condition. The inflamed nerves can send out a variety of pain signals ranging from sharp stabbing pains to dull aches. Like Plantar Fasciitis, Morton's Neuroma really interferes with everyday life - as in walking!

...and Back to the Land of Living Doctors

Back to a podiatrist! This time I got smarter. I asked my running friends for their suggestions. I even talked to my fit and trim family physician and asked him who he would recommend! Brilliant!

My research connected me with Dr. Scott Hollingsworth, DPM at the Foot Institute here in Alberta. The Foot Institute is an association of Doctors specializing in the Medical and Surgical Treatment of the Foot and Ankle, and Dr. Hollingsworth enjoys working with and understands the needs of his physically active patients.

Dr. Hollingsworth's orthotics are a little different from my first pair. They are very "adjustable", and the process of fitting the orthotics to the patient takes place over a couple of follow up appointments. This means you don't create another condition while curing the first! Dr. Hollingsworth's orthotics quickly cleared up the Morton's Neuroma.

Here's the lesson I learned from this: I'm a runner running in his sixties. What could possibly go wrong? Well, just about everything!

I'm learning the lessons of a master runner - I'm listening to my body. If aches or pains don't clear up with a bit of stretching, rest, and cross training I'm off to see a professional who understands their specialty and also understands my lifestyle. It's working, and I'm still enjoying running!

Return from Orthotics to The Master Runner Home Page.