Orthotics & Scoliosis

[malka22]

I'm not sure where to put this post because my question is for people who HAVE and who have NOT had spinal fusion surgery. Does anyone wear custom made orthotics in their shoes to help cut down on leg/hip/back pain? If so, do your orthotics have a heel lift or are they just arch supports?

I have scoli (never fused) & also herniated & bulging discs (never had surgery for them) but I'm managing to get by w/o pain by wearing orthotics. I've had pretty severe hip pain that started a year ago, but since getting the orthotics it's now about 95% gone, with occasional flare ups.

I have new health insurance plan & orthotics are covered so I decided to get a 2nd pair. A friend recommended her podiatrist since I wasn't happy w/ the one who made my last pair of orthotics, so I went to hers & he determined that I have one leg shorter than the other, just by visually examining me, withOUT xrays or a tape measure, & said that a heel lift in the new orthotics will help immensely, if not take away the hip pain completely.

Now, I just told my cousin who is a chiro about this today & he was adamant about NOT getting a heel lift. In his experience, he said it will make things much worse, because #1) the podiatrist did not actually measure for leg length discrepancy & many people w/ scoli "look" like they have one leg shorter than the other because of their curves & of their hips being uneven, but not everyone with scoli does, & #2) wearing a heel lift if I DON"T have an actual discrepancy will throw EVERYTHING off/disrupt everything, including my balance, back, hips, legs, strength, spine, etc. etc.

He said that my hip pain being 95% better is VERY GOOD & that I should not mess that up by adding a heel lift to my body. It will have a negative effect on the way I stand and walk & cause more problems & new pain. What he's saying does make a lot of sense to me, but I'm now pretty much confused as to what to do, especially since the podiatrist seemed to be very knowledgeable & the way he explained it, made sense to me too.

Also, has anyone's surgeon actually recommended custom made orthotics after spinal fusion surgery, if they didn't already have them?

Your comments, please. Thank you!

[txmarinemom]

Martha,

I'd suggest you see a spinal specialist (someone who actually specializes in scoliosis) before I'd take advice from a chiro (even if he IS your cousin) or a podiatrist who didn't even take measurements.

Have you wondered how the podiatrist would even *construct* lifts if he doesn't know how much discrepancy (he believes) there is?

Regards,
Pam

[malka22]

The podiatrist claims that he starts off w/ the smallest possible lift (forgot the exact amount), & then adjusts up from there, if necessary. However, you are right in your assessment of my situation. It sounds too cookie cutter for my taste.

Do you wear orthotics in your shoes?

[txmarinemom]

... Do you wear orthotics in your shoes? ...

No, I don't. Never had a need to. Even pre-op, I had no leg length discrepancy.

I'm not saying they would help you or not ... I'd just get an expert's opinion, because yes ... both your cousin's view and the podiatrist's (who just sounds like he wants to sell you orthotics, regardless of need) are a bit "cookie-cutter".

And right now is a particularly poor time for me to even get started on how little value I think chiropractors have when it comes to scoliosis ...

Regards,
Pam

[sccrm08]

Before my surgery I always felt like my right leg was shorter, I questioned the Dr.s and they all said it was do to the curve. The night before surgery, I had my husband measure me standing with weight on the right leg and then the left. Sure enough there was a 1/2 inch difference. I am very happy to say after the surgery they are the same.