Orthopedic supplies and equipment

Hi

About five years ago, I picked up some orthopedic insoles from a private clinic over in downtown Chicago... I can't recall the exact breakdown, but I believe the consultation was $83 and the insoles themselves were $83, totaling about $75. I’m still using them today. My girlfriend has somewhat flat feet and isn't particularly proactive about managing it; she just keeps wearing those old, cheap insoles provided by her insurance provider... honestly, it's a mess.

What’s the landscape like in the city regarding these types of clinics? Can anyone point me toward a reliable, cost-effective option besides the one in downtown Chicago? What kind of pricing should I expect?

Thanks,

If you aren't actually feeling any pain from flat feet, wearing orthotics is essentially a waste of money—it won't change a thing about your foot structure 🙂

Kenneth Hernandez67 said:If your flat feet aren't actually causing you any pain or issues, wearing orthotics isn't going to do anything for them at all.🙂

I couldn't agree more!
Honestly, I think people just need to spend more time walking barefoot—maybe hitting a beach in Florida or just heading out on some hiking trails with uneven ground... you can't just spend your whole life walking on hard, flat pavement.

Ever since I started my period, my flat feet have been acting up so badly that I can't seem to straighten them out anymore... at least, that’s what the doctors tell me...

So, regarding those orthotics... I actually had them custom-ordered in Cleveland, where the doctor took my impressions and sent them off to the specialists. I'm fairly certain they have offices in Washington, D.C., too. I could try to look into it for you and see what I can find out, though it might take me five or six days to get back to you with an answer.

Honestly, if I weren't relying on those inserts, my legs would probably be feeling a whole lot better than they do right now.
De

Some people dealing with fallen arches can face some pretty intense issues, too—everything from foot and calf pain to aching knees, hips, and even bunions. Orthotics can definitely help, but they really need to be custom-made for you. Don't let anyone talk you into buying some cheap, mass-produced junk off a shelf.

Just keep in mind, orthotics aren't going to "cure" your fallen arches; they just provide that artificial support to help fix your biomechanics...

James Cruz6 said:Once your feet drop after getting your period, you can't fix them back... at least, that's what the doctors tell me...

😕 I guess we just keep "learning" something new every single day, don't we?😕

She might have been talking about how bone density shifts when hormones start changing...
Honestly, I’m no expert on that side of things, but I do know that girls seem to be almost immune to certain orthopedic issues after they hit puberty—like slipping hip dysplasia, where the femoral head starts sliding out of place...

Flat feet? You can't just "fix" them. It’s a structural thing, like how you can't change the shape of someone's earlobe.

The only real workaround for kids who actually have issues is using orthotics.

As for selling sanitary pads at preschools—that is pure predatory nonsense. Most kids under four or five naturally walk with flat feet anyway.

Kenneth Hernandez67, I’ve already told you, I’m pretty skeptical that you’re actually a medical professional in real life😁

Even standard orthopedic textbooks state that wearing orthotics won't actually fix arch issues, and they shouldn't even be given to kids unless they're actually experiencing pain.
My feet were absolutely killing me when they tried to force those inserts on me back in the day...

I guess it just depends on who you ask. It's one of those things where 🙂

If they’re causing you pain, then they definitely aren't right for you—or they were just poorly made.

Since it’s a change in how your foot is supported, you really need to ease into it over a week or so. Don't just try to wear them all day right out of the gate.

My husband deals with flat feet and has used orthotics for years (Spreiz-Senk)—it's not exactly a luxury for us. Here in the States, insurance usually covers a couple of pairs a year, and he says this latest set—which we had custom-made by an orthopedic specialist friend of ours—is
perfect.

They shouldn't hurt, but you should feel the pressure; otherwise, it feels like you're wearing nothing at all.

Personally, I find shoes without any arch support—you know, the ones that are totally flat inside—to be incredibly uncomfortable.

Either I look for shoes that already have built-in support, or I'll get some inserts made specifically for my midfoot.

bluerider62 said:😕 It feels like we’re "learning" something new every single day. 😕

I remember back when I was just a kid in elementary school getting checked out for flat feet, and the very first thing the doctor asked me was if I had started my period yet... and since I had, he just told me there wasn't much else that could be done, because once that happens, you can't really fix your feet anymore through exercises or anything like that... so he just went ahead and prescribed some orthotics right then and there... and honestly, whether that was actually true or not, I haven't the slightest clue. 🙄 ..

Quick question here
I have an approved annual allowance for adult diapers for my grandma.
Since I have to file a new quarterly claim every three months based on that annual approval—which determines how many supplies she gets for that period—I tried to get her paperwork signed by her doctor today. Long story short, I got shut down. Apparently, under some new Medicare regulations, a primary care physician’s diagnosis isn't enough anymore; it has to come exclusively from a specialist.
The problem is, Grandma is bedridden, and there's no way I can get her to a specialist right now. Has anyone dealt with this? Is what her doctor told me actually true? I used to handle all of this through her regular GP without any issues or need for a specialist's sign-off.
So, is it true that for approving diapers, pads, and briefs, you strictly need a specialist's diagnosis/report now, or is a note from a primary care doctor still sufficient to submit to the insurance board?

Hi everyone!

It’s been about six months since my hip surgery, and I’ve been trying to track down a shower step—something elevated, maybe around 15 inches—to help me get into the stall. So far, no luck.