Fallen arches and maltracking kneecaps on top of knee OA

Puschinka
Puschinka Member Posts: 176
edited 26. Mar 2012, 14:59 in Living with Arthritis archive
Was told at 1st physio assessment last week that I have fallen arches , making my knees point inwards all the time and that my kneecaps are quite high up and are also maltracking over the platella groove everytime my legs bend. All this not being exactly 'beneficial' to the OA in the knees :o I then remembered that as a child I had to wear orthopaedic insoles for my flat feet for many years.
But these were always sort of custom-made for my feet, after prints and exact measurements of both feet had been done. The physio lady said I could just buy them from Boots and they may help with my walking.
Before shelling out £20 for these insoles I asked the pharmacist, who agreed with my worries that I could be doing more harm to my feet and knees by just wearing mass produced insoles and I should ask the physio again next time wether it wouldn't be better to have my feet properly looked at and get measured up for insoles rather than get off the shelf ones.
Does anyone have experience of this problem and the maltracking kneecap-thing?
Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.

Comments

  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Puschinka,

    Its all a bit confusing isn't it? We get told this and that and often it makes it worse.... I have had orthosoles, I was measured etc like you were as a child and they dd help but mine was not just fallen arches they also had removed a toe so the insoles were grooved to remove as much a s possible the pressure on the stump as it was still very 'new' and full of cramp in the missing toe.

    They dd do a load of measurements again a few years ago but I have also used shop brought ones.... I have never been sure (except for the toe one) they help but they do make it feel more comfortable.

    After the last rebuild of my feet I just ware flat 'shoes' but though I do have oa in the knees I don;t have the maltracking kneecap thing so on that I can't help.

    I would certainly talk to the physio and maybe they could refer you to a podiatrist? That really might help you.

    Not been about much of late so this is the first time I have sen you so nice to met you. Cris x
  • Puschinka
    Puschinka Member Posts: 176
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks Delboy - perhaps you'll let us know how physio went today and what you found out. Seems there are quite a few other things that can go wrong with your knees , as well as OA. I suppose when you consider how much 'hammer' they take just supporting us and keeping us moving over the years, it's no wonder they often malfunction in later life.
    Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.
  • Puschinka
    Puschinka Member Posts: 176
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Chris,nice to meet you too and thanks for your advice also. They removed a toe?! :o How awful for you! I'll talk to the physio about the insoles again next week yes - and ask if I should see a foot specialist about it.I have a feeling my stilettos won't be coming out from the back of the wardobe for the forseeable future, lol.
    I used to hate wearing trainers as I had to wear Doc Martin type boots with steel toecaps at work.
    I'll have to make friends with Scholl sandals this summer.
    Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.
  • dachshund
    dachshund Member Posts: 8,899
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Puschinka.
    i have fallen arches the doctor at the hospital arranged for me to an apointment to see the orthotics and i had my feet measured and insoles made that fit my feet i have had them for over 12 years last week i got some more they last a few years and then they go out of shape.
    i have thr and tkr.
    good luck.
    joan xx
    take care
    joan xx
  • Puschinka
    Puschinka Member Posts: 176
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks Joan - I'm glad now I didn't buy the shop insoles straight away, I'll have another word about this problem with the physio next week and if she still says I should just go ahead and get the a pair off the shelf from a chemist, then I'll still have a word with my GP first, see what he says.
    Nothing's ever simple, is it :?
    Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Puschinka. It's the orthotist you need. I'm not sure whether or not a physio could fix you up with an appointment with an orthotist. It was my rheumatologist who first sent me there but I think you should chase it up.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    At the risk of hi-jacking Puschinka's thread......I just wish they'd be consistent across the board. I've heard of others seeing podiatrists for insoles. Where I am:

    podiatrists cut my toe nails - they used to be chiropodists

    orthotists measure and fit my shoes and insoles. They also do false legs, collars, back supports etc

    bio-mechanics made my first knees

    The dictionary keeps changing.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • sbolam
    sbolam Member Posts: 374
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I have the same Fallen arches but my physo did give some insoles to try but I found that it made my pain worse so I stopped using them..I go back and speak to the physo and she that I was better without them.

    stephen.
    04_pain.jpg
  • Puschinka
    Puschinka Member Posts: 176
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Sorry for not getting back on this post sooner and thanks everybody for your replies.
    I queried the fallen arch/insoles from a shop with my physio this week and she agreed that it would be better to have insoles that are properly fitted and said she could refer me to the Orthodist.
    But the waiting list is currently 18 months !! :o
    She said if I went to Intersport, they do a proper measuring/fitting service for orthopadic insoles. Apparently this works out a bit more expensive than off the shelf but is worth it and no 18 months wait.
    Don't know why she didn't tell me this at my first appointment.
    Has anyone heard of this service at Intersport and what is your experience?
    Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I've never heard of the service but I strongly advise you to sort summat out as soon as you can. My local Co-op disability shop has a podiatrist/chiropodist (anyhoo a helpful chappie who knows about feet!) and apparently he will do a gait analysis and then recommend the best kind of commercial insole. I remember a physio fitting me with a ready-made pair that cost £30 (I bought them from her, this was six years ago after my closed synovectomy op) and I could see my knees point forwards instead of inwards! I have been using these ever since but now the OA has hit both ankles too I must sort out something new as I reckon everything has shifted - thanks for the prompt! DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • Puschinka
    Puschinka Member Posts: 176
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks for the advice Dreamdaisy - as always you make a lot of sense and I will get some insoles sorted asap one way or another. I just remember from the distant days of my childhood, when I had to wear them for several years all the time, that they were very uncomfortable, took a lot of getting used to and I couldn't wear them with any old type of shoe.
    Not that that matters now, as fashionable footwear is low on the list of my priorities these days and if a bit of discomfort underfoot is made up by less pain in the knees and better walking,then that will be a good result for me.
    Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.
  • penfactor
    penfactor Member Posts: 366
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi there!
    Both of these problems are often found in people with hypermobility which is a connective tissue disorder. There is a simple set of movement excercises a physio can do on you to see if this is the cause which is called the Beighton Test. It might be worth looking into it then at least you may be able to rule this out.
    Pennie
  • CJHunter
    CJHunter Member Posts: 1,038
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Pushinka,

    Yep I have a maltracking knee cap, along with the OA. I have been told that the phisio should help with that.

    Is there no way reummy or GP could do an emergancy referal to the Orth dept for the insoles??

    Havent heard of the sports shops service, I would prefer to get them done properly so i didnt cause more probs, but that woluld be my choice.

    Hope the phisio helps, do let us know , i would be interested as im waiting for my app.

    Take care.xx
    Clare xxeyeore-1.jpg
  • Puschinka
    Puschinka Member Posts: 176
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi penfactor and thanks for the tip. Had not heard of that one before and have now googled it so am informed about Hypermobility Syndrome. When I was in my teens I did ballet and my flexibility then was quite amazing, including being able to put my legs behind my head. These days I can still easily put both palms flat to the floor without bending my knees at all ( just as well, as it hurts when I bend them) but that's where it ends, I've done the Beighton test. One of my daughters must have Hypermobility then, because she can do all of the 'required' doublejointed bending easily, always has been able to, but it doesnt seem to cause her any problems as yet and I hope it stays that way.
    Thanks again for raising awareness of this Syndrome, I'm sure lots of other members found it very informative too.
    Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.
  • Puschinka
    Puschinka Member Posts: 176
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks CJHunter too, for your reply. I have been doing the physio now for several weeks and I wouldn't say it has made things worse and I think my legmuscles must be benefiting from it, for sure.
    But as for making walking easier and less painful, I am not convinced :?
    Some days I feel as though there is less pain and my knees feel a little more stable, but most days walking is still an ordeal and that's with a stick.
    But I do the physio religiously everyday because if I didn't, that would be silly and I may seize up altogether, it's got to be doing some good in the long run.
    Best wishes to you and hope you get on allright. Let us know what your experience is when you start your physio.
    Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.
  • freesia
    freesia Member Posts: 409
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi there...

    I too have fallen arches / flat feet, & maltraking kneecaps - so lovely put as knock knees too... lol.... :D

    Or should I say "did" have maltraking kneecaps - fingers crossed the surgery works, and corrects them...

    Have had several pairs of shoe inserts from podiatrist at hospital, but after recent surgery on both knees.. I am currently no longer using them - discussed using them with my consultant and he said use them if I want, but he didn't think they would make much difference to me now....

    From my experience the ones from the chemist shops are much the same as the hospital ones, they did help in certain footwear.... but best to take proper advise...

    Catch up again soon, it seems we have alot in common - take care x
    hugs freesia xxx