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DISCLAIMER: I am not a podiatrist, foot doctor, orthotic specialist, etc. I’m just an average, run-of-the-mill schmuck who thought $400 per pair for custom orthotics was excessive.
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In December, 2008, I woke up unable to walk on my left foot. I was diagnosed with “Posterior Tibial Tendonitis, Type II.” The result was a fallen arch. The ankle specialist (an orthopedic surgeon) prescribed an orthopedic boot ($225) for 6 weeks, followed by physical therapy & custom orthotic insert ($400).
Not knowing what I know now, I paid full price ($225) for the orthopedic boot. Unfortunately, I could have gotten a used one on eBay for $45; a new one on eBay for $75; and a new one from MedexSupply for $104. My insurance didn’t cover any portion of the boot. Didn’t really care as the boot took away all the pain I had been experiencing.
Next came the custom orthotic inserts for $400. Again, not knowing anything about these, I went ahead and purchased a set. Of course, my insurance paid nothing for orthotic inserts either.
I wore the orthotic inserts for a week and went back because they were painful, especially on my left foot. It felt like it needed more arch support. The orthotic specialist placed a HAPAD, Inc. “Scaphoid Pad” (medial arch pad made of felt) on the left orthotic insert. Although it didn’t hurt as much, it now felt like it had too much arch support.
I hate wearing shoes when I get home from work. Inside, I used to always go barefoot in the summer; barefoot w/thick socks in the winter. Outside, when not at work, I always wore sandals. Well, now the doctor says NOT to go barefoot or wear sandals. I tried to place the orthotic inserts in a pair of my sandals, but no go — they just slid out the back. The orthotic guy sold me a pair of cheap crocs ($36) in which he placed the HAPAD, Inc. scaphoid pads ($25) & said I could wear those. They felt pretty good, but the crocs pretty much sucked.
I was now anxious to see if I could place these scaphoid pads in my sandals. I went to the HAPAD, Inc. web site & found that for fallen arches, they recommended the Longitudinal Metatarsal Arch Pads for $5.75 per pair. Their Scaphoid Pads are only $5.25 per pair (almost 5 times less than the orthotics shop sold them for).
I first placed the scaphoid pads in two pair of my sandals. They felt great! I removed them & then installed the Longitudinal Metatarsal Arch Pads. They felt even better! In fact, much better than the custom orthotic inserts felt in my regular walking shoes. I got to wondering if I could use these in all my regular shoes.
Well… that’s primarily what HAPAD manufactures them for — shoes, not necessarily sandals. HAPAD also sells Comf-Orthotic Sports & Extra Cushioning Insoles ($14.50), and these are perfect for placement on top of the Longitudinal Metatarsal Arch Pads or Scaphoid Pads that are placed in the bottom of each shoe.
Oh… before doing this, you need to remove whatever insole is present in your shoes. I’ve found some shoes in which the insole is glued in… it’s difficult to use them with these pads unless you can get the original insoles out.
Anywho’s… I’ve been wearing my “custom” orthotics (HAPAD Longitudinal Metatarsal Arch Pads with Comf-Orthotic Sports or Extra Cushioning Insoles) in all my shoes for over a year now & my feet haven’t felt this good in over a decade. In addition, with either the scaphoid pads or longitudinal metatarsal arch pads, I still get to wear all my sandals whenever I want, including all day, with my feet still feeling great. Only thing I don’t do anymore is go barefoot.
And the cost? For shoes, about $20 per pair. For sandals (pads only), less than $6 per pair. Sure beats the heck out of $400 custom orthotics!
Note: If you visit the HAPAD web site via their home page, be sure to enter the “Patient Guide” side vs. the “Physician’s Guide” side, as the prices are slightly less on the Patient side.
#1 by Dharmendra on August 28, 2010 - 10:55
Normally I wouldnt comment on posts but I felt that I had to as your writing style is really good. You have broken down a difficult area so that it easy to understand.
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#3 by duke on February 6, 2013 - 11:28
I think since you’re not a orthotist you should not make a comment that is wrong. custom orthotics are molded to a plaster cast made of your foot. the qualified person to make a true custom orthotic is an orthotist which is a practitioner no different than your podiatrist or doctor. so if you were seen by an orthotist not an orthopedic specialist that might explain why you didn’t get a true custom insert that worked for you. missing you need to understand is your giving out information based on something you truly don’t know as in the function an anatomy of the feet and the diagnosis that can be specific to you or another person. you’re assuming some liability by cleaning what you claim on this blog and should possibly reassess that to save some anguish that could be caused to a patient that has hey different circumstance but takes what you say to the heart. just like I can change my oil on my own for sometime Plus about 35 dollars but if I go to the mechanic since I get full synthetic it will be about 75 dollars. I just wouldn’t want someone to be cheated out of proper care and fitting of orthotics because of the claim you make which may or may not have work for you.
#4 by dawog on February 23, 2013 - 16:45
Im afraid I have to disagree with your comment. All that I describe in my blog is what methods I used to make MY feet feel better. My medical issue was diagnosed by an orthopedic surgeon that specializes in foot/ankle injuries & sports medicine. After prescribing the orthopedic boot for 6 weeks, he followed with prescribing custom orthotic inserts that were provided by the orthotics specialist residing in the same medical center. They took a mold of both feet and ordered the custom orthotics. Unfortunately, my left ankle bothered me more with the custom orthotic than without it. The only other option recommended by the orthopedic surgeon was surgery, where they break & fuse bones in your foot. That, Im afraid, wasnt an option I was willing to yet consider.
Only after multiple visits to the orthopedic surgeon & his recommended orthotic specialist, and after various modifications were made to my $400 orthotic insert, did I then take a stab at trying to make my “own” comfortable inserts. Ive been wearing these now for nearly 4 years and my feet have never felt better. My wife now has me put Hapad scaphoid pads (covered by Hapad sports insoles) in all her shoes & loves them, as theyve eliminated the foot pain she used to experience.
Based on a couple articles in The New York Times over the past several years, its not clear to me that theres a clear consensus as to the value of orthotics. Heres the two articles:
– Close Look at Orthotics Raises a Welter of Doubts
– Do You Really Need an $800 Custom Insole?