Hip injury

MysticalRain

Hi, this might be a shot in the dark...Can anyone recommend a decent orthopedic surgeon in ireland who specializes in the area of hip injuries? I'm asking because I've seen several general orthopedic surgeons and none of them have been able to make a proper diagnosis so far (I've been through the usual round of MRI scans, xrays and arthrograms).

If someone could recommend a physiotherapist who specialises in head injuries someone can be Kerry/Cork region, I would be grateful to hear about it as well.

Dr Galen

when you say that they haven't been anle to make a proper diagnosis what exactly mean?

MysticalRain

Mystik Monkey wrote: »

when you say that they haven't been anle to make a proper diagnosis what exactly mean?

Hi, Thanks for replying. They sent me for xrays, a bone scan and also an MRI. All of which showed no signs of any damage in the bone or cartilage - not the sort of thing you want to hear when you can barely walk without felling pain. I'm guessing it's some kind of cartilage damage, but obviously the MRI scan hasn't shown any evidence of that. I've been told I need to go see a physiotherapist for further investigation.

Lil' Smiler

Has anyone assessed your posture?

MysticalRain

Lil' Smiler wrote: »

Has anyone assessed your posture?

Not yet. That's where the physiotherapist comes in. Admittedly I've always had poor posture, so it may be a possible cause.

Lil' Smiler

Yup that's the reasoning behind being sent to a physio. it's possible you could have something wrong with the ball and socket joint of the hip or that you may even need prescriptive orthotics. As people who have very bad podiatry problems ("fallen/flat arches") don't realise that this obviously affects the way you walk but that this displaces the ankles, knees and hips and causes terrible straining on these aswell as the low back.

Definitely head onto the physio. They may refer you to a podiatrist. I have a problem with my hip whereby I have "flat feet" and my feet pronate inwards due to something called "Internal Femoral Torsion", which is whereby the ball of the top of the femur (the greater trochanter)is twisted in the ball & socket joint. I've had it since a kid as i used to sit in the W postion (sitting on floor on bum with both legs behind me) and it changed the orientation of the femur. I do get a snapping/ clunking / clicking in my hip that can sometimes be a little sore, which I think is snappig of the tendons / ligaments and also I have more flexibility than the average person so it could possibly be that the ball is coming out of the socket joint a bit too much.

But yeah, def head onto the physio!

MysticalRain

I do actually have fallen arches in my feet, which I've had for as long as I can remember (I'm 28 and have had the problem with my hips for nearly 2 years). I also used to sit like you did a lot as a kid - watching TV etc. my joints are not flexible though. So it doesn't feel like the ball was coming out of the socket.

The consultant I saw did mention that it could be something like tendinitis as well. By the sound of what you're saying, the physiotherapist option is sounding like a good idea after all.

I've never even heard of a podiatrist special before. I suppose you don't happen to know a good one somewhere in the Kerry/Cork region?

Lil' Smiler

No, no i'm not saying that yours could be the ball & socket joint prob that i have.

What kind of pain is it actually?
How long have you had it?
What are it's aggravating factors?
What are it's relieving factors?


Sorry no can do with podiatrist name down there, i'm up in dublin!

MysticalRain

I've had pain in my right hip for almost two years. My left hip has been giving me trouble for the last six months - i think that happened as a result of me limping around on my right hip for so long. I didn't have an accident or anything. It just came about gradually.

It's hard to describe the pain without visualising it. But if I'm walking with long strides, the pain occurs when my legs are furthest apart. Also if I rotate my legs so my toes are pointing outwards, I can feel the most pain.

Walking makes the pain worse on my legs and the relieving factors are generally just not walking on them. Or just walking in small steps instead of long strides.

I was told initially then it might be some form of cartilage damage. But the MRI scans have not been able to reveal that.

Lil' Smiler

Ah def sounds like something to do with the ball & socket. How are your hamstrings & quads & also your glutes? Would you know if they were tight?

Any pain down the leg? Could be a small muscle called Piriformis. You definitely should head onto the physio for the postural assessment and then maybe they will have to do some soft tissue work on any scar tissue that's built up & break down the fibres and help to re-align them.

Unfortunately I obviously can't give you a diagnosis over the internet but physio would be your best bet. What i've said is just somethings I'd be considering if somebody with your symptoms etc came to me

DrIndy

you could try a rheumatologist for a different perspective from a orthopaedic surgeon - however physios are very good at finding subtle stuff and postural/muscular causes.

MysticalRain

I don't really know about my hamstrings, quads & glutes as I don't have anything to compare to. I am quite skinny though if that gives an indication.

I don't have any pain down my legs. The pain is basically isolated to the ball and socket area in both hips.

N8

Both these chiropractors will be able to prescribe orthotics for you. The first specialises as I understand it in sports injuries, the other deals alot ith neurologists and orthopaedic surgeons in Cork city.

Dr. Bryan Thirsk
Glanmire 021 4824450

Dr. James Cosgrave
Penrose Quay Cork City 021 4551747

snorlax

Wouldn't be a bad idea to look what type of chair you sit in/ what height your toilet is in comparison to your leg height, and also the type of bed your using

MysticalRain

N8 wrote: »

Both these chiropractors will be able to prescribe orthotics for you. The first specialises as I understand it in sports injuries, the other deals alot ith neurologists and orthopaedic surgeons in Cork city.

Dr. Bryan Thirsk
Glanmire 021 4824450

Dr. James Cosgrave
Penrose Quay Cork City 021 4551747

Thanks. I might look into seeing one of them after I've seen the physiotherapist.

MysticalRain

snorlax wrote: »

Wouldn't be a bad idea to look what type of chair you sit in/ what height your toilet is in comparison to your leg height, and also the type of bed your using

I used to spend most of my working day sitting in a standard office swivel chair with knee and elbow joints at the correct 90° angles. When I'm at home, I do tend to slouch a bit. Like while sitting on a couch watching TV or on the computer.

While sitting on a toilet, my knee joints are positioned at about 70°. The level of the toilet seat would come up to just below knee height.

I've always slept in a bed with very good back support i.e. with a very firm base that you don't 'sink into'.

N8

MysticalRain wrote: »

Thanks. I might look into seeing one of them after I've seen the physiotherapist.

very welcome

Rogueish

Please get yourself to an experienced Physiotherapist/Sports Rehabilitator. I is possible that your pain may be referred from another structure such as the Sacroiliac joint, lumbar spine or pelvis. This can only be ascertined by a thorough physical assessment by a qualified experienced professional.

Dr Galen

let us know how you get on. Might help someone else out in the longer term plus would be interested to know what the problem was.

Good luck

MysticalRain

Thanks. I'll let you guys know how I get on. I've got an appointment with a physiotherapist scheduled for next week. So I'll give you the update then.

snorlax

hips should be slightly higher then the knees (will make it less painful to stand). you can just get a 2inch raised toilet seat or a higher toilet seat one from a DIY place. Good luck also if you drive check out with the physio the best sort of driving seat. Two plastic bags underneath you though will help with transfers in/ out of the car.

N8

snorlax wrote: »

Two plastic bags underneath you though will help with transfers in/ out of the car.

great idea:)

MysticalRain

I haven't driven in years (which I think is part of my problem in itself). Not having a car meant I had to do a lot more walking which might have been a cause of the problem.

MysticalRain

I went to see the physiotherapist today. Here's the latest:

As I sort of expected, there hasn't been any clear-cut diagnosis from the physiotherapist yet. He began the session by asking me a series of questions about my situation, where I feel pain, past injuries and suchlike. After that he examined my posture and did some (painful) tests followed by some more (painful) physiotherapy -- some stretches combined with poking with his fingers and elbows around my area of pain (on both my hips). He finished off by giving me some instructions on stretching exercises to do and also advised that I should do a little bit of cycling as well.

The exercises involve something like these:
http://www.abc-of-fitness.com/images/tutorials/hip-flexorstretch-step2.gif
http://www.usdoctor.com/stretch7.jpg
http://www.usdoctor.com/stretcha.jpg

The exercises are to be performed twice a day and each stretch is to be done four times per session

I've been scheduled for another session in 10 days time. I've asked if he can speak with the orthopaedic consultant after the next session. Hopefully between the two of them, they will be able to figure something out. Otherwise my faith in the medical profession will die completely.

madrunner

hi-just read your thread and nothing has showed up in your scans because its the way you walk is the problem.I had the exact same complaint and my hips killed me during running and i went to a podiatrist who put me on a treadmill to watch the way i ran and walk.I had excessively flat feet! She put me into orthotics etc-but i was warned be careful who you go to as there are a lot of quacks about-this particular lady was in Killarney-also in tralee as well.Now i have no problems and i found her excellent.Would highly recommend her.:)

MysticalRain

madrunner wrote: »

hi-just read your thread and nothing has showed up in your scans because its the way you walk is the problem.I had the exact same complaint and my hips killed me during running and i went to a podiatrist who put me on a treadmill to watch the way i ran and walk.I had excessively flat feet! She put me into orthotics etc-but i was warned be careful who you go to as there are a lot of quacks about-this particular lady was in Killarney-also in tralee as well.Now i have no problems and i found her excellent.Would highly recommend her.:)

Just to clarify: you didn't have any cartiledge damage resulting from the way you walked?

The Physio told me I didn't have excessively flat feet (but they are somewhat flat nonetheless).

Killarney is around my neck of the woods. Would you be able to give me contact details for her there? Cheers.

Lil' Smiler

OP, if you don't mind me asking what was the outcome of your visit to the Physio?

MysticalRain

There has been no diagnosis so far. I've been given some exercises to do and told to come back on Friday of this week.

madrunner

the name of the clinic is Killarney Podiarty (cant spell it) clinic,its accross the road from the big new tescos...phone number is 064-35412 or her tralee clinic is 066-7190822.She also has 2 shoe shops and the killarney one does video gait analysis in the shop and they do all the performance trainers-its worth a shot....

tallaght01

madrunner wrote: »

hi-just read your thread and nothing has showed up in your scans because its the way you walk is the problem.

Madrunner, I don't mind you posting contact info for a podiatrist. But please don't start trying to diagnose people on this forum. Only a trained professional can do that.

I know you're new here, so that's fine. But giving medical advice/opinion on here about peoples' personal medical problems is strictly against the rules.

I'm happy for the thread to remain unlocked as long as we stick to the OP telling us how he got on at the physio/doc. Any deviation from that, and I'll have to close it.

Cheers guys.

MysticalRain

madrunner wrote: »

the name of the clinic is Killarney Podiarty (cant spell it) clinic,its accross the road from the big new tescos...phone number is 064-35412 or her tralee clinic is 066-7190822.She also has 2 shoe shops and the killarney one does video gait analysis in the shop and they do all the performance trainers-its worth a shot....

Thanks a lot. I've been to see another consultant (3rd in about six months) and he has told me the problem is probably tendinitis as a result of a bad gait brought on by excessively flat feet. He has recommended that I go see a physiotherapist and obtain orthotic inserts (sp?) for my shoes. I'm not completely happy with my current physiotherapist, so I'm looking for another one.

Obviously this being an Internet forum, it's no substitute for professional medical advice. So I'll run the idea of seeing a podiatrist past my doctor to confirm that it's ok.

MysticalRain

I went to see a second physio today. It's looking like a muscle imbalance issue now. My gluteous maximus muscles are not strong enough to 'hold everything together' and support me while I walk. My thigh muscles actually increased in size from all the walking/hiking I did in recent years which has exacerbated the problem. I've been given some exercises to do to build up the muscles in my posterior. I've also been instructed to do some light cycling as well.

They told me to hold off on getting orthetics for the moment.

I've never even heard of a podiatrist special before. I suppose you don't happen to know a good one somewhere in the Kerry/Cork region?[/quote]
AnneMarie Horgan, Killarney and Tralee. as in Feet First shoe shops

MysticalRain

Well I'm still here a year later and I've just been told in so many words to get lost by the consultant I'm currently dealing with. According to his secretary, "he won't be seeing me again" despite the fact that he has had zero success in fixing my injury. I wouldn't mind so much, but I've already been fobbed off by two previous consultants. I have to say that Irish hospital consultants are a shower of unprofessional bastards. It seems that if an injury is too complicated to fix, they pass you off so they can focus on fixing injuries that are easier to deal with (easier money in other words). You don't realize how shockingly bad the Irish health system is until you experience it firsthand yourself. I'm getting everything done through the private sector. God only knows how bad the public side of things is.

The physiotherapists weren't able to do anything for me. I've been to see a chiropractor and osteopath recently as well. but they haven't been able to do anything for me either.

Would anyone happen to know of any other consultants around Ireland that specialize in sports injuries or hip injuries? Preferably ones that aren't complete bastards. Someone told me of a Dr Frank O'Driscoll in Clontarf who specializes in sports injuries (although I could be mixing him up with someone else).

Dr Galen

i'm not being smart or funny here OP, but have you considered that this may not be an orthopedic problem at all? I'd be interested to hear others opinions but what about this being a head problem? i.e something in your mind/psyche.

That doesn't mean it's any less or valid of an issue. But about 2 years ago I remember a patient of ours, pain in the flank, pointed to something urology related. Everything that could be done for that women was done, and nothing showed up, she was still in heaps of pain. Anyway, last ditch effort, some of the psyche people git involved, and without going into detail, they fixed it.

You also have to remember that there is no fix-all tablet or machine. 100 years ago people died from all sorts of illnesses that we commonly diagnose and treat effectively nowadays, due to medical advances. In another 100 years, the future posters on boards.ie will look at this thread and say..........ah look, a case of X. All they need is some Y. It could well be that you have one of those strange things going on, that we just can't fix right now. In fairness, thats pretty common. Not much solace for you right now, and i genuinely hope you get fixed up, whatever the cause.

MysticalRain

Yes, I have considered the possibility that it might be something in my mind/psyche. I was just talking with someone today about seeing a psychologist. I have my doubts, and it's probably more money down the toilet. But at least it would rule out the possibility of that being the cause of the problem if nothing else.

I understand if a doctor is not able to fix a problem. But at least they should have the decency to tell me that (face-to-face, by phone, letter etc). The problem I have is being being left in the dark and fobbed off by doctor's secretaries when they should be telling me straight what my situation is, what my options are, and if there are other doctors they can refer me to who might have a chance at fixing the problem.

The medical profession seems to be one of the few service related industries where customers can be treated like dirt and nobody gets fired or reprimanded for it.

Dr Galen

well I'm glad you have an open mind on the possible causes of the problem, hopefully you'll get some resolution soon.

as for your issues with the doctors involved, there are avenues to go down. If you hav a valid complaint to make, then hospitals etc tend to treat such things seriously and will look into matters that are reported to them.

drzhivago

MysticalRain wrote: »

Well I'm still here a year later and I've just been told in so many words to get lost by the consultant I'm currently dealing with. According to his secretary, "he won't be seeing me again" despite the fact that he has had zero success in fixing my injury. I wouldn't mind so much, but I've already been fobbed off by two previous consultants. I have to say that Irish hospital consultants are a shower of unprofessional bastards. It seems that if an injury is too complicated to fix, they pass you off so they can focus on fixing injuries that are easier to deal with (easier money in other words). You don't realize how shockingly bad the Irish health system is until you experience it firsthand yourself. I'm getting everything done through the private sector. God only knows how bad the public side of things is.

The physiotherapists weren't able to do anything for me. I've been to see a chiropractor and osteopath recently as well. but they haven't been able to do anything for me either.

Would anyone happen to know of any other consultants around Ireland that specialize in sports injuries or hip injuries? Preferably ones that aren't complete bastards. Someone told me of a Dr Frank O'Driscoll in Clontarf who specializes in sports injuries (although I could be mixing him up with someone else).

Dr Rod McLouhlin and dr Noel McCaffrey
Exwell Medical centre DCU, Sports medicine specialists

saw earlier comment about Bryan Thirsk, I am a doc myself, went to him with a back problem some years ago and found him excellent and very professional, wasnt bringing me back constantly to rack up the bills and did solve the problem

One way to look at orthopaedic surgeons is taht they are surgeons, they like to operate, when a problem does not appear to have a surgical solution they often do not have the same level of interest and look to move you on to a Rheumatologist or Sports Medicine Physician

If the problem has not yet been diagnosed despite a number of scans. bone scans, xrays the only consolation I suppose is that it is unlikely to be very serious (like a hidden cancer or something like that) unusual muscular, referred pain problems can take a prolonged time to diagnose

Are you getting any treatment for the paid ie pain killers/anti inflammatories

MysticalRain

drzhivago wrote: »

Dr Rod McLouhlin and dr Noel McCaffrey
Exwell Medical centre DCU, Sports medicine specialists

saw earlier comment about Bryan Thirsk, I am a doc myself, went to him with a back problem some years ago and found him excellent and very professional, wasnt bringing me back constantly to rack up the bills and did solve the problem

One way to look at orthopaedic surgeons is taht they are surgeons, they like to operate, when a problem does not appear to have a surgical solution they often do not have the same level of interest and look to move you on to a Rheumatologist or Sports Medicine Physician

If the problem has not yet been diagnosed despite a number of scans. bone scans, xrays the only consolation I suppose is that it is unlikely to be very serious (like a hidden cancer or something like that) unusual muscular, referred pain problems can take a prolonged time to diagnose

Are you getting any treatment for the paid ie pain killers/anti inflammatories

Hi,

Thanks to everyone here for their replies.

I was prescribed anti-inflammatory tablets (Arcoxia) and also Lyrica which I understand is a sort of a pain blocking tablet. But none of them really had much of an effect. Typically reduced pain for about 1-2 hours. After that it was back to "normal" i.e. the usual constant pain.

It's certainly not a life-threatening injury. But it is debilitating, and it has prevented me from working for the last year and a half. My hip feels like there is a red-hot poker inside it right now. Almost all the consultants and physio's I've seen tend to think that it's probably some sort of unusual muscular, referred pain problem. But alas, none of them have been able to address the problem. Part of the problem is that the pain itself is very diffuse i.e. it's hard to pinpoint exactly where it's coming from, other than the ball/socket hip area. I'm still hopeful that the osteopath I'm seeing at the moment might be able to do something. But he hasn't been able to produce any results so far.

I'll see if I can arrange an appointment with Exwell Medical centre. I'm planning on going to a back specialist in my local area soon to see if he might be able to do anything for me.

cltt97

I could recomend a chiropractor in Terenure, if you're interested. He uses a technique called total body modification, which works well for me. I've been trough the mill with MRIs, bonescans, specialists, etc, etc, so I can feel your frustration!

MysticalRain

Sure, I would be interested to know. Cheers.

MysticalRain

I might as well update this thread seeing as someone was asking me about it today. It might prove useful to other people who may be dealing with similar injuries.

It turns out that the doctors at the Exwell Medical Clinic and Santry Sports Surgery Clinic weren't able to do anything for me. About six months ago, I went to see a Mr Rice in the Bons Securs in Tralee who specializes in orthopedics. I found him to be one of the better doctors I've seen so far. He diagnosed abnormalities with the way I walk as a result of extremely flat feet. To that end, he referred me to a podiatrist in Killarney (Anne Marie Horgan) to fit me with custom built orthotic inserts for my shoes. Someone had recommended her earlier in this thread and I really should have seen her sooner (last year I actually bought a pair of orthotic runners from her shop, but I really should have gone for a full consultation).

Anyway, Ann Marie and her colleagues basically agreed with Mr Rice's assessment and she pointed out to various abnormalities which Mr Rice had noticed as well, such as fallen arches (much worse than an average flat-footed person), the big toes of my feet pointed outward instead of straight ahead, and a bony protrusion at the top of my right tibia bone where it joins the knee which would've been as a result of my body to trying to overcompensate for the abnormalities.

I was told that recovery would take at least a year and I've been wearing the orthotic inserts for the last three months or so. I still haven't had much day to day reduction in pain during the last three months. Although the inserts do seem to help when I'm active e.g. doing a lot of walking or standing for medium/long periods. It's sort of difficult to describe, but I have two kinds of pain: 1) pain directly associated with activity, such as walking or standing up, and 2) "ambient pain" which is there all the time regardless of how active I am e.g. when I'm sitting down doing nothing. As the situation currently stands, I still have lots of ambient pain. But less pain as a result of activity. So that's progress of sorts. I'm hoping that the ambient pain will eventually recede with time.

Two final points:
Prior to seeing the podiatrist, I also had some laser therapy treatment which didn't seem to have much lasting effect.

Quoted below is the part of Mr Rice's referral letter that refers directly to my injuries.

The patient describes a sudden onset of pain while walking and ever since then he has had problems with his hip. He describes an exercise related pain in his hip. He has been extensively investigated by numerous orthopedic surgeons. He has had MRI scanning and MR arthography of his right hip done and it has not shown any structural problems with his hip. On examination, this gentleman walks with an internally rotated lower limb, due to a combination of Pes Planus and hallux valgus. I found that he had a normal range of movement at his hip joint. He had pain at the end range of both external and internal rotation at his head joint blood, more so that external rotation. Testing is abductor unction, he had normal active abduction at his right hip when his knee was extended. However, he had some reproduction of his pain when he carried out hip abduction with a flexed knee. I feel that this gentleman has a hip abductor insertional problem that came on acutely and hasn't improved due to alteration in his lower limb mechanics while walking and weight bearing.

I have had a discussion with this gentleman and I feel that the way forward is by altering the dynamics/mechanics of his lower limbs and I feel that the best way forward would be through customized shoe orthotics which would involve both metatarsal bar to encourage rollover and a medical arch support. I have explained to him that he should not expect instantaneous relief when he uses the shoe orthotics and that alteration in his walking/standing posture will take some time to return to normal and that he may require alterations to his orthotics down the line.

Dr Galen

great to hear you got sorted.

While we don't approve of recomendations here, it's really good to hear you found someone that worked for you

rebel girl 15

MysticalRain wrote: »

I went to see a second physio today. It's looking like a muscle imbalance issue now. My gluteous maximus muscles are not strong enough to 'hold everything together' and support me while I walk. My thigh muscles actually increased in size from all the walking/hiking I did in recent years which has exacerbated the problem. I've been given some exercises to do to build up the muscles in my posterior. I've also been instructed to do some light cycling as well.

They told me to hold off on getting orthetics for the moment.

I had a similiar problem with my hip after slipping and overstretching it, took 8 months for that to heal with physio, with a pilates based approach. Was in quite a bit of pain due to that and also a back injury I got trying to compensate. Also got orthotics, best things I ever got, improved my posture no end! Four months later I had problems with my ITB down the side of my leg, diagnosed as a my gluts not being strong enough (didn't work on them since my last physio session 4 months previuosly) and my quads and hamstrings over compensating.

From your situation, I think you do need to keep persisting and get an answer, I was lucky that my physio was so good, and her treatments worked. Delighted that you finally got a solution, and hopefully it will kepp on working. I know mine took time, and even now I still get some pain if I sit funny or walk funny.

MysticalRain

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

I had a similiar problem with my hip after slipping and overstretching it, took 8 months for that to heal with physio, with a pilates based approach. Was in quite a bit of pain due to that and also a back injury I got trying to compensate. Also got orthotics, best things I ever got, improved my posture no end! Four months later I had problems with my ITB down the side of my leg, diagnosed as a my gluts not being strong enough (didn't work on them since my last physio session 4 months previuosly) and my quads and hamstrings over compensating.

From your situation, I think you do need to keep persisting and get an answer, I was lucky that my physio was so good, and her treatments worked. Delighted that you finally got a solution, and hopefully it will kepp on working. I know mine took time, and even now I still get some pain if I sit funny or walk funny.

That's great to hear that the treatment worked for you. Unfortunately in my case, physio didn't do much for me. I also had back problems from overcompensating. Better posture and some simple stretching exercises fixed that for me.

I'm not out of the woods yet. I don't want to get my hopes up too much because I've had so many unsuccessful treatments. But I'm hopeful that I'm heading in the right direction this time.

redmaxi

MysticalRain wrote: »

I'm not out of the woods yet. I don't want to get my hopes up too much because I've had so many unsuccessful treatments. But I'm hopeful that I'm heading in the right direction this time.

Just stumbled across this thread, thinking of getting orthoics myself for back pain. Are you much improved 12 months on ?

MysticalRain

redmaxi wrote: »

Just stumbled across this thread, thinking of getting orthoics myself for back pain. Are you much improved 12 months on ?

Well I'm happy to report that I am pretty much cured at this point. It seemed to take a while for the orthotics to have an effect. But after about six months of wearing them, I was pretty much pain free. I still have to do some light physio exercises as to keep the muscles around my hip area healthy and strong. But that's not a major hassle for me.

It did take me a long time to get used to wearing the orthotics as they were a bit painful on the soles of my feet. I didn't wear them all the time in the beginning (typically it was for half the day). But after about four or five months, I had gotten used to them enough to keep them on all the time.

So well done to Mr Rice in the Bons Secours and Anne Marie Horgan and her staff at the Killarney podiatry clinic. I'm so relieved to be finally rid of this problem which has dominated my life for so many years.

drzhivago

MysticalRain wrote: »

Well I'm happy to report that I am pretty much cured at this point. It seemed to take a while for the orthotics to have an effect. But after about six months of wearing them, I was pretty much pain free. I still have to do some light physio exercises as to keep the muscles around my hip area healthy and strong. But that's not a major hassle for me.

It did take me a long time to get used to wearing the orthotics as they were a bit painful on the soles of my feet. I didn't wear them all the time in the beginning (typically it was for half the day). But after about four or five months, I had gotten used to them enough to keep them on all the time.

So well done to Mr Rice in the Bons Secours and Anne Marie Horgan and her staff at the Killarney podiatry clinic. I'm so relieved to be finally rid of this problem which has dominated my life for so many years.

well done and great to hear