flat feet

Dist

Dist

Dist

Soldato
Joined
1 Jun 2005
Posts
5,152
Location
Kent
I hope this is not classed as a medical thread, if it is, feel free to close it.

Has anyone here had experience with flat feet as an adult and managed to treat it?

Ive had flat feet for a long time now (many years) but i didnt think it would go on to be a big issue, but as it gave me some knee problems, and pain when walking for more then a couple min, i decided a couple months ago to see a specialst and get a couple of custom made arch supports. But so far i havnt noticed any real difference in my feet, and after reading online it seems that i may have left it too long for custom othotics to do anything usefull.

Since i plan to join the military once ive finished my open university degree (3 years time) i want to make sure im in perfect condition by that time, which is why i would like to know if anyone else has managed to fix their flat feet, and if anyone here has had surgery on their feet because i would like to know if surgery just reduces the pain due to the flat feet, or if it makes the feet more mobile, to the standard that would be required by the military.
 
Dist said:
I hope this is not classed as a medical thread, if it is, feel free to close it.

Has anyone here had experience with flat feet as an adult and managed to treat it?

Ive had flat feet for a long time now (many years) but i didnt think it would go on to be a big issue, but as it gave me some knee problems, and pain when walking for more then a couple min, i decided a couple months ago to see a specialst and get a couple of custom made arch supports. But so far i havnt noticed any real difference in my feet, and after reading online it seems that i may have left it too long for custom othotics to do anything usefull.

Since i plan to join the military once ive finished my open university degree (3 years time) i want to make sure im in perfect condition by that time, which is why i would like to know if anyone else has managed to fix their flat feet, and if anyone here has had surgery on their feet because i would like to know if surgery just reduces the pain due to the flat feet, or if it makes the feet more mobile, to the standard that would be required by the military.
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I had this exact problem which got worse with age. About 4 years ago I had corrective surgery to my left foot called a triple arthodesis. Your pain would have to be very bad to carry this operation out. Apparent it is almost unheard of to perform this on somebody below the age of 50, I had mine at 31.

The operation involves fusing the ankle to the foot in a position that gives you an arch in your foot. You do however lose most of your ankle movement except for simple up and down motions. The operation is also extremely painful with a two week stay in hospital and about a 9 month rehabilitation with 6 months in cast.

I very much doubt they would allow you in the miltary after having it done.
 
erk, making me worry, i've had flat feet as far as i can remember, never had a problem, can walk all day withought them hurting any more then they should do...i just hope they don't get worse with time :/
 
If they don't give discomfort then you will probably be ok.

Mine were always painful and in the end I couldn't walk more than 10 feet without sitting down or collapsing.
 
It's been a long time since I had flat feet.. I seem to have just grown out of it. I do recall the doctor saying something about walking barefoot being quite helpful. This probably only benefits you when you're quite young though.
 
i have just started experiencing some problems with my feet - i.e. they hurt! i went to see a podiatrist and he said i have over-pronation (basically my feet turn in too much so im guessing flat feet). im gonna get it either sorted via the nhs (if they dont take too long) or get the podiatrist to make me some insoles (for £225!!!).

daven
 
Third Opinion said:
I had this exact problem which got worse with age. About 4 years ago I had corrective surgery to my left foot called a triple arthodesis. Your pain would have to be very bad to carry this operation out. Apparent it is almost unheard of to perform this on somebody below the age of 50, I had mine at 31.

The operation involves fusing the ankle to the foot in a position that gives you an arch in your foot. You do however lose most of your ankle movement except for simple up and down motions. The operation is also extremely painful with a two week stay in hospital and about a 9 month rehabilitation with 6 months in cast.

I very much doubt they would allow you in the miltary after having it done.
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The pain when walking isnt the worse thing, i can grit my teeth and just bear with it at times. But one of the things which causes me extreme pain is sometimes when im walking my right knee (and only my right one for some reason) goes out of joint and then instant pops back in again, that is painfull, and i think this problem is all due to my feet.

Im only 20, so its unlikely they will be able to do the surgery you mentioned to me, and if it reduces mobility i think i would rather try to endure the pain.

One thing ive been having trouble finding out (and its a couple months away for my next podiatrist appointment so i cant ask them just yet) is if me being overweight has much effect on my arches. From one point of view, more weight means the feet have to support more load and so will hurt more, but from another point of view, more weight means more force pushing my feet onto the arch supports, and hopefully forcing my feet into an arch shape.
 
Orcish-Horde said:
If your getting pains in your feet I would advise you to give the military a miss.
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I plan to hopefully sort the pains out by the time i finish my OU degree (so a bit under 3 years), so that when im ready to join, i wont have any pain.

Also, since im going for an ICT degree, i would MUCH prefer doing something enjoyable in the military then sitting at a helpdesk all day for less pay, and less chance to gain qualifications while doing it.
 
In basic training you will have sore feet a lot of the time even with normal feet. If you have to sort your feet out now. The stress in training will mess them up no matter which arm of the military you join.
 
Orcish-Horde said:
In basic training you will have sore feet a lot of the time even with normal feet. If you have to sort your feet out now. The stress in training will mess them up no matter which arm of the military you join.
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Once i get my feet sorted out though, i can realy start getting fit and build myself up to the sort of things required in basic training, that way when i get there, my feet will already be used to it from the gradualy training up to that point. Im not saying itll be easy, i know it wont, but im determined to get this problem sorted out, get myself in a decent shape and start prepairing myself ready by doing what would be expected of me in the army, like carrying a heavy pack while doing a long run.
 
If its what you want to do go for it, I have been through it and loved it but Im telling you that it may not be for you. Its not about carrying a heavy pack, its about carrying what you need to live and fight till what your doing is over. Days, weeks, months and if thing carry on the way they are going it could be years. You do realise that you could be carrying that heavy pack for 8-24 hours at time with nothing more than a 10 minute brake here and there?
 
Orcish-Horde said:
If its what you want to do go for it, I have been through it and loved it but Im telling you that it may not be for you. Its not about carrying a heavy pack, its about carrying what you need to live and fight till what your doing is over. Days, weeks, months and if thing carry on the way they are going it could be years. You do realise that you could be carrying that heavy pack for 8-24 hours at time with nothing more than a 10 minute brake here and there?
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yeah i realize what it will be like, i have had some family in the army, so i have a good idea of how tough it will be.
 
Having just read about it a little for you it turns out that you can actually join...if you have non 'spasticated' (apparently that is the proper term) flat feet. No idea what this means. However it will probably mean many visits to a doctor and most likely take longer in the application process...


However...what i recommend is keeping it as quiet as you can for a long as possible. When your in they will most likely accommodate it a lot more than admitting it straight off. (Of course don't go in saying oh by the way im flat footed and I have always known, use some common sense about it).

Some issues will probabaly be raised about your integrity for following such a course... :).

(Which service are you wanting to join?)
 
adelie-penguin.jpg
 
I have super flat feet, like whenever i show people, they laugh because i literally have NO arch whatsoever! I've done d of e bronze silver and gold, occasionally i get slight pains in my knees, but i tend to just ignore it and it goes away! :)
 
Hugogo said:
(Which service are you wanting to join?)
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Army, i have nothing agaisnt the other armed forces, but the army offer better IT careers should i decide to go for one, also my father was in the army too.

As for what i want to do in the army, im still undecided if i want to go for the signals and put my keen interest in computers to good use, or if i should go in the infantry, either as a para or possibly my fathers old regiment the queens regiment (although thats become the princess of wales regiment now if im not mistake), as i think i would also enjoy the infantry combat side of the military too.
 
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