@Jen The pain is sharp and severe. It feels like every bone in my foot, the metatarsal area, is breaking/broken with each step I take. There aren’t any changes on the x-ray, but the x-rays I am referring to were taken about 18-20 years ago. I don’t recall having had any recent x-rays of my feet taken.
How is the pain you are experiencing?
I came across the Vitamin D fix by accident really. A blood test revealed very low, single digit, Vitamin D level. I was put on rx and otc Vitamin D and the pain in my feet went away. Now, when the pain rears its ugly head, I take additional Vitamin D and it goes away! I can tell when my numbers are running low, by how my feet feel. It used to be the doctor (rheumy or endo) would put me on a three-week (or three-month - losing one’s memory is awful!) course of Vitamin D and then I’d be off of it. As soon as I’d feel the pain, I’d ask for the test and sure enough it was low again and I’d be back on rx and otc doses. After several years of these “rounds” of Vitamin D I asked to just be kept on it, which they agreed. As a general rule, I take 50,000 iu two times a week and 2,000 iu daily.
That’s unfortuante the insurance won’t cover another pair, but we all know how that goes. I remember they were expensive, but I don’t remember the actual cost or if they were even covered by insurance.
Have you considered putting the heel lift on the outside of the shoe? That would help keep the height limited to just the orthotic. My husband had to have a lift on the exterior of his shoe - pre hip replacement surgery - very long story. We just counted the number of surgeries he’s had on his hip(s) since childhood. A few weeks ago he had his first “hip revision” which became his fifth hip surgery. He’s had two hip surgeries in childhood and three over the past 21 years. The soles of the shoes had to be leather for the lift to be attached, which became difficult to find.
I’ll ask about the difference in orthotics, from the dress shoe kind to the heftier ones, and see what our podiatrist says (a family friend). I’ve had mine for years and except for the label wearing off, they still look very good and are functional.