Pronation and Children

[Slipper]

I'm exhausted and I need help. My kids have medical issues and sometimes I'm simply overwhelmed. We had our well child visit today for all three. They have some minor issues that have come up over the past year, but my youngest is the one that concerned me most. We've known for quite some time that she was "pigeon-toed". She trips over everything (and anything).

 

Today our doctor told us that she had pronation in both feet and he anticipated orthotics (sp?) in her future. He said we didn't need to worry about it now since we have quite a bit coming up with our oldest, but he told me to come home, google it and get her some good shoes from a place that would understand what we need and also get some inserts (arch supports) for shoes that we couldn't order (like soccer cleats).

 

He showed me where one of her bones is starting to bulge out on the inside of her feet because of it.

 

I love my doctor but sometimes he puts things off. (However, he also knows that we're about to have tonsils out with my oldest and attempt dental braces and my youngest also failed her hearing test so we're doing that soon as well. My kids have medical issues and I'm swamped with things right now.) I am floundering a bit. Can I order shoes online or do I need to take her somewhere so they can look at her feet? It's summer and we live in the country. She's barefoot or flip-flops with the occasional bling sandals for dress up times. Should she wear shoes during the day even when she's not outside? Is that what corrects this?

 

I'm hoping that I can go ahead and buy the things we need and maybe it will self-correct? Help?

[misidawnrn]

I am absolutely no expert in this but try roller skates. My mom's friend had a daughter that was pigeon toed when I was younger and the doctor told her to take her roller skating. It is 100% impossible to skate pigeon toed so it forces the feet to go straight. Just an easy, cheap thought. Good luck.

[ktgrok]

I pronate, and hate wearing shoes, so I sympathize. I don't know about kid sizes, but I LOVE the flip flops from Orthoheel. They are designed to "force" your feet into the right position.

 

A podiatrist visit sounds in order, and is usually covered by insurance....mine was. And mine steered me to orthotics that were off the shelf versus custom, so they were cheap, less than 40 dollars. I wear them in my tennis shoes, and then wear the orthoheel flip flops the rest of the time (he advised those too).

[Ellie]

:grouphug:

 

The next thing would be to take her to a pediatric orthopedist or podiatrist--IOW, a specialist. Do it ASAP.

 

Mr. Ellie was severely pigeon-toed when he was born, bless his heart. He did the whole bar-between-the-feet-at-night thing, and had to wear special shoes and orthotics through high school. He didn't have any pronation, though; he has extremely high arches and insteps, and his feet are short and wide (he should wear a EEEE width).

 

His orthopedic doctor/podiatrist (not sure which) had him go barefooted as much as possible (the shoes/orthotics were for those times when he had to wear shoes), and told his parents to give him roller skating lessons. He skated through high school, competed and everything. Today his feet are *absolutely* straight...but he still has issues with the high insteps and width and whatnot; buying a pair of slip-on dress shoes means shopping all.day.long. And forget boots. A pair that will fit over his insteps is many sizes too big. :-/

 

Anyway, you do need a second opinion, from a specialist, ASAP.

[magnificent_baby]

I have very flat feet. I began getting back pain in my teens due to flat feet. I second Ellie's suggestion of a foot specialist. I have had inserts made in the past, which took the back pain away. I'm okay with not wearing them now, but I always buy very supportive tennis shoes. I wear tennis shoes from the time I wake up until I go to bed. DH has the same issue, and I know prescribed inserts (which can be very $$) are covered by our HSA.

 

As far as flip flops, check out Reefs. I tried on a pair the other day, and they felt like heaven. Had great arch support. I can't wear them on a daily basis, but they are fine on occasion. You didn't mention your dd's age, so not sure if that is even an option.

[Acadie]

I'll be curious to see other responses, because both my girls overpronate and have flat fleet.

 

They got it from me. :glare:

 

When I was a child I wore Stride Rite shoes with arch supports, then nothing special for several years. In high school when I started running track my feet, knees and shins were killing me, so I saw a podiatrist and have worn custom orthotics ever since. They make all the difference between being in pain and unable to walk, and walking/running with comfort and ease. I wear shoes with orthotics, Birkenstocks, or Chaco sandals all the time. If I go barefoot, I get misaligned and in pain again. Just not worth it.

 

Our pediatrician said we don't need to do anything now for the girls, but when they're heavier they'll need arch supports. Although that's pretty much how it went with me, I'm thinking I'd like to take them to a specialist just to see.

 

I do spend money on decent shoes for them. Arch support is of course a plus, but so is ankle support to keep the foot from falling inward. Although they both own flip flops, I don't let them wear them to run and play all summer, just to the pool/beach. These sandals from LL Bean have more support than a flip flop or croc, not nearly as good as a sneaker, but at least I can get them to wear them in hot weather:

 

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/63248?feat=503535-CL2

 

It surprises me that several people say flip-flops and crocs work at all--they don't for me, and I have tried several brands that supposedly have good arch support, but then again, my feet are really, really flat.

 

I have wondered about foot exercises and the idea of roller skating intrigues me.

 

I do think you have a little time to get to the specialist if other issues are really pressing with your other kids, but it concerns me that she's tripping. Also you might need to wait a month or two for a new patient appt, so it sounds like it's worth a phone call now.

 

Is there a running or orthotic store near you that could help you find supportive shoes? We have several stores locally like this, but they aren't national chains. Or go to a regular shoe store that carries some nicer brands, Stride Rite among others, and see if what the salesperson recommends feels good.

 

Amy

[LNC]

There are several reasons for being pigeon toed. If you have femoral anteversion (turned in femoral bone at hip joint), you can't just straighten your feet. Orthotics and concentrating on straightening your feet can only help so much - that is how you were made. :) The surgery is extremely risky and definately not worth it for a mostly cosmetic issue.

[Mommyof4ks]

My dd is pigeon toed, but she straightened out a lot by the time she was 7, so we just left it alone and she has not had issues with tripping or anything like that in years.

 

My youngest has flat feet that roll in (there is a technical term for it, but I cannot remember it right now), and we took him to a podiatrist who recommended custom orthotics. Basically he said if we did not do orthotics or they did not stop his pain, then he would need surgery. Surgery is better before the teens according to him, because it gets more complicated the older they get. I have not researched that, because the orthotics work for him, but I thought I would throw that out there in case anyone needed to know.

[amo_mea_filiis.]

I have no advice on the feet other than seeing a peds podiatrist or ortho.

 

As for the overwhelming medical issues, i have lots of experience here! In our case issues will sometimes sit on the back burner. I usually switch between kids depending on current severity. Example- when dd was about 5, she had a seizure. Ds sat on the back burner while dd saw a neurologist, which led to a sleep study, then tonsils taken out, then neuropsych, autism dx, iep meetings at school, and a new normal. When i was settled with dd, i picked back up with ds.

 

Just write out everything that needs to be done (my current plan is behavior training for myself, neuropsych, feeding clinic, and sped hs approval for ds) and move it according to priority. Ds just got dome samples from nutrica (sp?) and is happily drinking neocate jr with strawberry syrup. We also have an order of pediasure waiting at the DME, so i am putting feeding at the bittom of my list since he is not going to starve to death. His sped approval is top priority because it has a deadline. Neuropsych is next.

 

Dd just got approved for behavioral services, and since she is generally more compliant than ds, im going to focus on her behavior while i learn some new things to apply to ds.

 

You will get to a point where everything slows down, then all of a sudden, every kid needs something again, even if its just yearly dental or physicals.

[extendedforecast]

I would ask for a referral to a pediatric orthopedic dr. At the end of my dd's 18 mo. check-up, I asked her pediatrician to watch her walk because she was very pigeon toed, and she was always tripping over her feet. The ped gave us the referral. When we saw the orthopedic, he watched her walk, she got x-rays, and we were told she had tibial torsion, which was very likely to be corrected by the time she was three. The pediatrician had suspected a hip problem, so if I were you, I wouldn't go by what the ped thinks just by looking at your child. I'd call in the experts.

[mrs.m]

get a referal to a pod! My DS overpronates. He has orthotics, went to physical therapy, and wears a brace at night. It can be painful even for children. He always complained about his leg and foot hurting. It's so much better after months of stretching.

[lcelmer]

Call and bu the dr till you get a referral to a ped otho.

 

 

DS has bilateral clubfeet ... work things like this early for best results.

[ktgrok]

It surprises me that several people say flip-flops and crocs work at all--they don't for me, and I have tried several brands that supposedly have good arch support, but then again, my feet are really, really flat.

 

 

The ones I mentioned are orthotic flip flops....specifically made as if they had orthotics in them. Not attractive...but they CURED my plantar fasciitis, that was caused by pronation. Even now, at my heavies weight, 6 months pregnant, no pain. I think they are miraculous. (I think they make regular shoes too....I live in florida so I have the flip flops.) Orthaheel.

[Ellie]

There are several reasons for being pigeon toed. If you have femoral anteversion (turned in femoral bone at hip joint), you can't just straighten your feet. Orthotics and concentrating on straightening your feet can only help so much - that is how you were made. :) The surgery is extremely risky and definately not worth it for a mostly cosmetic issue.

That's probably what my younger dd had, although when she was little the doctors called it "internal femoral tortion." Many years of Highland dance and ballet helped her to have *straight* feet, and no tortion, but turn-out is always difficult for her, and she is knock-kneed (which there was a better-sounding term than that, lol). She also has to keep up with her stretching exercises or she's in pain.

[Alpac]

You might check into motion control New Balance tennis shoes. This was recommended to me for my ds by our family doc (who told us he was also flat-footed with overpronation). Not sure if they come in kid's sizes, though. My ds wears men sizes. I ended up talking with a NB rep by calling their 1-800 # for help in choosing the right type shoe for my ds. They have high arches and a thick insole. It was explained to me that they work by giving arch support and also strengthening the lower leg muscles, especially around the knee, which compensates for the overpronation.

 

Also, you could ask your doc if he knows of an orthotic/specialty shoe store in your area.

 

And I agree with getting your dd in to see an orthopedic doc.

 

My ds wore the NB motion control shoes for a couple of years before we saw an ortho doc. My ds's legs/ankles were still hurting and he had an unusual gait/walk. The ortho felt that it was from my ds growing so fast and his growth plate not keeping up and that when all of that caught up, it would get better. He did not think the motion control shoes were necessary. He suggested regular shoes with good ankle support. We changed shoes. My ds has not complained of leg/ankle pain lately and his gait seems to be better. However, this post has reminded me that I need to be watching him to make sure it is truly better. It has been about 1 year since we went to regular shoes.

 

I know everyone (including their ortho condition) is different. I probably would start with trying to get my dd in with an ortho doc. Then see what he would recommend. If your dd needs special shoes, maybe the motion control would help.

[Slipper]

Thanks for all the replies so far. Sorry I haven't been responding. I have the neighbor's three girls (5,7,9) over here playing until late this afternoon and my oldest also has had therapists out to the house today.

 

I'll look around for a doctor. I'm hesitant to call my pediatrician and I know it sounds silly. I'd rather see one first and then if there's need for ongoing care to let my pediatrician know. Again, it's silly but we see so many doctors that sometimes I'm embarrassed to ask for another referral.

 

I'm not sure what is wrong with her feet (or why). I know that she's been pigeon-toed forever and she trips over her own feet. She finds things like karate difficult because she can't position her feet correctly. People get frustrated trying to show her things because she can't get her feet to do what they want. On the ankle part of her feet (between her feet, not on the outside) there is an extra bump that our pediatrician said was due to her bones bulging out and that it shouldn't do that.

 

I'll put off our shoe quest for now until after we see some type of foot doctor. Any other suggestions, I'm all ears.

 

And amo_mea_filiis, I completely understood every word written (and unwritten) in your post. It's a never-ending list of things that are not even placed on a list (such as brushing/flossing/bathing, etc for your child) and extra butter when cooking for calories. And that's before doctors and therapists and such.