I have been told by a Podiatrist that I need custom made insoles to help my tired feet. In Canada they are $500.00 OUCH! I wonder if any of you have (or know of someone) who has bought these expensive insoles? Do they work? And are they worth the price?
Thanks.

i paid $400 2 years ago for custom orthodics. i believe they work, but i had them made after bunion surgery.

Hi Tequilasmom - I had custom orthodics made last April. Luckily my insurance company paid the whole amount ($250 here). I was told by my podiatrist that they would not change after my bunion surgery. I had the surgery 12 weeks ago and I have not put the orthodic back in my right shoe yet, however I think they have made a huge difference.

I didn't realize that when my foot pronated (fell down in the arch) that it threw my entire leg and hip out of alignment. I could tell as soon as I started using them that it made a difference.

I got used to them right away, however a co-worker got hers around the same time as I did from the partner of the dr I go to and she can't use hers at all. They hurt her feet. So I guess for some they work and for others they don't. To bad you can't do a trial and error and if they don't work get your money back!

Also my son has had them for over 10 years (he's 29) and he wears them all the time. I told him he really needs new ones at this point.

Good luck.

Mary

Thanks for the replies from Mary and another person. Now I'm in a real quandry as to what to do. It appears that Custom Orthotics work for some but not for all. I sure hate to pay $500.00 just to find out they don't work for me. I have been using a combination of the "moderate pronation" shoes (which were recommended by a Physiotherapist) and are SO UNCOMFORTABLE but they help my knee and a pair of Adidas that have super cushioning for work. I'm on my feet for hours. This combo is working fine for now.
I quess I'll just wait and see how things develop and then decide. I do extensive exercises for my Patella-femoral syndrome (Knee problem) every day.
Cheers

See my thread about the Walk Fit orthodics by Phase Four that I purchased. They are only around $20. Do search online you will find them. They helped me and my brother and sister. They helped my sister when her expensive orthodics didn't.

Have you tried Danskos? They're the only shoes I don't need orthodics with. Can wear them for hours and hours and hours... Many teachers, doctors & nurses, sales people, and others who are on their feet all day swear by them. They basically have built in support. I wasn't able to use them before bunion surgery because the leather wasn't soft enough for the part of my feet that stuck out, but they work great now. I have also used a pair of Feathersprings orthodics for more than 20 years. (They don't wear out because they're made from stainless steel.) They're semi-custom fit. You get them through mail order, but they send you a kit to use to make an impression of your foot. I have been very happy with them. I used to get pain in the balls of my feet (Haven't had it since my surgery, but then again I've been wearing my Danskos a lot...) and wearing the Feathersprings for a few hours always helped immensely-- much better than going barefoot. Hope you find something that helps.

I just had custom orthotics made in December after my bunion surgery. I wear them all the time, they feel great.
I am in Canada too and paid $576.00 for them and Insurance covers $400 of it.